Middle English Dictionary Entry
citẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | citẹ̄ n. Also citee, site, city, citty, sity, cete, sete. |
| Etymology | OF cité |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A walled town or city, with its political organization; also, capital city, cathedral town; chef ~, fair ~, gret ~, ~ real; (b) cites and tounes; etc.; (c) the ~ Rome, Jerusalem the ~, Paris ~, the ~ of London, Troies ~, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)61b : Þe tur nis nawt asailet, ne castel ne cite.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2415 : Ðor was mad on scite Ðe was yoten Ramese.
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)193 : He rideþ þourh þe site.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4341 : He þoȝte stilleliche In to a strong cyte to wende, Vorte þe emperour him miȝte more poer sende.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1454 : Solempne cites and semliche casteles.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2701 : Duc Theseus..Is comen hoom to Atthenes, his citee, With..greet solempnytee.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.119 : Fyue wicked citees þat þere were a-dreynt and i-brent to asshes.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.35 : A-boute þe sete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.106 : The citees knewen no debat; The poeple stod in obeissance Under the reule of governance.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.459 : Fulofte..he [strife] overthroweth The Citees and the policie.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1661 : Of that lond the chief Cite.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)166a/b : A toune þat was sometyme a cite rial.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)189b/a : Costantyn [!] translatede þe citee of the empire of Rome oute of Rome to constantyn nople.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27951 : Þe sinn þat did þe cites [Glb: cetese] sinc.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)939 : Þat is þe cyte þat þe Lombe con fonde To soffer inne..Þe olde Jerusalem.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)968 : Al þo citees..sunkken to helle.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1185 : Þenne watz þe sege sette þe cete aboute.
- c1400 Wycl.Blasph.(Bod 647)415 : Þis burgeys of þo cyte.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)34/1 : Many citees þat were fre of paiyngis by priuyleges & customs, payde wiþ gode wille..for defens & sauacioun of þe kyngdom.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)40/32 : We han here no dwelling citee or place [L manentem ciuitatem], but we seeken þat is to come.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)114/12 : Iosophat ordeyned iugis in alle þe citees of Iurie.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)29188 : Scho suld be done Out of þe cete.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.3.31 : How that the sovereyn men of the city token the in cure..whan thow were orphelyn..and were chose in affynite of prynces of the cite.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.7.65 : The fame of citees.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1035 : This fresshe lady [Dido], of the cite queene, Stod in the temple in hire estat real.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1895 : An hundred citees stronge and grete.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)82 : A cyte weel I walled.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)457 : Syte: Urbs, civitas.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)15 : He garte make a Citee & called it Alexander.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)634 : Toward Acres, þat riche cete.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5962 : He..soght to þe Cite soberly & faire, Left his feris in þe fild fightyng full hard.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)101a : Aramathye, þe Cyte of þe Iuwery.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)129 : In Paris, is [the King's] grettest cete.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)169/7 : For to se ȝour fay cete.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)10 : Cristis disciplis went in to þe cyte to by met.
- c1475 Ipotis (Brm)p.44 : The holy cros..borne wos yn to the syty.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)504 : Home with that they wende, The cyte was them nere.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)12/12 : When þe byschoppe of þat cyte was ded.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)249 : Bi a gandr recured was the toun, Callid of the world cite most roiall.
- a1500 3rd Fran.Rule (Seton)54/3 : The ministers and bretherne & susters of euery Cyte.
- a1525(?1467) Cov.Leet Bk.336 : Euery warde in the sete.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)897 : Tounes þai ȝold him skete, And cites stiþe of stan.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2149 : Þurh cites & smale townes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.723 : Neither in citee ne in no village.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.870 : Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)193/18 : To castelles and setis þi floyn away.
- (1427) RParl.4.318b : Citees and Burghes excepte.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)73 : Citez ne townnez hafe þay nane, Bot duellez in lugez & in caues.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.39 head. : The descripcion..of longitudes and latitudes of citees and townes.
- a1450(?1418) The herrere degre (Dgb 102)21 : Gouernour of kyngdom or Cyte.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1747 : He brennyth my Toures and my Citees.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.620 : Ther is neither shire ne Cetee, towne ne borowe, But they be furnyshed with vengeaunce al the lond thorowe.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)922 : There ys a gyant of gret Renowne, He dystrowythe bothe sete and towyn.
c
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)214/6 : Þe cite of bethleem.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)1130 : The cite of Lincolne.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3337 : He twies wan Ierusalem the citee.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.939 : Creon..That lord is now of Thebes the citee.
- (1388) MSS PRO in App.Bk.Lond.E.274 : The Cete of London.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4560 : Whan that Nero brende the citee Of Rome.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.665 : In Babiloyne the Cite.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)722 : In þe cety of Sodamas.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.100 : In al Troies cite Nas non so fair.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Josh.7.2 : The eest coost of the citee [WB(1): burȝ town] Bethel.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20957 : Þai mette to gider þar in an hile, Þat es without paris cite.
- (c1426) Paston2.15 : The Cetie of Norwyche.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2404 : Destroyed is of Troye the cite.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)457 : In diuers places..in Citees of london, of salebure, & of townys Couentre, Marleburgh.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)440 : To seege þe cetee of Rome.
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8)398/11 : The..gouernouris of the cite Rone.
- (1456) Doc.in Nicholl Ironmongers26 : The honurable Crafte..of Iremongers of the citie of London.
- (1473) RParl.6.89a : x Marcs, to be perceyved yerely of the fee ferme of oure Cite of Norwych.
- (1474) RParl.6.116b : The Cite of London..the Cite of York..the Cite of Coventre..the Cite of Canturbury..the Cite of Bath..the Toune of Suthampton..the Toune of Oxonford..the Burgh of Suthwerk [etc.].
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)2472 : Toward the sitte of Palerne The way they toke.
2.
The inhabitants of a city; al the ~, the entire community.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)182/41 : Þe Constable let somony al þe cite and brouȝte þis mayde heom bi-fore.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)106 : As Ihesus him entrede in-to Ierusalem..Al þe cyte was þo ymeoued.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.21.10 : Al the cite was stirid, seyinge 'Who is this?'
3.
(a) the holi ~, the Holy City, Jerusalem; (b) ~ of flight, city of refuge or sanctuary [under Mosaic law].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.27.53 : Thei..camen in to the holy citee and apeeriden to manye.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)48/6 : Ierusalem, the holy cytee..stont full faire betwene hilles.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)327/234 : Feight against vs shall he, And slay vs in the holy Citty.
b
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Josh.21.13 : Ebron, the citee of fliȝt [WB(2): refuyt].
4.
Fig. Stronghold, citadel; abode; ~ of God (heven), neue ~ of Jerusalem, the community of the saved or chosen.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.45.5 : The bure of the flod gladith the cite of God.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.21.2 : The holy citee Jerusalem newe [L sanctam civitatem Ierusalem novam], comynge doun fro heuen of God.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)792 : Þe apostel hem segh in gostly drem Arayed to þe weddyng in þat hyl-coppe, Þe nwe cyte o Jerusalem. Of Jerusalem I..spelle.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)952 : Jerusalem hyȝt boþe nawþeles: Þat nys to yow no more to mene Bot 'cete of God', oþer 'syȝt of pes'; In þat on oure pes watz mad at ene.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)986 : I syȝe þat cyty of gret renoun, Jerusalem so nwe and ryally dyȝt, As hit was lyȝt fro þe heuen adoun.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1023 : As John deuysed ȝet saȝ I þare..Þe cyte stod abof ful sware..Þe stretez of golde as glasse al bare.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6272 : Thou hooly chirche, thou maist be wailed! Sith that thy citee is assayled Thourgh knyghtis of thyn owne table, God wot thi lordship is doutable!
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)79/34 : In þos cetys of secrete heuyns it myȝt be.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)67/21 : To se þis erdly cyte Ierusalem..to se þe blysful cite Ierusalem a-bouyn, þe cyte of Heuyn.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)68/16 : In þe cite of hir sowle sche saw..how owyr Lord was crucifyed.
- c1440(?a1375) Abbey HG (Thrn)52/13 : And so þe reuer of teris clenses Goddis cete, þat es, mannes saule, þat es Goddes cete.
5.
Combs. (a) ~ toun, a walled city, a capital city; (b) ~ man, inhabitant of a city; ~ wal; ~ gate, city gate.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)1864 : He com to a cite toun, Þer sir Amis, þe bold baroun, Was douke & lord in lond.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)428 : Erles and barouns of renoun, Þat come fram a cite toun.
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)49/50 : Alle þe breþeren schulle..go aȝens þe body withoute þe cite townes ende, for to bringe þe body in to þe place þider with worschepe.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5634 : Þere hij founden a fair cite-toun.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Rich.(Auch)117/130 : Riȝt bifore þe cite walle His ost he dede at ones crie.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.23 : Hey tures Getes thir cite men fra stures.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1882 : Right before the cyte-wall.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)195/24 : When he come att þe cetie yate.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED (Note particularly ceti).--per MLL