Middle English Dictionary Entry
continūē̆l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | continūē̆l adj. Also continual, contenual. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of states, events, or actions: continuous, uninterrupted, not intermittent; constant, permanent; recurrent; (b) of formal arguments: drawn out, sustained.
Associated quotations
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.57 : Þe Eir..sal habbe assise for þe continuele seisine of his fader.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)268 : Continuel trauayl of spirit in deuoute preiers, feruent desyres, and gostly meditacions.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.305 : Contricioun moste be continuel.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.406 : By continuel murmur or grucchyng.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)84b/a : Defaute of siȝt is nouȝt continual but it comeþ & gooþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)91a/b : Sumtyme ffleume rotiþ in veynes and pipis and brediþ a feuere cotidiane continual. Signes þerof and tokenes beþ continual hote and moist..somtyme [it]..brediþ quartane continual.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)158b/b : Pelagus is þe brede of þe see..and þat haþ moste depnesse..and contynuel mevyng.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)285a/a : Wiþ contynual smytyng and rubbyng.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)319a/a : A drope þerof..abydeþ contynuel and droppeþ nouȝt awey.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Luke 11.8 : For his contynuel axyng he schal..ȝyue to hym as many as he hath nede to.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.9.2 : It is..a contynuel [L continuus] sorwe to my herte.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8947 : Als continuele hele Als Moyses had, þat was swa lele.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.1 : Whan I hadde, with a contynuel sorwe, sobbyd or borken out thise thynges.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)1a/a : Continuale is solued i. lovsed in fleobotomiyng and garsing.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)52a/a : Þai haue continuel respiryng bi þe wonde.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)93/22 : If oile of violettz..be ȝetted in by a clistery in continuel acuez or interpolate, it remolleþ softely þe bowelez.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)50a/b : The ydropisie forsoþe þat foloweþ a contynuel feuer is vnneþes, or elles neuer, helede.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)55b/a : Kepynge of her [guts'] contynuel lyf is nedeful.
- (1439) EEWills129/11 : Thorow trwe repentaunce & contynuall for-thenkyng.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)198 : Owre lorde Ihesu..was in contenuell batell and hugge sorowe.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2164 : Fastyng he dude euerylyche continuelle.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)122 : To make a continuall lyght..durynge in the nyghte for evermore.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)368/3 : Þer was contynuall pease xij yere to-gedur.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)21/2 : Þe feuere contynuele is gendrid of putrifaccioun of blood and of corrupcieun of humouris in it.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.899 : A grete tempest..With a contynuall reyne as bitter as galle.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)12 : We are in a contynuell derknesse.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.2.148 : I schal schewe the more thikke and contynuel resouns.
2.
(a) Regular or permanent (council, servant, etc.); (b) regular or customary (sacrifice).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)271b/b : Alaboute him beþ certeyn been wiþ stynges..contynuele wardeynes of þe kynges body.
- (1417) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)9.436a : I writen ad Constance..By ȝowr..continual Oratour, Joh. Forester.
- (1433) RParl.4.424a : To knowe what Lordes and Estates wol and shall..contynue in his continuell Conseil.
- (1433) RParl.4.479a : xii worthy men..that shall be contynuell assistentes to the Bailliffs for the tyme beyng.
- (1435) RParl.4.489a : Your humble servitour and continuell bedman William Morfote, Mariner of Wynchelsee.
- (c1458) Let.Oxf.in OHS 36344 : Al scolars, and all clerkis dwellyng wythin the precinct of þe Universyte..every daylly continuell servant to eny of heme.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)144 : Such a contenuall counsell mey wel be callid multa consilia.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.8.11 : Fro hym he toke the contynuel sacrifice.
3.
(a) Of time: continuous; (b) consecutive (days).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)121b/b : Þouȝ tyme be so chaungeable ȝit no þing is more contynual þan tyme for parties of tyme beþ contynued.
b
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)12998 : Thei held to-gedur fight mortel Seuen dayes continuel.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)68 : Vnto the ende of contynuell xl daies.
4.
(a) Of mass: continuous; as noun: continuity; (b) contiguous; successive (numbers).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130a/a : Matiere..may be endeles huge by cause of contynual quantyte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325b/b : Continual and discrete.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)1b/b : We wote by dyuysioun of operacions of Cirurgie þat it is for to louse continuale [*Ch.(2): contynue; F continu; L continuum] with a rasour,
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)10b/a : A bone þat is called craneum, & noȝt of one bone continuale bot touchyng contiguale.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)302b/a : Bestes..wiþ sawe teþ..bestes..þat haueþ contynual teeþ, as scheep.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)45/27 : Whan me lepithe fro o nombre tille another and kepithe not the contynuel ordire, as 1, 3, 5, 7.