Middle English Dictionary Entry
continūaunce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | continūaunce n. Also continew-, contenu-, contunu-. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of persons: perseverance, continued application; constancy, patience; don, maken, usen ~, to persevere, persist.
Associated quotations
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)2/13 : Affyaunce And continuaunce And louh herte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.368 : Fortune..yifth hire happi chance To him which makth continuance To preie love.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.835 : With leisir and continuance, This Mayde fell upon a chance [to be in love].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.680 : God..in vertu sende thee continuaunce.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)261b/a : Bestes þat vseþ superfluite and continuaunce of seruice of venus.
- c1410 Mirror Sinners (UC 97)438 : Blessed schalt þow be, ȝef þou holde with contynuaunce this holy bithenkyng.
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)35/28 : In continuaunce of good lyuynge, in hole loue to þee.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.77 : Of youre lordshipe eke Continuance I wolde yow biseke. This Troilus..herde his lady preye Of lordshipe hym.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.7.14 : Nyle thou wilne to lie ony leesing; for whi the contynuaunce [WB(1): besynesse; L assiduitas] therof is not good.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)285 : Such perseueraunce or contynuaunce..is a circumstaunce to þe vertu of douȝtynes.
- a1450 Who þat liste loke (Stw 951)p.44 : That Auoutier þat dooth continuance In his foule synne.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)168/11 : Þe fifþe degree of prowesse is cleped constaunce, þat is continuaunce.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)43/36 : Contynuaunce in hatyng.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)201/6 : He vsid contynuaunce in this blessid laboure of wakynge.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)19 : Þorȝ hir continuaunce of synne.
2.
Of activities or states: persistence, continued occurrence or existence; continued application (of a cure); long ~, long life.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1565 : Thurgh long continuance Of misbelieve.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)90a/a : Þe cause of contenuaunce of a rotid feuere is corrupcioun of humours [etc.].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)106b/a : Heuene, wiþ continuance of his meovinge, settiþ a liȝt leye þat þinge þat hit meoviþ vppon.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)103/11 : Wiþ contynuaunce [Add: contynewaunce] of þe same cure.
- (1414) RParl.4.57b : My longe contynuance in preson.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3595 : I preie with deuocioun..Þat he list graunt longe contenuaunce..Vn-to þat noble myȝti conquerour, Herry þe Fyfþe.
- (1425) RParl.4.267b : My Lord Mareschall naleyeth no possession nor continuance hadde by non of alle his Auncestres.
- (1448) Shillingford43 : With contynuance of the gode..lordship of my seide lorde, the grounde of right..ys like to take effecte.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.87 : Þis drede, wiþ his continuance, Wiþdraweþ his blisse.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)291/26 : In longe sleepynge is no profyte, but grete hurte in the contynuaunce.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Conf.(Dub 245)339 : Continuaunce of mannes synne, wiþouten sorowe and displesaunce, wole make his synne harde.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)53/23 : Þe estate of þe seide reule myȝt not have his countenaunce in good prosperite.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)57/123 : I knowe wel the continuaunce of thy service.
3.
Duration; ~ of time; of long ~, for a long time; in a short ~, in a short time; bi ~, constantly, incessantly.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.187 : It is to drede That Lachesse, in continuance, Fortune mihte such a chance [etc.].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.446 : Þe hertly hate þat he bare of old Vn-to Grekis..by contynuaunce.
- (1433) RParl.4.423a : Be contynuaunce of any tyme.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.894 : How slauhtre of princis causith subuersioun..Off mortal werre long contynuaunce.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)1 : Noble knyghtes..haue exerciced and occupied by long continuaunce of tyme..in dedys of cheualrie.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)223/102 : In a schorte contynuaunce.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)127/25 : Yf there be an euel humour in a persone, in contynuaunce of tyme, [etc.].
- a1500(c1435) ?Lydg.DM(2) (Lnsd 699)35/226 : Com forth, doctour of Canon & Cyvile, In bothe these lawis of long contynuaunce Your tyme hath spent.
4.
Associated quotations
- (1425) Paston2.23 : John..hathe cesed of his sute..takyng continuance of the same matier unto Cristemasse.
- (1425) Paston2.24 : If this continuance be refused, I prey yow..that of your wysdom..ye wille..defenden the seyd sutes.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)4816 : He comaundyd his men that alle her plees Shulde sees and be put in contynuaunce [vr. contenewance].
- a1525(?1421) Cov.Leet Bk.34 : Continuance of Capias & Scire facias.
5.
(a) Maintenance, preservation; god ~, welfare; haven in ~, to preserve, sustain; bi ~, in maintaining a custom; (b) continuance of favor, continued support; god ~.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)50/14 : Preiers..for tyme þat is present, and for good contynuaunce for tyme þat is to come.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.532 : Of custom, for a remembraunce Þe peple shulde, by contunvance, Pleyne and wepe..For her frendis þat a-forn were dede.
- (1435) RParl.4.490a : Ye saide pouere Toune of Caleys, yat by ye continuance of ye saide Staple hath hiderto been gretly maintened and strengthed.
- c1450 *Assem.Bk.1 Gild St.Geo.Norwich (Nrw-CMus) : To gode conseruacion and continuance of the seid brethern.
- (1458) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.57 : Office of Bailly haue negligently omitted..the continuannce of the saide maters.
- (1461) Paston3.296 : That cleyme and contynuauns be made of my possession.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.1136 : Curtesie wolde, If loue shold be hadde in contynuaunce, To geve ageyn and not to withholde.
b
- (1426) Paston2.26 : I..thank yow..preying yow evermore of your good continuance.
- (1448) Shillingford68 : Thankyng hym of his gode lordship..praying contynuance at this tyme specially.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)180/27 : He hath set me in the hiest estate of þis worlde..and y beseche him of good contynuaunce.
- (c1453) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35322 : It pleasith youre godnesse to shew unto us..your tendre love to the final complecion of oure seid scoolis; we besech your lordship of continuance.
- (1464) Let.Ormond in Fortescue Works27 : Commendynge hym of his perseverant kyndnesse..and praye hym of contynuaunce.
- c1500 Myne hert is set (Rwl C.86)p.302 : I pray to Venus of good continuaunce, Sith she hath set me in the wey of ease.
6.
Spacial continuity.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)98b/a : In þe vttir party of þe skynne, by scharpnesse of humour, þey makeþ departinge of continuaunce.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)158a/b : Þei he be al one see in continuance þerof, ȝit..he takeþ diuerse names.
7.
Restriction or limitation [cp. conteinen 4a].
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130a/a : Matiere is subiect of contynuaunce in quantite, in lengþe, and brede and deepnesse.