mansuete, a. Obs. or arch.
(mænˈswiːt, ˈmænswiːt)
Forms: 4–8 mansuete, 5–6 -swete, 6 -sweit, 6–7 -suet.
[ad. L. mansuēt-us, pa. pple. of mansuēscĕre to tame, become tame, f. man-us hand + suēscĕre to accustom, become accustomed (see custom). Cf. OF. mansuet(e, Sp., Pg., It. mansueto.]
Gentle, mild; tame, not wild or fierce.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 194 She..stod forth mewet mylde and mansuete. c 1450 Holland Howlat 83 That is the plesant Pacok,..manswet and mure. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 400 Ane fair ȝoung man..Mansweit and meik. 1621 S. Ward Life of Faith 66 Of Woluish and dogged makes the Will Lamb-like and Doue-like: of wild and haggard, morigerous and mansuete. 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 26 He kept this fish in a Pond..and delighted much to feed him with his own hand, the fish being very mansuete. 1691 Ray Creation (1701) 132 This holds not only in domestic and mansuete birds..but also in the wild. 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. ix. 176 It will oblige men..not to be proud..but candid, placable, mansuete. 1861 J. Brown Horæ Subs. Ser. i. 415 Our..clever, and not over⁓mansuete friend ‘Fuge Medicos’. |
Hence † mansuetely adv., gently, mildly.
| c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 887 Than pray youre souereyn with wordus mansuetely to com to a good fyre. |