Middle English Dictionary Entry
composiciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | composiciǒun n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The composition, constitution, or structure (of a complex object, organ, etc.); also, complexion, character; (b) a concoction, a compound medicine; (c) the act of making or constructing something; (d) combining, combination.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)140b/a : In here [birds'] composicioun and makynge eire and watir haþ most maistrie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)200a/b : In composicioun of Iren is more of þe forsayde brymstone þan of quyk siluer.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)203b/b : By matier of stone, som is neisshe and feble of composicioun and som more strong.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)305b/b : White and blake beþ euene yliche moche in þe composicioun of a mene colour.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)307a/a : Þe makynge and composicioun of membres and lymes.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)158/10 : Þe cordis ben multiplied dyuersliche wiþ fleisch to þe composicioun of þe same brawnys.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)11b/a : In quantite, in schappe, in course, in composicioun or makyng.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)131a/b : Þe eyȝe is of a folden composicioun i. makynge.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)174a/a : Of maladies after þe composicioun þe whiche þei haue in ham self and in rewarde of the causes of þe accidentes.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)76/26 : Thei askid him..of the composicion of the elementis.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)148/32 : Composicyon of berynge of hir outewarde..partyes shewyd þe inwarde makynge of hir mynde.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)189 : My name ys Mankynde; I haue my composycyon Of a body & of a soull, of condycyon contrarye.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)95/34 : [Man's] sawle ys moor noble in composicion þan all manere of almaill.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)65a : Man is moste noble creature In compositione erthy that ever god made.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)347/9 : A good composicioun þat þou schalt vse in somer in woundis.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)270b/a : The þridde manere, by connynge composicioun and worching, weueþ ful sotille webbes.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.30.32 : This oyle of anoyntyng, holy it shal be to me..biside the composicioun [WB(2): makyng] of it ȝe shulen not make another.
d
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.229 : By composiciouns Of anglis and of sly reflexiouns.
2.
(a) An agreement between parties, such as a treaty, truce, contract, or regulation; pl. the terms of an agreement; (b) ben in (under) ~, be allied; (c) a document embodying an agreement.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2651 : He moste abyde..By force, and eek by composicioun.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.848 : And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun By forward and by composicioun.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.814 : Thei token the possessioun After the composicioun Among hemself.
- (1424) Wars France in RS 22.2395 : The towne and castell of Guyse in Therache, the whiche by composysyon was rendryd.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.766 : His noble toun Delyuered was..Vnder a feyned fals composicioun.
- (1444) RParl.5.121a : Bitwene the Baillifs and Cominalte of.. Shroesbury divers composicions were made..the whech were enacted bi auctorite of Parlement.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)141 : A castell..whas won with a composicion.
- (1453) LRed Bk.Bristol2.199 : This is the composicion..creat and establisshid for the gode reule of a chaunterie.
- (1453) LRed Bk.Bristol2.202 : The saide preest..be paide for his salarie..after the fourme of this composicion.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)193 head. : A Composicion I-made bitwene the Abbot of Seynt Iames of Northampton and the Abbesse of Godestowe.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)314/8 : Hit was accorded bitwene them, with a frendly composicion, that the forsaid abbesse [etc.].
- a1500(?c1446) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)258 : At the makyng of which mariage, among othir composicions..it was fully agreed that [etc.].
- a1525(?1480) Cov.Leet Bk.460 : Thei haue made newe byldyng vpon the seid Churcheyard..without eny composission made with þe seid priour & Couent.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)211 : By couenaunt made and composicion Betwene the kynges.
- -?-(1435) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.309 : Mercementis & dutees..of the which it bilongith hem, bi this composicioun, to gadere.
b
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)384/16 : Vndir þis composicion was..þe Castell of Bayons with oþer tounez.
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8:Kingsf.)305 : All the oþer tounys, abbeyis, Castell, villagis that tho were in composicion to this toune and castell of Cane.
c
- (1433) RParl.4.479b : All Burgeis rolles, comen composicions, and all Court rolles been putte and kepte in the cofre above seid.
- (1447-8) Shillingford84 : The seide Bysshop..hadde lycence..as hit more pleynly apperyth yn a composicion ther of made.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)389/1 : This toun was vndir composicion to do as þe cite of Roone dede..and to þis composycion þei sette her seelez.
3.
Math.(a) ?Consistency; ?interrelations; (b) composition (of a complex number).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)328a/b : Noumbre haue composicioun among hemself, as boys seiþ, ffor in þe substaunce of numbres is yfounde euene & odde þat makeþ alle noumbres by certeine might of god, for þey ben dyuers and contrary and comeþ naþeles of oon gendrynge.
b
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)39/27 : Yf the nombre be componede, write a digital that is part of his composicioun, and sette the article to the lift hande, as thus.
4.
Gram.?Composition; ?construction.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Donatus(2) (Dc 103)1032 : A preposicion..ys a party of speche vndeclynyd the wych ys set be-fore or be endyth yn a-pocycyon or yn compocycyon.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Peniarth Accedence(1) (Pen 356B)7/312 : A party of spech þe wech ys vndeclynet and ys set before oȝþer partys of spechys togedyr in apposicion and composicion.
Note: Antedates sense 4.
- (1425) Paston2.1 : As for þe composission of Bromholm he hadde so sherchyd att[e] Clunye, and þer-inne he standyth clere.
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
Note: Context: From letter of Nicholas, prior of Bromholm to William Paston, indicating that he (John Paston) has searched in official records and says he has a clear right to Bromholm, a Cluniac priory (a benefice of the Paston family). John is apparently looking for an appointment (as prior) to this benefice before it becomes vacant.
Note: Belongs to sense 2.(a).--notes per MLL
- (1425) Paston2.1 : Dawn Robert..badde hym prouyn owt hys purpos as for þe composission and þe prouysion to an hende.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: Belongs to sense 2.(a).--per MLL
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)147a/b : Þe quantite of þe medicyne oþer of þe þinge þat schal be leide þer to maye not be determined in writynge, but it sufficeþ þat þou neiȝe als nye as þou maie be oppocioun oþer compocicioun.
Note: Belongs to sense 1.(b).
Note: Gloss: med. the process of compounding a medical preparation, the combining of the ingredients of a medicinal concoction.
Note: Note that gloss for oppō̆siciǒun sense 1.(g) has the med. field label.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. composition.