Middle English Dictionary Entry
consul n.
Entry Info
| Forms | consul n. Also consoul. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A Roman consul; ~ arai, a consul's insignia; (b) a governor.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.15.16 : Lucius, consul [WB(2): cheef gouernour] of Romayns.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.159 : Þe firste day of Ianyver, whan consuls fongeþ here solempne consul array.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.293 : He was assigned to be consul and Augustus for þe comyn profite of þe empere, and he was icloþed in a consuls gowne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1598 : Cithero, Which consul was of Rome tho.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)170a/a : Exconsul is he þat leueþ þe office of consul.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.4.13 : A consul of Rome that hyghte Nonyus.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.4.69 : Yif that a man..had manye maner dignytees of consules.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.1158 : The grete consul callid Octauyus.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2732 : Ther was a lawe I-made vppon a tyme At rome, by the consoules assent.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)24 : Or he was emperour, whilis he was on of þe consulis, he caused þat þe romanes sent oute wise men gretly lerned in secular sciens to mesur all þe world.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)26 : All þe worthi puple of rome..to chese her consules, whech is as mech to sey as wise men of councell.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)852 : The consulys for themperour Legatys Sende vnto the oste..They were of al the werres ordynaunt.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)22/22 : From Julius conquest on-to the tyme of Marius consulle, þis londe [was] subiecte and tributarye on-to Romayns.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 3.14 : With kyngis and consuls of erthe, that bilden to hem soleyn places.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)137 : Þou schal be principal consul and gouernour of al þi kynrod.