Middle English Dictionary Entry
conquest(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | conquest(e n. |
| Etymology | OF conquest(e & ML conquestum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Subjugation or conquest by armed force; (b) the defeating or defeat of an adversary, victory; also, a figure of Victory [quot. 1385 Chaucer]; (c) specif., the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
Associated quotations
a
- (1399) RParl.3.423b : It es noght my will..yt be waye of Conquest I wold disherit any man of his heritage.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.45 : Þe Danes ches Knoute to kyng..& Inglond he seised for his fader conquest.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)42 : Alisaundre..The world he wan and had it of conqweste.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)18/16 : Þe sowdan es lord of fyue kyngdomes, whilk he has geten by conquest.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1298 : This nyght..Mercurye his message hath presented, That nedes to the conquest of Ytayle.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)44.428 : He hadde herd gret Chevalrye Of Conqwestes, Of batailles, Of victorye.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)402 : He conquered with conqueste kyngdomes twelue.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)27 : But þis werk..is distroyed eythir be conqwest of þe cite, or ellis be chaunge on to bettir use.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.KEng.(1) (Hrl 372)109 : This myghti William Duk of Normandie..Maad kyng bi conquest of Brutis Albion.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)171/21 : The quenqueste of Irland.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)142/362 : Nys gryt stryf wyþoute queade; And þer conqueste hys, stryf hys neade.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1408 : Confort for þe conquest þei cauȝt sone after, & made hem as mery as ani men couþe.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2028 : Al aboue depeynted in a tour Saugh I conquest sittyng in greet honour, With the sharpe swerd ouer his heed Hangynge by a subtil twynes threed.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4701 : For the sped of this conqueste He let do make a riche feste.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)180b/a : Þer ynne hercules sette wondirful and noble pilers In tokenyng of conquest.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.855 : Tragidie..also doth þe conquest trete Of riche kynges and of lordys grete.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1676 : O, haddest thow in thy conquest ded ybe, Ful mikel untrouthe hadde ther deyd with the!
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)6 : It is ful good to here in ieste Off his prowesse and hys conqueste.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)18 : Arches in Rome were many rered in worchip of conqwerouris aftyr her grete conquestis.
c
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.14 : In yer of grace a thousande thre hundred and syxti, ȝe ȝer of regne of kyng Edward þe thridde after þe conquest xxxiij.
- (1425) Doc.in Bk.Lond.E.229/45 : Writen at london..In the thrydde yere of the regne of the sexte kyng Henry after the conquest of Engeland.
- (1447-8) Shillingford76 : The whiche cite..is auncion demene, and at alle tymes, as well a fore the conquest as sithen, hath be the Kyngis cite.
- (1450) Doc.Chester in Archaeol.5775 : The seide comite is and hath ben a comite palatyne als well afore the conquest of Englond as sithen, distincte & sep[ar]ate from youre coron of Englond.
- (1472) Grant Arms in Antiq.49289 : I, the saide Kyng of Armes, to theise presents have sette my seale..Yeven at London the yere of the Reigne of Kyng Edward the fourth, aftir the Conquest the xiith.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)11.428 (v.1:p.118) : Tharchebisshop Thomas .. halowid solempnely the chirche of Redyng which Kyng Harry the first aftir the conquest, this kyngis ayle, founded and lyeth buryed in the same.
2.
Things won by conquest or a victory, as territory or booty.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.709 : Alisaundre..To knyhtes..after that thei have deserved Yaf the conquestes that he wan.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2540 : Melchisedech..Was prist and king al weldand..O þair conquest he tok þe tend.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)57/23 : That othyr Parte of his conqueste, He and Hys heyres sholde Holde of the Kynge.
3.
(a) Effort to obtain or attain something, a struggle; (b) conflict, strife.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)58 : There was a chepe þat hadde flees of golde..but the conquest was so strong that non comme thedir, but that lost there lyfe.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)1262 : And euere conquest haþ his excellens, In his pursuite as he fint resistence.
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.110 : On Saynt Steuen day, withouten any conquest, þe barons on gode aray at London mad þei feste..þai gaf Steuen þe coroun.