Middle English Dictionary Entry
confūsiǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | confūsiǒun n. Also confusioune. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Destruction, ruin; death; bringen to ~; (b) a source or cause of ruin; (c) theol. perdition, damnation.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1545 : Allas, ybroght is to confusioun The blood roial.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)9014 : Þe man she haþ in hir bandoun She bringeþ to confusioun [Göt: confusion].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.186 : For infortune it wolde..They sholden hire confusioun desire.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)16.324 : Whi thow Madist him so to fallen A-down Atte the wyndowe..to his Confucioun.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)280/250 : He hath browth oure lawys neyr in-to confusyon.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.213 : O Rome, þer is noon oþer cite egalle to the nowe beenge in ruyne. Thou may teche nowe in confusion howe nowble thow was a fore.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2252 : Than shall the londe of Brutes..Turne fro welthe vnto confusioun.
- a1500(?a1450) St.Dor.(1) (Hrl 5272)199 : Ordeyned is thi confusione: Do sacrifice or lees thyne hed.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2296 : If that wommen were nat goode..oure lord..wolde neither han wroght hem ne called hem help of man, but rather confusioun of man.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1958 : Youre inconstance is youre confusioun.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3404 : Hir hiȝe pryde..Shal be..hir confusioune.
c
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)195/62 : Þis Maide seide to þe duyk..'Do þov þin owene confusion!'
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)229/3 : Þe doȝtren..zecheþ hire blisse, and hit ssel wende ham in-to confuzion and to ssame eurelestinde.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3133 : I prey to god, yeue hym confusioun That first thee broghte vn to religioun!
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)128/16 : Ȝit was noght þis..Inogh till his confusione.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.12.2 : Iesu..þe whiche..susteynede þe cros, þe confusyoun of man dispisid.
2.
(a) Humiliation, disgrace, shame, or an instance of it; ~ of face, blushing for shame; (b) a source or cause of humiliation or shame.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)34.30 : Ben hij cloþed wyþ confusione and drede, þat speken iuels up me.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)43.17 : Aldai my shame is oȝains me, and confusion of my face haþ couered me.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.3.25 : Wee shul slepe in oure confusyoun, and coueren shal vs oure shenshipe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.187 : Agayns honour han they in helle shame and confusioun for..in helle is noon honour ne reuerence.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)14b/a : Hit nediþ þat Aungels be clene of vnclennes & confusioun.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.206 : Normundie he les at his confusioun; In þe courte of France he was cald a feloun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2108 : Gret schame and confusioun.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2652 : Lord and fader, al youre wille..I shal fulfille, So it to me be no confusioun.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)86 : Alle tho that ben enemyes to the Kyng, I shall hem clothe with confusioun.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)90 : Confusyone or schame: Confusio.
- (?a1442) *War.Chanc.PRO ser.C 81 file 1367no.42 : And thaire Wyves oribly defoyled to her utterest shame and confusion.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)2507 : To þam þat lifes synfully..es it gret confucioun And hertly schame.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.152 : Certanly a foule confusioun It is, so falsly for to haue a fame.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.22 : Reysone, mynd, and wyll God of his goodnyse Ordent to the..That thou schulddyst kepe thi body from confusion.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)2/20 : Yn moch honowre to hym, and moche confucyon to þe fende.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3086 : The king..wolde his wittes plie To sette som conclusioun, Which scholde be confusioun Unto this knyht.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Phil.3.19 : Hure God is hure wombe, & þe blisse of hem is confusyoun, þat safereþ erþelyche þynges.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1369 : Duc Jasoun, Thow sly devourere and confusioun Of gentil wemen.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1119 : Cristen feithe..The whiche is a grete strength to vs, And to the Jvys vtter confusyon.
3.
Refutation; confutation.
Associated quotations
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5309 : He sal shew, to þair confusioun, Alle þe signes of his passioun.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)43/10 : Þis I sey in confusion of þeire errour.
- a1450(c1405) Purvey Determ.(Trin-C B.14.50)174/130 : A Flemynge..translatid al þe Bibel in-to Flemyche..þe boke was taken to examynacion & truely aproued..in conf[u]cioun to his enmyes.
4.
Perturbation, uneasiness.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4460 : This put me in confusioun; For..many have bigyled been For trust that they have set in Hope.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4480 : Thus am I possed up and doun With dool, thought, and confusioun; Of my disese ther is no noumbre.
5.
(a) Mixing (of diverse things); (b) disorder, confusion, chaos; also, commotion; (c) error, confusion.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.195/34 : He is on in alle, nouȝt þurȝ confusion of substaunce, bot þurȝ onhede of persone.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)8b/b : Pluralite in persones is I founde, fro whom all confusioun & lewed adm[i]xccioun is remeued.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.3.190 : It scholde rather ben confusion of all dissertes medlid withouten discrecioun.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)3.758 (v.1:p.38) : The fadir is not he which the sonne is .. And yit is eche that othir is, withoute confusioune.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.852 : Division, Which moder of confusioun Is.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.869 : Thise..rokkes blake, That semen rather a foul confusioun Of werk than any fair creacioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)16b/a : Þis holy potestas..kepiþ þe same ȝiftis witoute confusioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)174b/b : For þere was confusioun of langage, it hatte babel in grewe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.262 : Certes it es the ryghte ordre of thinges; but as to thi wikkid opynioun, it is a confusioun.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)21/4 : Bābilon, whare þe confusioun of tunges was made.
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 19.29 : Whanne þise wordes woren harde, þei wore fulfilled wiþ ire..Ande þo cyte was fulfilled wiþ confusione.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)3 : In confusioun of tungis.
c
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)14 : If ye wol..make..argumentes with oute me, shule ye neuere haue conclusioun that it ne shal come to confusioun.