释义 |
† seˈcre, a. and n. Obs. Also 4–5 secree. [a. OF. secré, var. of secret: see secret a. and n.] A. adj. = secret a. in various senses. 1. Not allowed to be revealed, hidden, occult.
c1386Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 90 But I wol nat auowe that I seye And therfore keepe it secree I yow preye. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 84 And þay gyf hym þe prys of alle science, secre and heuenly. c1407Lydg. Reason & Sens. 1675 This god is also messagere..For to report in special The secre thingis of the hevene. 1430–40― Bochas viii. xxiv. (1554) 192/2 A ful precious stone,..Powder of which will discure anone, If it be drunke (though it be secree) Of maydenhed the broken chastitee. 2. secre seal. a. A private seal of attestation affixed to a document; also fig. b. A seal fixed upon a closed letter or document.
1362Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 141 Heo may as muche do In a Mooneþ ones, As ȝoure secre seal [1377 B. iii. 145, 1393 C. iv. 183 secret seel] In Seuen score dayes. Ibid. viii. 25 Bote vndur his secre seal [1377 B. vii. 23 secret seel; 1393 C. x. 27 secre seel] Treuþe sende a lettre. 1393Ibid. C. x. 138 The whiche arn lunatik lollares..For vnder godes secre seel here synnes ben ykeuered. 3. Of a person: Reserved or reticent in conduct or conversation; close, discreet.
c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 1528 And he was wis, hardy, secre, and ryche. 1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 2001 Sche kepte hir cloos and wonderly secree, Þat by hir chere no man myȝt see What þat sche ment. b. Characterized by reserve or secrecy. Phrase, in secre wyse.
c1374Chaucer Troylus i. 744 In his counseyl tellinge That toucheth love that oughte be secree; For of him-self it wolde y-nough out-springe. c1386― Doctor's T. 143 This Iuge vn-to this cherl his tale hath toold In secree wise. 1440in Wars Eng. in France (1864) II. 307 Sende me worde, yn the most secre wyse. 4. Intimate, privy. rare—1.
1501Douglas Pal. Hon. i. xi, Sine nixt hir raid..Twelf damisellis..Quhilks semit of her counsell maist secre. 5. Of a place: Remote, retired, secluded. Also rarely of time, spent in seclusion.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. i. pr. iv. 31 Thilke thinges that I hadde lerned of thee among my secree restingwhyles [L. inter secreta otia]. 1426Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 4056, I am callyd Dame Penaunce. The cheff wardeyn..Off thylke yle most secre; The wych..Ys yhyd with-Inne a man. c1550Rolland Crt. Venus i. 652 In hir chalmer quhilk ay was most secre. 6. quasi-adv. Secretly; without witnesses.
c1386Chaucer Frankl. T. 381 To noon oother creature..Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. Vnder his brest he baar it moore secree Than euere dide Pamphilus for Galathee. c1440Pallad. on Husb. i. 541 So it be doon secre that no man se. B. n. 1. Something that is kept hidden or secret. a. Something hidden from human understanding or knowledge; a divine or natural mystery.
c1386Chaucer Can. Yeom. T. 894 For this science, and this konnyng, quod he, Is of the secree of the secretes pardee. c1407Lydg. Reason & Sens. 4879 Ful of mystery and secres And many vnkouth prevites. c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. lxxviii. (1869) 46 And þere weren shewed þee alle þe secrees of Nature. c1450Lovelich Grail xvii. 57 He is a fool that don wele as I have do, To knowen the Secrees of his Saviour. b. A private or secret matter; = secret n. 3.
c1386Chaucer Monk's T. 31 But to hise wyues toolde he his secree. c1400Rom. Rose 5260 For tweyn in nombre is bet than three In every counsel and secree. 1489Barbour's Bruce (Edin. MS.) iv. 577 And couth rycht weill secreis conceil. 2. A prayer in the Mass recited by the priest in a low voice; = secret n. 2.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 12044 As he stod at is masse..Biuore þe weued in is bedes, at þe secre riȝt, Com sir gui de mountfort..& villiche him slou. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxxix. (Cosme & Damyane) 1 Of haly messe in þe secre syndry sanctis set we se. a1400Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. xlvii. 541 Þen he biginnes his secre; Adoun þenne knele ȝe. 3. Secrecy. in secree, in private, secretly.
1390Gower Conf. I. 62 He seith in open, fy! to Sinne, And in secre ther is no vice Of which that he nis a Norrice. c1470Henry Wallace iv. 403 Wallace with hyr in secre maid him glaid. |