▪ I. † milce, n. Obs.
Forms: 1 milds, 1–2 milts, 2–3 mildce, 2–4 milce, 3 millce (Orm.), milze, milzce, mildze, milche, 3–4 milse, mulce, 4 mylse.
[OE. milds, milts fem.:—OTeut. type *milđisjâ, f. *milđjo- mild a.: cf. bliss n. The z of early ME. forms = ts.]
1. Mercy, clemency, forbearance, favour. Often coupled with ore, grace, or mercy. Also pl. mercies.
| Beowulf 2921 (Gr.) Us wæs a syððan Merewioinga milts unᵹyfeðe. c 825 Vesp. Psalter xxiv. 6 ᵹemyne mildsa ðinra dryhten. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 119 Bidde we nu þe holigost þat he haue milce of us. c 1200 Vices & Virtues 81 After ðine manifealde mildces ðe ðu hafst ihafd to mankenne, do awei fram me ðese michele unrihtwisnesse. c 1205 Lay. 21889 We ȝeorneð þine milzce. a 1250 Owl & Night. 1083 Ic hadde of hire Milce [MS. Cott. milse] & ore. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3603 Louerd,..Merci ȝet for ðin milde mod! Or ðu ðis folc wið milche moð [read loc] Or do min name ut of ðin boc. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 775 He..hopede vor to finde of hire betere mulce & grace. a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. xviii. 58 Tharefore y bidde thin mylse ant ore, Merci, lord, ynul na more! c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 667 (Kölbing), Hou Jesu of a maide Þurch his milce was ybore. |
2. Comb.: milce-hearted adj. [cf. OE. milts-heort]; milce-witter a., knowing mercy.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2903 Ne taȝte ic hem noȝt..Min miȝtful name adonay; Min milche witter name eley He knewen wel, and ely. a 1300 [see milcer]. |
▪ II. † milce, v. Obs.
Forms: 1 mildsian, 1–2 mil(t)sian, 2 milcian, -en, 3 millcenn (Orm.), milse, mylce, milce.
[OE. mildsian:—OTeut. type *milđisôjan, f. *milđjo- mild- a.]
trans. To have mercy on, or show mercy to (a person); to be kind, compassionate, or gracious to. Also absol. Hence milciende ppl. a., merciful.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter I. 1 Miserere mei, mildsa min. c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxxviii. §7 Nis nan riht þæt mon þone yflan hatiᵹe, ac hit is rihtre þæt him mon miltsiᵹe. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 235 Maȝie wiman forȝeten his oȝe cild þat hi ne milsi hire barn of hire oȝen innoð. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 11 Muchel is us þenne neod..þet we ȝerne bidden ure milciende drihten þet [etc.]. c 1275 Lay. 16784 For þe loue of God al-mihti milce me and mine cnihtes. c 1275 Duty of Christians 18 in O.E. Misc. 141 Iblessed beo such eþeling vs mylce þat he wolde. a 1300 E.E. Psalter cxiv. 5 (Horstm.) And oure god milse sal. |