Middle English Dictionary Entry
statūt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | statūt(e n. Also statout, statuit, statuȝt, stateu; pl. statut(e)s, etc. & statuz, (chiefly early) statu(e)s. |
| Etymology | From OF estatu, estatut(e, statu, statut, statuit (pl. estatuz, status) & L statūtum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. estatut(e (entry in preparation).
1.
(a) A law of a land; (b) a decree or proclamation of a ruler, governor, etc.; a royal enactment; also fig.; also, a rule of Love, Philosophy, Nature, etc.; (c) a regulation governing the members of a guild, an order, or a university; (d) an ordinance of a town or city; (e) a household ordinance; (f) an ecclesiastical ordinance or commandment, an edict of a pope or bishop; a church regulation; (g) a religious ordinance made by Jewish authorities; also, pl. the edicts or tenets of a pagan religion; (h) a divine ordinance.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)666 : Þe Erchebischop nolde nouȝt þe newe statuz [Corp-C: status; Hrl: statutz] holde.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)703 : Þat o statuit was þat no bischop ne scholde..With-oute leue of þe kinge oute of londe wende.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 30.25 : Þis is maad fro þat dai & þer aftyr a statuyt [WB(2): constitucioun; L constitutum] & a decree & as a lawe in israel vn to þis dai.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.327 : Euery statut koude he pleyn by roote.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1741 : Thother parti was so strong That for the lawe of no statut Ther mai no riht ben execut.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.893 : Dampned was this knyght..and sholde han lost his heed; Parauenture swich was the statut tho.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)74a/a : An Iuel lord..destroyeþ þe lawes & statutes [L statuta] of olde men & ordeyneþ his owne.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)19/18 : Statutes..suffre not þat þou be a lawful heire of erþeli possessioun.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)190 : Þes foolis..chargen more veyn statutis & [read: of] synful men..þan þei chargen þe heste of god.
- a1450(?1404) As þe see (Dgb 102)217 : I wolde suche a statute were And þer-vpon set a payne.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.31.76a : Ordenaunces of pryuate lawes in reawmes or in othir communalteis be called statutes.
b
- a1350 Flem.Insur.(Hrl 2253)9 : Þe kyng of fraunce made statuz newe in þe lond of flaundres.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2387 : He haþ broken mi statout; He schal abigge wiþouten dout.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.365 : Aristotle..made statutes to iustefie þe citees of Grees, by þe whiche statutes Phelipp determyned and made ende of plees bytwene þe Grees.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4551 : Stod nevere in evene that balance Which stant in loves governance; Such is the statut of his lawe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2854 : A Romein Which Consul was of the Pretoire..sette a lawe..That non, bot he be wepneles, Schal come into the conseil hous..To that statut..Acorden alle.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)7.301 : While hunger was here maister, wolde þere non chide Ne stryue aȝen þe statut, so sternely he lokide.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)157/29 : Of þat moneye is som of gretter prys & som of lasse prys, after the dyuersitee of his statutes.
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)43 : Woltow than make a statut on thy quene That I shal been ay at thyn ordinaunce?
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)387 : Ye knowe wel how, seynt Valentynes day, By my statut and thorgh my governaunce, Ye come for to cheese..Youre makes.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)157/37 : An emperour in Rome..made a statute þat what man were dampned to þe dethe, and he couȝth sey iij sothe wordes he shuld be saved.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)14/25 : Molmucius..made a statute & ordeynyd that the templis of goddus..schulde haue the priuylage of inmunyte.
- c1475 Guy(4) (Cai 107/176)8063 : Such a statute shall I make..That all crysten her wey shall wende Thorough-owt this land.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)1005 : Vndir the Romayns..Prynce & stiward thoruhout al Briteyn Albon was chose..he..Set statutis..That no man shold do to othir wrong.
c
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.100 : Thise been ye statuz of ye gylde of ye holy prophete Seynt Jon baptist.
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)50/88 : Þer schal non of þe wardeyns make none newe statutes ne newe ordinances withoute assent of alle þe bretherhede.
- (1429) RParl.4.346b : In the Statuitz of the honurable Ordre of the Gartier..the saide Wardein is named and wretyn Dean.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.2736,2738 : Most worthi knihtis..Chose out be Arthour this ordre haue begunne..Statutis set be vertuous ordenaunce..The firste statut in the registre..Ay to be armyd in platis forgid briht.
- (1449) Ordin.Tailors Lynn78 : Every man doying the contrary shal [forfete] þe payne accordyng to þe statute in the halle.
- (1452-3) Doc.in Welch Hist.Pewterers Lond.18 : Paide to a Clerk of the Chauncery..for his reward in laboryng to serche for statuts & oþer thyngs to þentent to labor to þe parlement for a charter for þe Craft.
- (c1456) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35336 : The wyche streynesse of othe..shall be oure suffisant and resonnabyl excuse in oure eleccyone to kepe oure othe and statute.
d
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Meas.Treas.(Hrl 2255)75 : Meyris, sherevys, aldirmen, cunstablys, Which that governe bourghes and citees, Kepith your fraunchise and statutys profitablys.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)33/22 : Grete men of cytees & of townys..makyn statutys..wherby ony man is compellyd to payen gouele.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)54/27 : From all othir offices men myght aftir their ordenaunce and statutes appele to the highe estate of the ditatour.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)1829 : Ther was a statute proclamyd in the ton, Who that wold do no reverence To ther goddis..He shold..Be take..& slayn.
e
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)18 : Whereas, in the begynnyng, hymself was liberall, aftyr he did furst refourme hymself and all that would be dwellers in his household; and so he framed all his new statutes, commaundmentes, and charges, uppon every officer.
f
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)80 : Innocent the thridde..makith a perlous statute agen the old decre put on Austyn.
- (1438) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23224 : We charge and commaunde..that this decree and statut be writen opynly in your martiloge boke.
- c1450 Dives & P.(Lchf 35)1.45 : Of þe statut what a parysch preest or an annuellere schulde take be ȝere.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)65/9 : The Statutes of holy church, whyche yit men halte in the maner that holy church ham holte in England, he lette thare Sette.
g
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13613 : Þe Iuus..had made..A statut agains Iesum crist, If ani wald him leue or lute, þair synagoges suld be put vte.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)2189 : Dioclician hath sent a gret power..to sleen hem evirychon..except Albon; His liff to save..Yiff to ther sect he wold ageyn resorte, Fro Cristis lawe turne his opynyon, Of ther goddis the statutis to supporte.
h
- c1450(c1393) Chaucer Scog.(Benson-Robinson)1 : Tobroken been the statutz hye in hevene..Syth that I see the bryghte goddis sevene Mowe wepe.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)4806 : I, Ihesu, sone of Marye..be-quethe..My soule vn-to my Fader..Myn herte I quethe..To all that my comaundement Kepe..And my statutys.
2.
(a) A formal law enacted by Parliament or, in earlier times, by the king and his council; a statute; (b) statutes of clarindone, the Constitutions of Clarendon of 1164, defining royal and church rights; statute(s of liveres, ?a law or body of laws dealing with the insignia worn by retainers; statutes of marchauntes, the system of laws governing commerce; statutes of purveioures, a set of statutes, going back to the time of Edward I, concerning the regulation of official purveyors; statute(s of westminstre, one of (or all) three statutes framed successively at Westminster in 1275, 1285, and 1290, dealing with various matters including the protection of subjects from royal officials, feudal land laws, etc.; ~ of winchestre, a law, c1285, providing for various matters including the times for shutting the gates of the great towns, hours for beginning and ending the night watch, etc.; (c) a piece of cloth, the measurement of which was specified by statute; also, a rate or price established by statute.
Associated quotations
a
- (1384) Appeal Usk in Bk.Lond.E.25/91 : Thilk ordinances sholden bothe haue be stablisshed be statut, & be meigtened ek be myght of people, as yt ys to-forn write.
- (1386) RParl.FM (C&D)37/132 : We prayen..that the statut..made bi parlement..mowe stonde in strengthe & be excecut.
- (1399) RParl.3.452a : The Kyng and thes Lordes..havyng consideration to the Statut..that contenes Treson, [etc.].
- (1414) RParl.4.58a : To the which Statut we..owe not to obeye, for we be not in the cas of the Statut.
- (1431) Plea Sharpe in RS 28.5 pt.1 (Hrl 3775)453 : That eche town..kepe hys owne beggeres..after the Statut made atte the Parlement of Caumbrygge.
- (1452) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.4201 : That none of the Kyng's liegemen yeve no beggars begging oute of the hundred that they duelle in none good withoute they have sufficiaunt warente..accordyng to the statutes thereupon made.
- (1455-6) Proc.Privy C.6.332 : Þe Kyng..maad an oþer persone Sherrief..þan was..presented unto his hieghnesse after þeffect of þestatut in suche behalf maade.
- (1473) RParl.6.78b : Provided..that this Acte of Resumption, or any other Acte, Statute, or Ordenaunce made or to be made in this oure present Parlement, extend not, [etc.].
- a1500(a1471) Ashby APP (Cmb Mm.4.42)522 : Prouide that lawe may be excercised..Aftur the statutes autorised By noble Kynges youre progenitours.
- a1500(a1471) Ashby APP (Cmb Mm.4.42)540 : Lete nat the pouer Comyns..haue precious clothe in theire Vesture, But..obserue a resonable mesure In their arraye..Aftur statute of youre progenitours.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)726 : Þe king swor..þat þe status of clarindone ech bischop holde scholde.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1249 : Heo tolden in priuete al seint thomases wo, Of þe status of clarindone hou heo furst forth come.
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.70b (tr.Hengham Parva) : Seche þe auctorite in þe furste statut of Westmunstre.
- (1423-4) Let.Bk.Lond.I (Gldh LetBk I)297 : If servauntes of other lordes..taken in..vitailes..to the use of her lordes..they mowe acorde with possessours and sellers of the same by paiement..that tho same servauntz renne in to the same peyne in alle the seid statutes of purveours conteyned and..the party greved by the same servauntes have his sute at the commyne lawe if he wol.
- (c1425) Doc.Lynn in Nrf.Archaeol.6225 : Ȝe shal wel & truli kepe þe eest ȝatis..and late in & out þe peple in lawful tyme, and truli warne þe watche..upon þe statute of Wynchestre.
- (1429) RParl.4.346a : By consideration of the Statuit of Wynchestre, sette for the roberye of eny persone, [etc.].
- (1444) RParl.5.126b : And every man that lift to yeve lyverey and resceyve lyverey..the seid..shuld yeve and resceyve lyverey contrarie to the Statut of lyvereyes tofore this tyme ordeyned..uch man havyng lyverey wolde drawe to his maister..and not to the Baillifs..hit is ordeyned that no man..take ne were no maner of lyverey contrarie to the Statutz of lyvereys afore this tyme made.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)31/28 : Whan he seeþ a man at meschef, þan wole he sylle alþer derrest, ȝe, twyes or þries more þan it is worþ, and þat is aȝens þe statute of marchaundes.
c
- (1465-6) Acc.Howard in RC 57328 : My mastyr paid to Robard Hardwyke, draper..for xxiij narow clothes called statutes..xij li.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)377 : For cariage þe porter hors schalle hyre, Foure pens a pece with-in þo schyre; Be statut he schalle take þat on þe day; Þat is þe kyngis crye in faye.
3.
(a) An agreement, a promise, compact; an obligation [not always possible to disinguish from 4.(a)]; (b) a legally enforcible obligation, as to pay a debt; a bond; ~ marchaunt(es, ~ of (the) staple, a bond of record acknowledged before the chief magistrate of a trading town or the mayor of the staple by which the creditor was given power to hold the debtor's lands in case of default.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.7.18 : Thei han broken the statute [WB(2): ordynaunce; L constitutum] and the ooth that thei sworen.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.198 : Vnnethe myghte they the statut [vr. statues] holde In which that they were bounden vnto me.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1060 : Þer watz stabled bi statut a steuen vs by-twene To mete þat mon at þat mere.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.196v : Hit is forsoth worshup largeliche to yeve, but that mot be mesured as tyme and status axeth [L (Wm of Malmesbury (Hardy 2:496)): diligenter et moderate].
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.180 : Ȝif þei makyn statuȝt or comenant þat þei schul nout gon procession ne seyn dirige for lesse monye þan for so mychil or so mychil, þei don symonye.
b
- (1422) *Anc.Deed (PRO)A 5631 : Þe forsaid John grauntes on his partie to pay for þe forsaid ward & mariage..after þe effecte & þe purporte of sertayn obligacions or statute marchandes.
- (1426) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.4250 : Þe seide John and Anne shall noght..be vexed..be any other feffees of þe same londes..by statut merchaunt, statut of þe staple, [etc.].
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.859 : Yai assented yat..an obligacyon of a statute merchant of fyfe hundreth mark, in ye whilk ye forsayd John Lyllyng was bundon to Richard Russell..to be payed at ye fest of Michelmes.
- (1429) Will Braybroke in Ess.AST 5303 : That tyme the Lord Grey..hath paied his last paiement in which he and other be bounde to me by statut marchant, thanne I wol that thereof be bought a vestiment.
- (1444) RParl.5.107a : If any persone..shall be in any Prison in execution, by force of any Statute of the Staple or Statute Merchaunt or of any condempnation in any Court for dette, [etc.].
- (1456) Pet.Chanc.in Seld.Soc.10138 : The saide John..caused hym by sotelte to be bounde to the saide Robert in ccc li. by an obligacion of the Statuyt Marchant.
- (1460) Doc.Bridg.Corp.in Som.RS 5746 : Roger Pymme..by a statute of the staple in the summe of vc li. to be paied to the same William in the fest of seint Michaell the archangell next after this Date present, of whiche statute the date is the xxvijth Day of July, [etc.].
- (1461) RParl.5.482b : That all obligations made of Statute Merchaunt, Statute of the Staple..and reconysaunces..be availlable to theym.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57180 : Pryse, my honder schereffe of Norfolke, howethe me be an oblygasyon of statew marchand cc marke.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.6b : The..Lordes of Parlement..graunte to oure seid Soverayn Lord..the xth part of the value..of all Landes and Tenementes, the which they..have..by Statuit of Staple, Estatuit Marchaunt, or any Jugement yeven in any of the Kynges Courtes.
- (1475) RParl.6.120b : The said Commens graunted to pay the xth part..of thissues and profittes of almaner Londes..which any persone..held..by any statut or recouvere.
4.
(a) A rule of conduct; a custom, traditional practice; (b) a rule of a competition or quest; (c) an authoritative rule governing a science.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3801 : She can eke knowe To handle a spere or to drawe a bowe Lyke þe statutis of þat regioun.
- a1456(a1426) Lydg.Mum.Hertford (Trin-C R.3.20)169 : Þe worthy Wyff of Bathe Cane shewe statutes moo þan six of [read: or] seven Howe wyves make hir housbandes wynne heven.
- a1456(a1426) Lydg.Mum.Hertford (Trin-C R.3.20)213 : Custume is vs for nature and vsaunce To set oure housbandes lyf in gret noysaunce..Requering þe statuyt of olde antiquytee.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)1.608 : Of olde usage Of Custome kept..euery mayde, xiiii yere of age..In the Temple no longer dwell shall But by statute shall be take and maried.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)24 : Yf thay wold do hym lawe after the statuytes of armes, thay shuld..let hym go qwite.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.360 : Such a Statut thanne he sette..That what man that his doghter axeth, Bot if he couthe his question Assoile..He scholde in certein lese his hed.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.341 : By the statute of the kyng he may, Who so that wele, entren and assay.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2759 : Þei [goddesses] anoon..To my [Paris's] desyre mekely gan obeie..Hem to dispoille of cloþing..Liche as þe statut of my dom hem bonde.
c
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)introd.116 : The fifthe partie shal be an introductorie, after the statutes of oure doctours.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.10.8 : The names of these monthes were clepid thus..somme by statutes of lordes Arabiens, somme by othre lordes of Rome.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.4.21 : After the statutes of astrologiens, what celestial body that is 5 degrees above thilke degre that ascendith, [etc.].
5.
Associated quotations
a
- c1430 Chaucer CT.Mk.(Cmb Gg.4.27)B.3349 : The proude kyng leet make a statute [Heng: Statue] of gold..To whiche ymage he bothe ȝonge & olde Comaunded to loute.
- c1440 Chaucer CT.Kn.(Eg 2726)A.2079 : Statuit [Heng: In gaude grene hir statue yclothed was].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5641 : Twyse sex Semylacris sesid he þarvndire..With ilk a statute þat þar stude stoutely enarmed.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)27 : This virgilie made by his crafte an ymage or a statute and sett him in þe myddys of þe Cite.
b
- c1440 Chaucer CT.Kn.(Add 35286)A.975 : Statute [vr. statutes; Heng: The rede statue of Mars with spere and targe So shyneth in his white Baner large That alle the feeldes glitren].
6.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)91/32 : More temperat is þe creature þat is accordyng to [Yonge: Is of] meene statute [Lambeth: stature; Sloane: menete, þat es to say noþer to longe ne to schorte].
b
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)91/35 : Evener and more temperat is þe creature þat is..tempered with perfeccion of body and rectitude of statute [Lambeth: þe body of right and euen stature; Yonge: ryght estature; Abbrev.Trip.: body be holl and right vp].