Middle English Dictionary Entry
abhomināble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | abhomināble adj. Also abominable. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of a thing, a sight, a disease, an action, etc.: physically loathsome, disgusting, repulsive; ~ to the stomak, nauseating.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.122 : No thyng is to hym [a child] moore abhomynable than thilke mylk..medled with oother mete.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)60b/a : Ȝif þe doynge of generacioun were abhominable, generacioun of best were Ilost.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)322a/a : Stynkynge þinges beth horrible to þe tast and abhominable to the stomak.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)45/7 : Þat is ful abhominable & vgli for man to loke vpon.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)145/8 : Ryth euyn so had sche now horybyl syghtys & abhominabyl..of beheldyng of mennys membrys.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.180v : Kyng William him harddelich assayled the toune to wham summe vppon the walles shewed oute hure arses, makyng therwith abhominable signes so skornyng and dispysyng the Normannes.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.214 : Abhominable and verrey monstruouse.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)26 : Hit was to any mans kynd to sorofull and pitous sight, and to abhomynable to se.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2229 : In that plage..comyth aftir sekenes abominabill.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2776 : They make semen..Abominabill wormys.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)22496 : I sawe my-sylff, ffoule and vncleene, And to byholde ryght hydous, Abhomynabel and vecyous.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)194/9 : Cast vp þys frogge lappyd yn glute and fulthe, and abominabull forto loke on.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)326 : Þerof com fro me so abhominabil stench [etc.].
2.
(a) Of a thing, a doctrine, a vice, a sin, etc.: morally disgusting, detestable, odious, cursed; ~ to (toward, unto) God, odious to God; (b) of a virtue: disgusting (to the wicked); (c) of persons: morally odious; haven (holden) ~, to regard as morally loathsome, abominate.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)49 : Þe ilke zenne..ne byeþ naȝt to nemni, uor þe materie þet is to moche abomynable.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.1.57 : Kyng Antiochus beeldide the abominable [WB(2): abhominable; L abominandum] ydol of desolacioun or discomfort on the auter of God.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.910 : Thilke abhomynable synne of which that no man vnnethe oghte speke.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3107 : Ther is no vice such as he, Ferst toward godd abhominable And to mankinde unprofitable.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3337 : Thei [tirannie and crualte] ben to mankinde lothe And to the god abhominable.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2006 : Ire is..Abhomynable vnto the god of heuene.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6518 : Glotonye..ys a shameful vyleynye..For ouermoche ys abominable & stynk.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)116/5 : Summe feeden her foule coueitise wiþ lust & lykyng..& þis is moost abhomynable.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.27.33 : Ire and woodnesse..ben abhomynable [WB(1): wariable; L exsecrabilia].
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)190 : Here preiere in lippis is abhomynable.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)172/14 : Nothynge es more abomynable and hatful to god than leesynge of soules.
- a1456 Affter þe stormy tyme (Trin-C R.3.20)138 : Þaughe þy gilt be neuer so abhomynable.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)15 : In this ȝere..began mech sinne growe up on erde, so foule and soo abhominabe that it is schame to say.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)100/98 : As wyse as is god he wolde A be; this was þe Abhomynabyl presumpcion.
b
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)208 : For meknes es abhomynabill to prowde mene.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.343 : A ianglere is to god abhomynable.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)49 : If ony man comaundith to be don that thing that the Lord forbedith to be don, be he abhominable to alle men that louen God.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Num.23.8 : Bi what resoun schal Y haue abhomynable whom God hath not abhomynable?
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judg.9.23 : The Lord sente the worste spirit bitwixe Abymelech and the dwelleris of Sichem, whiche bigynnen to holde hym abomynable [L coeperunt eum detestari].
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)55 : Are þei not..werr and abhominabler þan carnal sodomits?
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)3.10.54b : This be..pepill dishonest -- I kan not sey how foule & abhomynabill.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)702 : Brokers, abhomynable swerers, Dryuylles, dastardes.
3.
As noun: ~ of monkes, a crowd of monks; -- jocular.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A obhominabelle [some MSS insert: sight] of monkes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)232 : An habomynable syght off monkys.
Note: New spelling
Note: Sense 3.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)25 : The abominable and multitude of deuelis was innumerable.
Note: Need date
Note: Modify gloss
Note: Sense 3.