Middle English Dictionary Entry
collecciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | collecciǒun n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The action or process of gathering: (a) the collecting (of things); (b) the collection (of taxes); a tax collector's district; (c) the accumulation (of morbid matter); a swelling or boil; maken ~, come to a head.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.345 : Þe feste of þe..collectioun, of þe gaderynge of þe bones.
b
- (1472-3) RParl.6.5a : The..Collectours..have..power to make Levye and due Collection of the same sommes.
- (1474) RParl.6.117a : To distreigne the said persone..wheresoever they be within yeir Collection where they be Collectours.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)41a/a : Euery aposteme prefocatiue..ouþer is resolued or chaunged, or it makeþ colleccioun, or it sleeþ.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)49/29 : In þe buȝt of þe arm al þe colleccion or gedryng abode stille, schewyng as it schuld gadre to ane heued.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)97/15 : Bolnyngz and collections intercutaniez, wher so euer þai bene gedred in þe body.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)46b/b : If it [aposteme] make colleccioun i. gadrynge to gedre..helpe it to be matured.
2.
Something gathered: (a) a congregation of persons; (b) a compilation of literary works; (c) a summary; (d) a sum.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.10.25 : Forsakande oure colleccyoun.
b
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)1 : To gader eld exposiciones upon Scripture into o colleccion.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)0a/a : A colleccioun of þe art i. crafte of Cyrurgie.
d
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)33/20 : Nombre is a colleccioun of vnitees.
3.
Gram. The use of a collective noun.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)99 : In how many maners schall the nominatyf case and the verbe a corde?..In how many thynggys may they be lette? By foure: by euocacion..by apposicion..by concepcion..by colleccyon, as 'ther gooth a grete company of knyghtes..vadunt grandis turma militum'.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 Treat.7 Lib.Arts (Trin-C R.14.52)1041/124,126 : Logik is divided in to iij partis, Diffynicioun, Particioun, and Collectioun..Colleccioun is treatid in dyvers wises in the newe logik, for a disputacioun sumtyme procedith in triewe and necessarie argument the whiche is cald a demonstracioun.
Note: Glossary: 'synthesis, summary'.
Note: Additional quot., ?modify gloss, sense 2.(c) to indicate 'a term used in logic', or ?new sense.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. collection.