Middle English Dictionary Entry
consonant ppl. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | consonant ppl. & n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Agreeing, corresponding; harmonious.
Associated quotations
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.172 : Resoluynge it in membres consonant.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.205 : Pictagoras..herde smyȝhtes strykenge yrne..with homers..in whom the scharpenes was consonaunte to the gretenesse.
2.
As noun [cp. consonancie]: (a) a chord; (b) agreement; (c) an unsyllabic sound, a consonant [i.e. a sound normally articulated or sounded along with a vowel].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334b/b : The sautry..haþ þat name of psallendo, syngynge, for þe consonant answereþ to þe note þerof in syngynge.
- c1475(?a1449) ?Lydg.Pag.Knowl.(Trin-C R.3.21)727/67 : [I]ubal was fadyr & fynder of song, Of consonantes and of armony.
b
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)9 : As þis consonaunt is vnknowen to þe japer, so þis fendly marchaundy is vneuident to þe feiþful peple knowend þis.
c
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.155 : Þis uers is imakid wel Of consonans and wowel.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)77/888 : Þe vi voȝels..wer Cristes vi wondes þat a suffred o þe cros, whan a was nailed terto; þe consonauntes wer oþer wondes þat Cristes bodi was fulfild with, whan a was betyn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 Treat.7 Lib.Arts (Trin-C R.14.52)1039/75 : The consonauntis bien divided, for sum be semy-vowels and sum mutis; a semy vowell hath the sowne of a vowel bifore, but a mvte afterward.
- a1484 Treat.7 Lib.Arts (Trin-C R.14.52)1040/102 : Þe place of the outward part of the lippis is cold for it is withoute the mowth in the aire, therfor the consonauntis that bien gendred in thiese placis bien cald mvtis, for their fieble sown & cetera.
Note: Additional quots., sense 2.(c).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)38bb : Jubal..had delyte in the sowne of his [Tubalcain's] hamers, of whiche he made the consonantes and tunes of acorde in his songe.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)38bb : Jubal..was the fyndar of musyke, that is to saye of consonantes of acorde suche as shepherdes vse in their delyces and sportes.
Note: Additional quotes.