Middle English Dictionary Entry
compassiǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | compassiǒun n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The sharing of suffering with another, commiseration.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)p.1368 head. : Compassioun of our lauedi for þe passioun of hir sone.
- a1400 12 PTrib.(1) (Roy 17.B.17)51 : Þo blessid mayden ne departid not fro hym thorou mysbileue, but suffred with hym thorou compassion.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)42/37 : Whan God visyteth a creatur wyth terys of contrisyon, deuosyon, er compassyon [etc.].
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)61/3 : Sche had teerys of compassyon in þe mende of owyr Lordys Passyon.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)68/11 : In hyr sowle sche saw hym veryly be contemplacyon, & þat cawsyd hir to haue compassyon.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)245/35 : Sche had plentivows teerys of compunccyon & of compassyon in þe rememorawns of þe bittyr peynys & passyons whech owr merciful Lord Ihesu Crist suffyrd.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)87a : I spred and extended with Crist on the cross, be compassion of herte.
- a1500 12 PTrib.(2) (Rwl C.894)397 : Oure lady seynt Mary..was redy to suffre deth by compassyon of hyr son.
2.
(a) Sympathy, compassion; haven ~ of (unto), sympathize with, feel sorry for (sb. or someone's troubles); (b) compassion along with a desire to help, pity; of God: solicitude.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)148/17 : Aze zayþ senekes: 'ase of þe bodye alsuo of þe herte me ssel zueteliche þe wonden agrayþi.' Vor of zoþe loue and of grat compassion ssolle þe amendes by y-do.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.Euphr.(Vrn)476 : Heo sauh what sorwe hire fader made, And of him compassion heo hade.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)284 : Ȝif þou beete hem wiþ serwe of þin herte & pite & compassion.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2722 : Of other mennes passioun Tak pite and compassioun.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.485 : I se wel that ye han of my distresse Compassion..Of verray wommanly benygnytee.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.50 : To prey for hem that Loves servauntz be..And for to have of hem compassioun, As though I were hire owne brother dere.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.467 : Desir..That she of him wolde han compassioun, And he to ben hire man while he may dure.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)111 : Þe wil of oure soule loþiþ not sijknes of body, but..haþ compassioun vnto þe louȝer appetite.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)402 : A modir, for compaccioun which sche haþ to þe vnkunnyng..of her babis..wole accepte her maner of asking and preiyng.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)64 : She hath so gret compassioun of her knyght..That nygh her wit for wo was overcome.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.250 : Þogh þe badde be þo yow full loth, To haten hym ȝit haue ȝe no resoun, But rather haue of hym compassioun.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)125/4 : Eliseus had pitee and compassion vpon this holy woman.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)99/27 : Þe ixe [remedy against wickedness] if oþire mennys defautis with pite and compassioun bi rewing, and her schame and confusioun koueryng.
- a1500 9 PPGod(3) (Hrl 1706)376 : Haue rewe, pytee, and compassyon of alle as a moder wolde haue of her chylde.
- a1500 Treat.GBattle (Hrl 1706)426 : Charyte, pacience, and benignite, with compassyone-hauyng off othere mennys myscheff, bene the pryncypalle armoure that longeth to Crystis peple.
- a1500 Diseases Women(2) (Sln 2463)74 : No man shuld dispise other for the disese that god sendith hym, but to haue compassion of hym and releuen hym.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1110 : Of oure lynage haue som compassioun, That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1770 : His herte had compassioun Of wommen, for they wepten euere in oon.
- (1397) RParl.3.379b : For the passion that God soffred for all mankynde and the compassion that he hadde of his Moder on the Cros.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)11a/b : Wombe and boweles of of mercy and compassioun þat he hath of þe meschief þat foleweþ mankynde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)17b/b : He haþ compassioun of vs whanne we sinneth, lest we falle in deppere wanhope & despeir.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.4.15 : For wee han not a bisschop þat may not haue compassyoun in oure syknessis.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)353 : Þi greet rouþe and compassioun..vpon þe perel of oure gretter fal into sijkenes or into synne.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)390 : Yit mot he doon bothe ryght to poore and ryche..And han of poore folk compassyoun.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)131/2 : And þou had a harte & bowels of yrn..yit..þou suld hafe compassion of þine awn blude, þi sister son.
3.
Involvement in a disease or affliction.
Associated quotations
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.12.26 : If one membre suffre awght, oþere membrys hafe compassyoun [L compaciuntur].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57a/b : Þer beþ 3 maner of spasmez: of inanicioun, of replecioun, & of þe brayne compassioun..3. is made for..puncture of þe neruez..and for mordicacioun of yuel humours.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57b/b : Spasme of compassioun, if it be of aking, yt is cured with..þingez cesyng aking.
4.
Emotion as a human attribute.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)79/14 : Feere that cometh of humayne compassion, which more propirly is callid 'drede,' is a mystrust of the herte.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. compassion.