Middle English Dictionary Entry
constitūciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | constitūciǒun n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A decretal or edict (of the Pope); a regulation (of the Church or its dignitaries); (b) a rule (of a monastic order); (c) a decree (as of a ruler), a law; (d) an ordinance or statute (of a town or guild).
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)612 : Alle þe constitucions..Of vr eldre faderes.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)28 : If the bisshop of Rome..make a decretal othir constitucioun..in endullynge the regalie and power of seculer lordis.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)12/27 : How schal þise bischopis maynten þer constituciouns aȝens þer God & holi seintis?
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)89 : Prelatis also setten more pris bi here owen tradicions, maade for to meyntene here pride & worldly wynnynge, þan bi constitucions.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)33 : Canon Lawe groundith constituciouns and ordinancis of general counseilis and of popis and prouyncial and synodal constituciouns.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)55/27 : Whan þo orisones ar do whech ar ordeyned be constituciones of þe cherch.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)84 : He mad a constitucion eke, that the child whech was born of a Cristen woman schuld be baptized.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.273 : The seetes of Cawnterbery and of Yorke not to be subiecte in eny wise to other, after the constitucion [L secundum constitutionem] of Gregory, excepte that the oon is moore then that other for the priorite of tyme.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)131/19,20 : If þe apostlis hadden maad suche an ordinaunce or constitucioun, it had be putte among þe canouns or constituciouns whiche ben comounly named 'þe canouns of þe apostlis'.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxxv : Crist made oo lawe & þei maken anoþer lawe wiþ many constitucions. Þei weren ringis on here fyngeres [etc.].
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)131.79 (v.2:p.342) : They chesyn .. the reule of .. Seynt Austyn, addynge therto certeyn obseruaunces of streytere lyuyn by maner of constitucyons.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)3684 : Holi fadirs then lyuyng maden þis constitucioun, That in worship of that day [etc.].
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)138/15 : Aȝeyne þe constytucyons of holy chyrche.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)91/30 : The evyl lyfe the synfull that the Pepell of Irland laddyn..out of constituciones of holy churche and ryght be-lewe.
b
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick176 : Laghe and your constytucyons forbeden that any nunne shulde were any vayles of sylke.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick187 : That euery day in pleyn chapytre ye make be redde..the constitucyons of your ordre.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)100/11 : After a constitucioun bi hem ordeynid..alle þe Sustris schulden dwelle..vnder..perpetuel closinge.
c
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)25a : Þe Emperours constitucioun Adryan comaundeþ þe same.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)50 : Romanes..mad a constitucioun in her senate þat all þat puple whech was undir her dominacioun [etc.].
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)104/112 : Custome nat writte is usage; and if it be writte, constitucion it is..y-cleped.
d
- a1422 Gild St.Geo.Nrw.(Rwl D.913)445 : Ordinacions and constitucions..expedient for gouernaunce of the Fraternite and Gylde.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.851 : Yar ys a Constitucion in ye crafte of Girdelers..yat nane of yat crafte wirke any lede amang other metaill, bot yf yt be in souldour.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)85 : The constitucion of the reconisaunce of tenementz that owen to reverten.
- (1443) Reg.Gild Stratford1 : Here beggynneth [Macdonald reads: bygynnyth] the constitucyons and ordinauncys for the good gouernaunce And rewle of the Gilde of the Holy Cros.
2.
A body of rules, customs, or laws; worldes ~, the customs of society.
Associated quotations
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)45/256 : Whon he [Bernard] wiþ felawes þritti Tok þe ordre deuoutli Of Cistewes, þe whuche hous, And þerof þe constitucioun glorious..Was ifoundet, [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2206 : The worldes constitucion Hath set the name of gentilesse Upon the fortune of richesse.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)58/23 : Amanges þe Sarezenes..Cristen men..vsez diuerse lawez and custommes, after þe constitucioun and þe ordinaunce of þe rewmes whare þai dwell.
3.
One of the rules or principles (of a science); also, the body of fundamental principles.
Associated quotations
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)4b/b : [Galien] tauȝte þe manere of sechinge or trasyng in þe book of constitucioun of lernynge craft.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)113/36 : Þe reules of þis science of Phisonomy & constituciouns suffyceantz.
4.
The creation (of the world).
Associated quotations
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Eph.1.4 : He has chosyn vs in hym byfore þe constitucyoun of þe world [L ante mundi constitutionem].