Middle English Dictionary Entry
commencen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | commencen v. Also comencen, com(m)ensen, (early) comenci, (late) commenchen. |
| Etymology | OF comencier |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. comsen.
1.
(a) To come about, arise; (b) to begin; begin (to snow); (c) law to become effective.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)986 : Þan comencede a batail newe by-twene þes hostes two.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3023 : Þanne comencede þat harde fiȝt.
- (1447-8) Shillingford132 : Alle the..debate and strif commenseth and begyneth yn their part.
b
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)247 : Þei it comenci to snewe and frese, Þis king mot make his bed in mese.
- (1473) RParl.6.77a : That the same Letters Patentes..be as goode..as the same Lettres Patentes were..afore this present Parlement comensed.
- (1474) RParl.6.111b : Wee the said Commens graunted..to pay the xth part of the value of a yere..of th'issues and profittes of..Londes..the same yere to commence atte fest of the Circumsicion of oure Lord.
c
- (1450) RParl.5.175b : This Acte of th'appointement for the Houshold to commence and take effect the vii day of May next suyng.
2.
(a) To initiate (an action); start (a fight); (b) law to introduce (a bill); bring (suit).
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)2008 : Herhaud ginneþ hem to asaily, Þat fiȝt he wil comenci.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1552 : Whenne..angre..arteth þy herte Forto commenche a cause not cleere in þe winde..revle þe by reason and renne not to faste.
b
- (1461) RParl.5.485b : By the reason or colour of oon Statute and Ordenaunce ayenst the same Thomas, in a Parlement commenced at Droeghda the Friday next after the fest of Seint Blase.
- (1461) RParl.5.489a : All Actis Judiciall..determyned or commensed..in any Court or Courtes of Recorde.
- (1464) RParl.5.564a : The other half to such a persone as shall sue therfore..beyng Maire of your Staple at Caleis at the tyme of such sute commenced.
- (1473) RParl.6.65b : So that it be not lawfull..To make or commence any Processe within this his Reame of Englond.
3a.
(a) To enter upon the office or privileges of a master or doctor in a university after completing a course of study; also, exercise this office (in one or more of the traditional disciplines), lecture; (b) of a student: ~ in, to enter upon or pursue (a course of study).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.259 : By a statute of the universite of Oxenford, whan eny man is i-congyed þere to commence in eny faculte, he..schal not spende..passynge þre þowsand of grootes turonens.
- ?a1425 Const.Masonry(1) (Roy 17.A.1)556 : Euclyde Taȝghte the craft of gemetre..So he dede..Of dyvers craftes mony mo. Throȝgh hye grace of Crist yn heven, He commensed yn the syens seven; Gramatica..Dialectica [etc.].
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Hrl 1666)p.1 : No man schal lerne dyuynite, neither hooly writ, no but he that hath doon his fourme in art, that is, that hath comensid in art, and hath ben regent tweyne ȝeer aftir.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)1154 : Reuerend docturs, degre of xij yere, þem ye must assigne to sitte aboue hym þat commensed hath but ix.
b
- (1439) Doc.in Leach Educ.Chart.403 : That the seid Maister and Scolers mowe fynde..xxiiii Scolers for to comense in gramer, and a Preest to gouerne them.
3b.
To enter (upon) or attain (to fame).
Associated quotations
- (1471) Rec.Throne Edw.IV (Roy 17.D.15)p.280 : The duke of Glocetter..Yonge of age and victorius in batayle, To the honoure of Ectour that he myȝte comens, Grace hym folowith.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1454) RParl.5.258b : It shall be lefull to the same John..in alle the seid Tenementes entre..Be eny tayille, matier or case resonable, comensed before the seid Legate.
Note: We don't have a gloss that quite covers this: quot. probably belongs to 2.(b), but needs additional gloss.--per MJW