Middle English Dictionary Entry
clemence n.
Entry Info
| Forms | clemence n. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Clemency, mercy, grace; the goddess Clemency; (b) as an honorific: your ~ , Your Grace.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.928 : In this temple of the goddesse Clemence [rime: presence] We haue been waytynge.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4057 : The throne of princis be clemence is maad stable.
- c1456(a1449) Lydg.Epistle Sibille (Ashm 59)95 : Lowe of hir speche, of womanly clemence [rime: sapyence, prudence].
- c1475-a1600(a1473) Fortescue Declaration (Clermont)533 : Ye..founde in his noble grace also grete clemence and fauoures as euer dyd man.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.35 : Blissid be yat saveoure and his clemence divine.
b
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)441 : I shal breffly Speceffye Your hihe merytes..by Iugement yove direct to your Clemence.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)39/22 : Loke that ther be none of thyne..nobles..but þat thow make hym know thy largesse, by the clemence [Lambeth: swetnesse; Caritate: buxumnes; L clementia] of thy magiste.
Note: Supplementary material for sense (a). Modify gloss: "Clemency, mercy, grace; benevolence, kindness; also, the goddess Clemency."
Note: Lambeth quot. has swetenes(se found in sense 5.(a)= "goodwill, benevolence, kindness"; Caritate quot. uses buxǒmnes(se; although quot. is not in this word, it appears to belong to sense (c) = "benignity, graciousness, kindness, mercy."--notes per MLL