Middle English Dictionary Entry

al limiting adj. & n.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms al limiting adj. & n. Pl. alle; gen. al(d)re, alder, althre, alther.
Etymology OE eal, ealle, etc. Beside the pl. form alle, other infl. forms occur in early ME (sg. alles, alre, alne; pl. alre, allen), and gen. forms survive, esp. in set phrases & cpds., throughout the ME period, as in alles kinnes, alre-best, alder-mest, etc.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
Denoting the total number of entities in a class or group: all (persons, creatures, things, units); all without exception: (a) with a noun: al(le men, al(le the knightes, the knightes al(le, etc.; (b) with a personal or anaphoric pron.: we alle, alle we; oure alre(s, of all of us; thei alle, alle thei; theire (here) alre(s, of all of them; etc.; (c) with other pronouns: alle tho, all these; alle (the) othre, all (the) others; etc.; (d) with a numeral: alle thre, alle (the) foure ordres; alle bo(the, both of them; etc.
Show 76 Quotations
1b.
As a noun: (a) all persons or creatures of a group; all, everybody; bi alres acorde, with everyone's consent; on alder devel wai, (go) to hell; (b) all things; all, everything.
Show 21 Quotations
2a.
Denoting totality: (a) of a group: al (his) folk; al the lawe, all law; etc.; (b) of mass: al the world, the entire Earth; (c) of extent: al Engeland, al (the) night, al a yer, etc.; (d) of quality: al power; in al blisse, in perfect bliss; in al haste, etc.
Show 39 Quotations
2b.
Denoting totality: (a) with a dem. pron.: al that, ~ this; (b) with a pers. or anaphoric pron.: the..alne (acc.), you..all (or entirely); al him; al hit, hit al, all of it, it..all.
Show 13 Quotations
2c.
Denoting totality (as a noun): everything, all; also, the whole [quot. c1450 Pilgr.LM].
Show 21 Quotations
3.
Denoting the discreteness of entities in a totality: (a) every, each and every; every or any kind of, any (whatsoever); (b) as a noun: everyone.
Show 19 Quotations
4.
Noun & adj. phrases: (a) al and al, one and all; (b) and al, and everyone (everything) else; (c) alle and some (singuler, everich), one and all; (d) al and som, everything, the sum total; in detail, fully, entirely; in every respect; (e) al and the same, the very same; (f) al or any del, in whole or in part.
Show 33 Quotations
5.
Prep & adv. phrases: (a) al in al, altogether; (b) at al, in every way or respect; completely, fully; in any way; not at al, not in any way, not at all; (c) from al to al, in every way, utterly.
Show 10 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)33 : Þis beot þa twa sunne þe men fulieð alra swithest.
    • Note: New spelling
    Note: We don't have ex. of this constr. as far as I can see.--per MJW
  • c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)109/960 : Þe king walde weden—sohim gromede wið ham—& wið þe cwen alre meast.
    • Note: New constr.
  • (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2370 : Hal hundred knithes dede he calle.
    • Note: New spelling
    Note: For 1a.(d)--per SMK
    Note: !Quot. already used under both hole adv. and half adj.--JL
  • c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)p.25 : Ensy doyt le mordaunt & le hardyloun Passer par tru de subiloun: Also shal þe mordaunt & þe tonge Passe þoru þe hool & al.
  • a1475 Peniarth Informacio(1) (Pen 356B)99/285 : When I haue a nowne adiectyue, uerbe neutur..or supynnis betokenyng all, comyng in a resun before a wourde that betokenys part of that all, that worde þat betokenus parte of that all schall be set in þe accusatyue case and be gouerned be thys fegur: synodoges.
    • Note: New nominal sense
  • a1425 Primer (Add 36683)78 : Almiȝti god..graunte..that we be delyuerid fro al spice of sorwe.
  • (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Thes.5.22 : Absteyne ȝou fro al yuel spice, or liknesse.
    • Note: Additional quote(s) for 3.

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