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Oxford English Dictionary

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seldom, adv. & adj.

Language abbreviation key

OE: Old English

Middle English Dictionary Entry

sẹ̄lden(e adv.

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Entry Info

Forms	sẹ̄lden(e adv. Alsoseldin,-on,-un,-oun,-am,-om(e,-um,-oum,seilden,-in,sielden,-ome,silden,-in,-on,-om,celdane,-am & (error)seldo.
Etymology	OEseldan,-on,-un,-um; for forms in-i- cp.OEsyld-sȳne, var. ofseld-sīne.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

(a) Infrequently, rarely, seldom; (b)~ or never, seldom or never;~ i)sen, seldom seen, rarely encountered [cp.seld-sen adj.];~ whan, rarely; (c) in proverbs.

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Associated quotations

c1175Orm.(Jun 1)8468-72:Arrchelaw þe king Þær munnde cumenn seldenn, Forr Ȝerrsalæm wass hæfedd burrh Off Issraæless riche & tær wass þeȝȝre king aȝȝ mast & seldenn owwhær elless.
c1230Ancr.(Corp-C 402)221/20:Twa niht is inoh þet ei beo edhalden ant þet beo ful seldene.
a1275 *Body & S.(4)(Trin-C B.14.39)134:Þif [read: Yif] gold oiþer seluer mit charre ded, Selden deit animon þat auede ani red.
a1300Bestiary(Arun 292)178:Ðe mire..renneð rapelike & resteð hire seldum.
c1300SLeg.Greg.(LdMisc 108)11:Wel sielden for al is feblesse, Idel he beo scholde.
a1325(c1250)Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2181:For seldum bi-tid self ani king Swilc men to sen of hise ofspring.
(c1390)ChaucerCT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2594:Selden [vrr. seelden, Seeldome, Seldome]..been causes ybroght to good ende whan they been baddely bigonne.
(a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)138b/b:In hih see snow falliþ sieldome.
a1400(a1325)Cursor(Vsp A.3)245:Selden [Ld: Syldyn] was for ani chance Praised Inglis tong in france.
c1415ChaucerCT.Mch.(Corp-O 198)E.2251:Ihesus, filius Cyrak, as I ges, Ne spekeþ of ȝou but seeldyn [vr. seelden] reuerens.
(1440)PParv.(Hrl 221)65:Ceeldam [Win: Celdane]: Raro.
(c1449)PecockRepr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)77:The bothe premyssis..for the more parti..ben trewe, and seeldem fallith the contrarie, that thei ben vntrewe.
c1460Tree & Fruits HG(McC 132)152/10:Ful sildom þis grace of clennes is had here of right perfight folk.
(a1470)MaloryWks.(Win-C)635/20:Sylden and in feaw placis she rested.
a1475(a1447)BokenhamMAngl.(Hrl 4011)32/23:Thes peeple..is..prompt to sekyn oþur cuntres, seldoun ryche yn hure propir soyle.
a1475Have all(Brog 2.1)15:Of my lovfe I can-not seyse, Thow I be syldyn in youre syȝt.
a1500(?c1450)Merlin(Cmb Ff.3.11)6:My suster is so hevy and pensif of oure mys-happes that right seilden she maketh eny mery chere to me.
a1500Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)70:Many other thynges gold ther we fond, and sielden siluer.
c1500(?a1437)?Jas.IKQ(SeldArch B.24)st.9:Uncouthly hir werdes sche devidith, Namly in youth, that seildin ought providith.

(a1393)GowerCA(Frf 3)7.4328:He duelte evere in chambre stille And only wroghte after the wille Of wommen..That selden whanne in other stede If that he wolde wenden oute To sen hou that it stod aboute.
(a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)153a/a:In wynter selden or neuere put water freseþ.
(a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325a/b:Ostriches eiren beþ y-honged in chirches for lightnesse, for þey beþ so grete and seldom y-seye.
a1400Lanfranc(Ashm 1396)100/12:Þis crampe may be heelid or þat he be confermed, & aftir þat he is confermed, seelden or neuere.
a1425(a1400)PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)260:For in him..Es selden sen any mekenes.
(1440)PParv.(Hrl 221)452:Selkow, or seeldam seyne: Rarus.
a1450Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1251:For comounly it is seldom seyne, Whoso now be lecherows of oþyr men he schal haue dysdeyne.
c1450(a1425)MOTest.(SeldSup 52)12879:So grett an ost was seldome sene.
c1450MethamPalm.(Gar 141)88/15:The persone that hath this tokyn seldum or neuer brynge ony werke to the ende.
c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564(Wel 564)76b/a:If sich a cours of blood haue his wille and be not stoppid, it is selden seen or neuere þat þe pacient schal a scapen wiþ þe lijf.
a1500(?1382)Wycl.Wks.Mercy(NC 95)175:Suche robbers schulde first have contricioun..and make restitucioun..And for þis is selden seen, herfore þis synne is greet.

a1275(?c1150)Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)112/366:Wose lat is wif his maister wurþen..Selden sal he ben on sele.
?a1300(c1250)Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.20:Selden comeþ lone lauinde homward.
c1350Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale(Cmb Ee.4.20)128:Homme chauntaunt relement plue[r]t: Syngynge man silden weputh.
c1350Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale(Cmb Ee.4.20)362:Relement crest herbe en sente: Sylden waxus gres in the path.
c1390(1377)Death Edw.III(Vrn)32:Þat selden seyȝe is sone forȝete.
c1390Cato(1)(Vrn)152:Wordes is ȝiuen to alle men And wisdam selden brouht.
c1390PPl.A(1)(Vrn)10.101:Selden [vrr. seldyn, seldom, seldo] Moseþ þe Marbelston þat men ofte treden.
(a1393)GowerCA(Frf 3)6.447:He was no fol that ferst so radde, For selden get a domb man lond.
c1400(?a1300)KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6991:Stedfast seldom ben lecchoures; Hote loue often after wil soure.
(1402)Topias(Dgb 41)p.76:Children ful seldum ben foundun wiis.
a1425KAlex.(LinI 150)3277:Ful seilden is þe fol wys.
1445Now wold I(Ashm 191)17:Seldyn seyn is sone for-geit.
a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1)(Dc 291)46b:For as men seyn in olde sawes, seldun is þe craft forȝete þat ofte is þouȝt on and vsed.
c1450(?a1400)Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4220:Saȝe with-outen sapience, it seldoum aproues.
c1450Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.45:Seldun comyth on harme and no mo.
c1450Ryl.Prov.& R.(Ryl Lat 394)92:Seldon dyeth his oxe þat wepeth for a kok.
c1460Ipom.(3)(Lngl 257)326/36:For the wiseman saith, 'Seldom seen, sone forgetyn.'
a1475How GWife Pilgr.(Brog 2.1)12:Syldon mossyth the ston þat oftyn ys tornnyd and wende.
a1500(a1460)Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)123/229:Seldom lyys the dewyll dede by the gate.
c1500How GWife(3)(Ashm 61)18:Wher þat a gode stowerde is, Wantys seldom any ryches.
c1500PFulham(Rwl C.86)297:Loue stant in no certeyn Of folke that ben seldom sayn.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

a1500Add.37075 Gloss(Add 37075)20/123a:Seras: sildom.

Note:Additional quote(s)