Middle English Dictionary Entry
cọ̄l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | cọ̄l adj. Also coul. |
| Etymology | OE cōl |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Cold (i.e. not warm); (b) cool.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)97.58/2 : & he bæðes brucan, na swa þeah coles, ne he colne wætes þicge.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)21/15 : Nim þanne þat wæter and habbe on hys muþe swa wearm swa he forbere mæȝe, fort hyt acoled beon; and þanne hyt si col, wyrpe hyt ut of hys muþe.
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)403/80 : [Hell] euere is hot and neuere col.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.41 : If hit be cole in hete and luke in colde, The bettir may me with that watir holde.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1076 : Kaste ancres full kene into þe cole water.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2541 : A watere..clerire þan cristall & cole [Dub: cold] as a chill.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)454 : Þe gome glyȝt on þe grene graciouse leues, Þat euer wayued a wynde so wyþe & so cole.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3800 : A kniȝt..fand in a cole schade A litill drysnyng of dewe.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)90 : Cole or sumwat cold: Algidus.
2.
Lacking warmth of feeling, sympathy, or hope; heartless, unsympathetic, discouraged.
Associated quotations
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)102/116 : And ised many a foul Þat on-wyslyche god ous by-gan, And hys red was to coul Þat let man to suich meschyef.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)p.131 : Wat segge ȝe maistres..þat ȝeue þat cole red To bi nyme blod & my lyf?
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)258 : And thynkest in thy wit, that is ful col, That he nys but a verray propre fol That loveth paramours.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9255 : Þen comford he caght in his cole hert, Thus hengit in hope & his hele mendit.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.20rb (1.4) : After bath, kepe þe hote; after mete go or stonde; after veyn blode, kepe þe cole.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.21va (1.4) : Som seyn þat diuretik is hote and drye and stiptik cole and moste.
Note: Additional quots. Editor's gloss: 'cool, cold'.