Middle English Dictionary Entry
circumcisiǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | circumcisiǒun n. Also sircumsisioun. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A religious rite of Jews and Mohammedans: removal of the foreskin, circumcision [corresp. in significance to baptism among Christians]; holden, kepen ~, observe the rite of circumcision; taken ~, be circumcised; ben of ~, belong to the Jewish faith.
Associated quotations
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)83 : Þene nome þet him wes iȝefen at circumcisiun.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)992 : ix and nigneti ger he was old, Quuanne him cam bode, in sunder run, fro gode of circumcicioun.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 11.2 : Whanne Petre cam to Jerusalem, thei that weren of circumcisioun disputiden aȝens him.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.293 : Oure Lorde ȝaf Abraham and his children þe circumcisioun forto make and departe his peple from oþer naciouns.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13911 : Moyses yow gaf in þe ald lagh, circumcision to hald.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)48/5 : Ȝef þei kepten Moyses lawe, as circumsysyoun.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Josh.5.4 : That tyme seith the Lord to Josue: 'Maak to thee stonen knyues and circumcide the secounde tyme the sones of Yrael'..this is the cause of the secounde circumcicioun.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)54/24 : The aungell broughte him the prepuce of oure lord Ihesu crist, of his Circumcisioun.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)18 : Fro the long tyme of Adamys comyng out of Paradijs into the tyme of circumcisioun in the daies of Abraham.
- a1450 SLeg.Silv.(2) (Bod 779)38 : God ȝaf his blessing to sircumsision.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)1442 : Qvy circumcisioun ordeynt was..for God wold mon shuld suffre wo.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)88/96 : He shall take cyrcumsycyon.
2.
Spiritual purification; ben ~, be purified.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Phil.3.3 : Sothli we ben circumcisioun, that bi spirit seruen to God.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.2.29 : The circumcisioun of herte in spirit.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.15.8 : Jhesu Crist..a mynistre of circumcisioun for the treuthe of God.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Phil.3.3 : We beþ circumsycyoun, þat serfeþ to God in spiryt & ioyeþ in Iesu Crist.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.19 : To wham nor preest nor Dekne moght gyfe saluacione..penaunce, nor Circumcisione.
3.
The festival commemorating the circumcision of Jesus (the first of January).
Associated quotations
- (?1430) Calendar 1430 Pref.(Hrl 937)91 : Fro þe Circumscycyon, þat is clepyd newȝerus day, vnto seynt Mathye day.
- a1450 3 KCol.(1) (Roy 18.A.10)119/17 : In þe viij. day of þe berþe of Crist, þat is þe Circumscicioun.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)45/7 : Þis day ys called New-ȝeris-day and also þe circumsicyon of oure Lord.
4.
(a) Surg. Circumcision; (b) theol. (Christ's) foreskin [preserved as a relic].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)151a/a : Circumscisioun. After lawe it is done to Iewes & to saracenez; and it was proffitable to ful many oþer, ffor þi þat filth shuld not be gadred in þe rote of þe balani & chaufe it.
b
- a1425 Blood Hayles (Roy 17.C.17)161 : Þis holy blode, þe vernakylle & þe circumsicione In þe tempul of pes were done at Rome.