Middle English Dictionary Entry
cisterne n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cisterne n. Also cistirn(e, cistren, cesterne, cestren, sist-, sest-. |
| Etymology | L cisterna & OF cisterne. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A place for storing water; pit, cistern; spring house, fountain; ~ chaumbre; (b) a cave or cavern.
Associated quotations
a
- (1375) Chart.in Capes Hereford Cath.237 : Quandam cameram vocatam cycternechaumbre..situatam infra communem mansionem dictorum vicariorum.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.2.13 : Thei forsoken welle of quyc watir and doluen to them wastid cisternes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.109 : No welle is wiþ ynne Ierusalem, but watres be i-gadred and i-kept in cisternes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8206 : And putt þam [wands] in-til a cistern [rime: ful gern].
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)44/14 : Þere was in Jerusalem a cisterne þat hadde fyue porches, þere alle þe seek men leyen.
- (1419) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.173 : Thair Cisterne in ye qwich yair water is wonte to be kepped ys brosten.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.37.22 : Throw ȝe him [Joseph] into the olde sisterne [WB(2): cisterne] that is in wildernes.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)29/35 : Þere is no water to drynke, but ȝif it come be condyt from Nyle þat entreth in to here cisternes.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)58/27 : In þat chirche is a welle in manere of a cisterne þat is clept Probatica Piscina, þat hath v entreez.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.2855 : Welle of worshep, conduit of al noblesse..of largesse cheef cisterne [rime: lanterne].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)454 : Sesterne or cysterne þat receyvythe water and oþer lycure: Cisterna.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)101a : Hit nedeþ to haue cisternes & digged receytes to resceyue þe reyn water.
- (1454) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)340/14 : Tymbir for j sesterne.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2356 : When wellys faile, Rayn watir in cisternys may availe.
- (1467) Paston (Gairdner)4.265 : In your bakhous systern at Caster halle.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.109 : There is noo welle within the cite where waters be collecte, but in cestrens and veselles ordeynede þerfore.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.De Prof.(LdMisc 683)54 : Sely Joseph, cast in a deep systerne.
- (1460-65) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31396 : Payd to a plommer for a Cesterne.
- a1500 Travel Instruc.(CotApp 8)280 : The water of sisternes is byndyng.
b
- c1500 NPass.(Ashm 61)234/1973 fn. : [Jesus Christ in] þe systyrne [lay].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.JamesLess (GiL60) (Eg 876) 305/218 : Whanne he seigh the destruccion of the citee he entered into a sisterne, he and .ix. Iues, and ther they were turmented with hunger .iiij. dayes.
Note: Editor: "sisterne: sousterrin P2, subterraneam domum LgA; MED cisterne sense (b) 'cave or cavern' gives one instance, from the Northern Passion a1500."
Note: Additional quote, sense (b).