Middle English Dictionary Entry
convēnience n.
Entry Info
| Forms | convēnience n. |
| Etymology | L convenientia |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Congruity, conformity; resemblance, similarity; (b) compatibility; taken ~, to come to agreement.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)14a/a : We schal trete of al þe Ierarchies..of angelis, þat we may knowe þe office, conueniens & differens of al þe ordres.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.358 : An auctour..cast hym nat transmwe..a worde as in sentence, But folweth hem by swyche convenience That in effecte the substaunce is the same.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.235 : His vncle and he..Of whos menyng was no conuenience.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2620 : Atwen the cedre..And a sharp thistil is no convenyence.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)111 : Of þis conueniens be twix oyle and mercy speke clerkis..and sey þat, euene as oyle ouerspredith all maner licouris, so þe mercy of oure lord houyth a boue all his werkis.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.213 : Thauȝhe man haue convenience [L conveniat] with the worlde..neuerthelesse he differrethe from the worlde in mony prerogatifes.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.28.70b : Þere is a maner of conuenyence be twyn the thing þat is seyn in the myrroure and þat other þat is sey withowt.
b
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.172 : Thow byndest forþermore thise elementes In certane noumber and proporcioun, þat hete and colde may haue conuenience, moysture and droght haue non discencioun.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.191 : Trees and herbes wexen in þat place As to þeire kynde is most conuenience.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)25/37 : Þese tweyne disposicions..mowe not be notabli..in oon mater of beestis bodi..þerfore, bi conuenyence of resoun, þer muste..be ordeynyd an oþir inward witt.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.355 : Like thynges take soone conuenience.
2.
Propriety, appropriateness; suitability.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)15b/b : Touchinge þe iointure and conueniens of þe domes of god. For it is couenable & conuenient þat eueriche man fonge for trespas peyne & for riȝtwisnes blisse.
- (1424) Revoc.Wm.Boston in Sur.Soc.2122 : The offeryng of candels upon Candelmesday..of custume, convenience, and lawe approvet, awe to be gifen..in the paryssh kirkes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)58/26 : Her folwyth a rygth notabyl matere of þe creaturys felyng, & it is wretyn her for conuenyens.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.514 : To contente and satisfye him in othir wyse to better conuenience.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)4 : Ȝet fynde I a grete conveniens in ȝoure tytil, that ȝe be cleped Edward the Fourt.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)361/177 : As convenyens wold seme.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Horns (LdMisc 683)60 : By iust convenyence.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.317 : The lordes then saied, the bishop couth Full mekill skyll of a woman alwaye..Thei trowed he had right great experience Of womanes rule and hir conuenience.