Middle English Dictionary Entry
consistōrie n.
Entry Info
| Forms | consistōrie n. Also consistoire & constorie, cunstorie & constery, -ere, constri. |
| Etymology | L consistōrium & OF consistorie, consistoire, consitoire. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Eccl. (a) The court of a diocese for adjudication under canon law, bishop's court; also, a session of such a court; ~ session; (b) the senate of cardinals, the consistory.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Ne mai no lewed (Hrl 2253)76 : Seþþe y go coure at constory..seþþen y pleide at bisshopes plee.
- a1350 Ne mai no lewed (Hrl 2253)85 : Atte constorie heo kenneþ vs care ant whissheþ vs euele.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)p.332 : If a man have a wif and he ne love hire noht, Bringe hire to the constorie..And bringge tweye false wid him [etc.].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.137 : Heo þat ben Curset in Constorie counteþ hit not at a Russche.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.318 : Kynges courte and comune courte, consistorie and chapitele, Al shal be but one courte.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.234 : In þe constorie bifor þe comissarie he cometh nouȝt ful ofte.
- ?1403 Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.306a : Alle tha that lettes prelates or ordiners of halykirk for to hald consistori cession or chapetir.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)42a/b : Monitorium: an hestynge place or a cunstorie.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)36/717 : Þaȝ þai [clerics] to here constri hom [seculars] to here court calle, Þai mercyn hem with mone.
- a1475 Fulfyllyd ys (Hrl 5396)p.236 : The constery ye combryd with coveytyse.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.1676 : Wedloke, In the face of the churche it oweth to be hadde, And not in derke corners..Suche blynde bargens beith oft full badde And causeth hem to consistorie after to be ladde.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2908 : The Pope..bar it stille in his memoire Til he cam to the Consistoire.
2.
A secular tribunal, or one of its sessions; also, a trial.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2268 : Þe constori þai bi gan. Swete ysonde sware Sche was giltles woman.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.162 : This false iuge..sat in his consistorie And yaf his domes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.257 : Hir fader..Hir heed of smoot..And to the iuge he gan it to presente, As he sat yet in doom in consistorie [rime: storie].
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)139 : Þis is he þat was to-fore Pylate atteynt..in the Consistorye.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)138 : To arest þese men and bryng hem to his consistory.
3.
(a) The council chamber of the Roman senate or privy council of the Roman emperor; ?also, the senate or council; (b) the council chamber of any ruler.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)5/23 : Þe seuen wise, wiȝ gret glorie, Þat child ladde to consistorie; Þat is a stede wiȝ inne Rome, Þer men makez wise dome.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)517 : Suche ioye was neuere in the Consistorie Made..Whanne Sesar Iulius kam home with his victorie.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2864 : Cesar sittyng myd the consistorie In his estat most imperiall.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.3225 : Iulius, slayn in the consistorie Bi sexti senatours.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)79 : With bodekyns he was eslawe At þe Capitoyle in Consistorye.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)231 : This woman would sumtyme sitte..be the Doctouris in the Consistory, and plete with the treuth and ageyn the treuth, be the Kyngis auctorite.
- a1500 7 Sages(1) (Cmb Ff.2.38)194/133 : They lad hym yn to the constory, That ys a stede withynne Rome There clerkys dyspute.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Esth.5.1 : Ester..stod in the porche of the kingus hous..and he sat vp on his see in the constorie [WB(2): consistorie] of the paleis.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.65 : Calkas..In consistorie among the Grekes soone He gan in thringe..And sette hym there as he was wont to doone.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)112/33 : He badd his knyghtis þat þay scholde..bere hym in-to þe consistorye.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)58/38 : A man ys more holden to worschipe þe kynge yn his court and yn his constory þan yn oþer place.
4.
(a) Theol. The 'court' of God as ruling and judging mankind; hevenli ~; also, the heavenly kingdom, heaven; (b) fig. the court (of Fortuna, Wisdom).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.33 : Out of þe concistorie of Goddis riȝtwisnesse [L de sonsistorio divinæ justitiæ] com a decre, þat a prophete..schulde be i-sent.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.99 : Drede is at þe laste, Lest crist in constorie acorse ful manye.
- a1456(c1430) Lydg.Mum.Windsor (Trin-C R.3.20)8 : In þe heghe hevenly consistorye, Be ful acorde of þe Trynitee..Þe Lord..His eyeghe of mercy caste on Cloudovee.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.180 : To cleyme a see in the heuenli consistorie.
- c1440 ?Lydg.Charters (Add 14848)p.215 : Laude and glorye..be yove to hym..whiche alle governethe in the hevenly consystorye.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)63.70 (v.1:p.393) : From the high toure of heven and from the consistorie of the hole trynyte was sent an angel in ambassiat, seyeng .. 'Heil ful of grace.'
- a1500 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 20)p.450 : Bryng vs, lorde, to þi hevynly concistory!
b
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)236 : The tabernacle..Made ffor the lady callyd Dame Sapience, Tofore whos fface..Wern the sevyn sciences called lyberall..Which neuere departed ffrom hire consistorie.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4537 : This blynde goddesse [Fortuna] in hir consistoire..Reueth fro pryncis ther sceptres & ther crouns.