glee

▪ I. glee, n.
    (gliː)
    Forms: α. 1 gl{iacu}u, gl{iacu}w, gléow-, 3 gleow, gleu, (gleaw), 3, 5 glu, 3–4 (Sc. 6) glew, 4–5 glewe. β. 1 gl{iacu}o, (gl{iacu}ᵹ-), 1–2 gléo, 4 gleo, 3–6 gle, 3, 6 Sc. glie, 6 glye, 4– glee.
    [OE. gl{iacu}w, gléo neut. = ON. gl{yacu} (rare); the word is wanting in the other Teutonic languages. The orig. stem *gliujo- was variously treated in OE., yielding the forms gl{iacu}eᵹ-, gl{iacu}ᵹ- (in compounds and oblique cases), gl{iacu}w (the nom. is found only in glosses, but gl{iacu}wes, etc. are common in poetry, more rarely gléow-), and gléo (poetic). From the two latter forms came ME. glew and gle, of which glew became obs. in the 16th c., surviving longest in the northern dialects. (Cf. hue from orig. *hiujo-.)
    In OE. and ME. the word is chiefly poetic. After the 15th c. it seems to have been rarely used, and in the 17th c. is almost entirely absent from literature. Phillips (1706) marks it as obsolete, and Johnson considered it a merely comic word (see 3, quot. 1755). It again became common towards the end of the 18th c., but the cause of its revival is not apparent.]
    † 1. a. Entertainment, play, sport; occas. scornful jesting, mockery. Also chamber-glew = chambering 2. Obs.

α a 700 Epinal Gloss. 398 Facitiæ [sic], gliu. Ibid. 550 In mimo, in gliuuæ. a 1000 Phœnix 139 in Exeter Bk., æniᵹ þara dreama þe dryhten ᵹescop gumum to gliwe in þas ᵹeomran woruld. c 1300 Havelok 2332 Þo mouthe men se eueril gleu. a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. 114 Mury hit ys..in hyre bour, With gomenes ant with gleowes. c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 19 Of chalmer-glew..Wasted hee was, of nature colde and dry. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 256 The bemand buglis all of bras that blew, Quhilk for to heir it wes ane glorius glew.

β c 725 Corpus Gloss. 354 Cabillatio, glio. c 1000 tr. Basil's Admon. ix. (1849) 54 Hi hæfdon him to gliᵹe his halwendan myneᵹunge. a 1225 Ancr. R. 210 Summe iuglurs beoð þet ne kunne seruen of non oðer gleo, buten makien cheres, & wrenchen mis hore muð, & schulen mid hore eien. a 1300 Floriz & Bl. 793 Þer was alle kunnes gleo Þat miȝte at eni briddale beo. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 95 So grac[i]os gle couþe no mon gete As here & se her adubbement. c 1386 [see game n. 1]. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 297 b, Wherupon wer made plaies for a triumphe almoste in euery cornere through out the citee..And euen emiddes all this glye, the report goeth, that [etc.]. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 206 O Jesu! gif thay thocht greit glie To se Goddis word downe smorit. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 109, I shall be..flowted and reflowted with intolerable glee.

    † b. In phrases. to have glee, to make oneself glee: to make sport. to make one's glee of or on: to make sport of (a person or thing). Obs.

a 1300 Floriz & Bl. 477 Þis oþere loȝen and hadde gleo, And goþ aȝen and leteþ beo. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 3648 Of mi wounde þou madest þi gle. a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 1164 Now thou on knyghtis makeste thy glewe to lye vppon hem for envye. 1602 Carew Cornwall (1723) 108 b, Many wayfarers make themselues glee, by putting the Inhabitants in mind of this priuiledge [etc.]. 1607 Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr. ii. vi. 62 Doth not the papist make himselfe glee, to see the preachers..throwne downe into the depth of miserie?

    † c. north. Affair, business (cf. game n. 5). Obs.

α a 1300 Cursor M. 12933 It was sene he noght him kneu, quen he be-gan do suilk a gleu. 1375 Barbour Bruce vi. 558 The kyng said, as the glew is gane, Bettir than thou I mycht It do. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. v. 142 Gyve Brws beis kyng of Scotland,..yhe sall sare rew Ðat ewyre of þis begouth þe Glewe.

β 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 90 Thai trowyt that he..Wald hawe iugyt in lawte; Bot other wayis all ᵹheid the gle. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 98 The gude wyf glaid with the gle to begin..To the dure went our Dame [etc.].

    † 2. a. Musical entertainment, playing; music, melody. Also fig. of other sounds. Obs.

α c 1000 Versus Gnom. 172 (Gr.) Ðy læs ðe him con leoða worn, oððe mid hondum con hearpan gretan, hafað him his gliwes ᵹiefe. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) lxvii. 24 Ealdormenn..gleowe sungon. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 459 Iobal is broðer song and glew, Wit of musike, wel he knew. a 1300 Cursor M. 7433 Quil wit gleu, and quil wit sang..þus he serued saul lang. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 290 He tauȝt him ich alede Of ich maner of glewe And euerich playing þede. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 200/1 Glu or mynstralcye, musica, armonia.

β Beowulf (Z.) 2105 Þær wæs ᵹidd and gleo..; hwilum hildedeor hearpan wynne, gomenwudu grette. c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. xxvi. 183 Ðonne ᵹefeng Dauid his hearpan, & ᵹestillde his wodðraᵹa mid ðæm gliᵹe [Cott. MS. gliᵹᵹe.] c 1205 Lay. 7006 He cuðen [v.r. cuþe] al þeos songes & þat gleo of ilcche londe. c 1275 Serving Christ 28 in O.E. Misc. 91 Þer is gronynge and grure and gryslich gle. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5515 Þere he harpede so wel þat he payde al þe route Hii ȝeue him siluer uor is gle & lete him go is wey. c 1366 Chaucer A.B.C. 100 We han none other melody ne glee Us to rejoyce in our adversitee. c 1400 Rowland & O. 34 Burdours in to þ⊇ haulle þay brynge, þat gayly with þaire gle gan synge. 1508 Dunbar Tua mariit wemen 518 Thai [the birds] maid a glorius gle amang the grene bewis. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 278 That in the forest was non so great a tree But that he daunced for joye of that gle.

    † b. An instrument of music. Obs.

a 1225 Leg. Kath. 145 Ha iherde..ludinge of þe men, gleowinge of euch gleo [L. multimodum genus organorum]. a 1300 Cursor M. 1521 (Gött.) Tobal first vnderfang Musyk..Organis, harpe, and oþer gleu, He drou þaim vt of music neu. 13.. K. Alis. 191 Orgles, tymbres, al maner gleo Was dryuen ageyn that lady freo. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 1224 His gles weren so sellike þat wonder þouȝt hem þare. His harp, his croude was rike. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 179 He hadde and used instrumentis of musik, pipes and strenges, and oþere manere of glee.

    c. A musical composition, of English origin, for three or more voices (one voice to each part), set to words of any character, grave or gay, often consisting of two or more contrasted movements, and (in strict use) without accompaniment.
    The glee differs from the madrigal in involving little or no contrapuntal imitation, and from the part-song in the independence of its parts, which form ‘a series of interwoven melodies’ (Stainer & Barrett).

1659 Playford Sel. Ayres & Dial. 84 A glee to Bacchus with chorus. 1767 Percy Reliq., Notes on Ess. Anc. Minstr. 57 As for the word Glees, it is to this day used in a musical sense, and applied to a peculiar piece of composition. 1775 Sheridan Rivals ii. i, 'Sdeath, to make her self the pipe and ballad monger of a circle, to soothe her light heart with catches and glees. 1835 Hood Poetry, Prose, & Worse xxvi, Suppose that..They were all set as glees for four voices. 1886 W. A. Barrett Eng. Glees & Part-songs, Pref. vi.

    3. a. Mirth, joy, rejoicing; in modern use, a lively feeling of delight caused by special circumstances and finding expression in appropriate gestures and looks. In early quots. frequently in phrase game and glee.

α a 1250 Prov. ælfred 47 in O.E. Misc. 104 He is one god ouer alle godnesse. He is one gleaw [v.r. gleu] ouer alle glednesse. He is one blisse ouer alle blissen. a 1300 Cursor M. 23359 Of alkin gladnes es þar [in heaven] gleu And þat es euer ilike neu. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, George 666 To þe tempil..al ȝed with grete glew for to se George sacryfy. c 1430 Hymns Virg. 29 His moornynge schulde turne into ioie briȝt, His longynge into glewe. 1560 Rolland Crt. Venus i. 90 In Venus Bowr [printed Bowe] to eik baith game and glew. a 1568 in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club.) 653/20 And I may nych hir neir Than gon wer neuir my glew.

β a 1200, c 1250 [see game 1]. c 1275 Long Life 40 in O.E. Misc. 158 Ine deð schal þi lif endi, And ine wop al þi gleo. a 1300 Cursor M. 3370 Rebecca and ysaac er samen Mette wit mikel gle [later MSS. ioye] and gammen. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Thomas 328 Gyfe ȝe wil parcenaris be Of his grete blys & lestand gle. c 1410 Chron. Eng. 456 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II, Muche he lovede gle ant gome. c 1460 Towneley Myst. i. 84, I am so fare and bright, Of me commys alle this light, This gam & all this gle. 1598 Marston Pygmal. iv. 156 Laugh and sport with me At strangers follies with a merry glee. c 1600 Timon ii. iv. (1842) 35 By Iove, my hearte is full of glee That I haue founde out such a one as hee. 1714 Gay Sheph. Week v. 27 Is Blouzelinda dead? farewel my Glee! No Happiness is now reserv'd for me. 1755 Johnson, Glee, joy; merriment; gayety..It is not now used, except in ludicrous writing, or with some mixture of irony and contempt. 1770 Goldsm. Des. Vill. 201 Full well they laugh'd with counterfeited glee. 1787 F. Burney Diary 18 Jan., A person..spoke to me by my name; I never heard the sound with more glee. 1802 Wordsworth Sonn. Liberty xii. i, There came a Tyrant, and with holy glee Thou fought'st against him. 1814 D. H. O'Brien Captiv. & Escape 124 My feet were healing very fast, and I advanced with great glee. 1828 Life Planter, Jamaica 288 Attired in their best and gayest apparel, they seemed all life and glee. a 1859 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxiii. V. 117 William felt all the glee of a schoolboy who is leaving harsh masters and quarrelsome comrades to pass the Christmas holidays at a happy home. 1884 J. Colborne Hicks Pasha 165 They displayed all the childish glee of semi-savage natures.

    † b. In phrases. to make glee: to be glad or merry, to rejoice. (there) glads (gains, games) him no glee: nothing gives him pleasure. to have glee of: to find pleasure in. to make one good glee: to welcome or entertain heartily. Obs.

α a 1300 Cursor M. 11031 [The child] Again him mad gladnes an glu [Gött. MS. ioi and gleu; Trin. MS. murþes newe]. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 295 Whan þei þe trumpe herd, þat he to bataile blewe, & saw þe ȝates sperd, þan gamened þam no glewe. c 1430 Syr Tryam. 462 There dwellyd that lady longe Moche myrthe was them amonge, But ther gamyd hur no glewe.

β c 1300 Maximon in Rel. Ant. I. 123 Of nothing that y se Ne gladieth me no gle. a 1352 Minot Poems (ed. Hall) iv. 57 When sir Philip of France herd tell þat king Edward in feld wald dwell þan gayned him no gle. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Baptist 404 He [John] in his modir wambe mad gle. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 717 Dame, of thy glitterand gyde haue I na gle. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. May 282 Being within, the Kidde made him [the fox] good glee.

    † c. A state of exaltation or prosperity. Obs.

1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Feb. 224 Now stands the Brere like a Lord alone, Puffed vp with pryde and vaine pleasaunce; But all this glee had no continuance. 1588 Greene Perimedes 28 Alexander the great..amidst his most glee and greatest glorye, was cowardlye poysoned.

    † d. Applied to a person (cf. joy). Obs.

c 1610 Middleton, etc. Widow i. ii, Thou art my glee, Martino.

    † 4. a. Bright colour, beauty. Obs.

c 1440 York Myst. i. 82 What I am worthely wroght with wyrschip, i-wys! For in a glorius gle my gleteryng it glemes. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. vii. 343 It semes..a bright star for to bee..from it we may not flee but aye glow [2 MSS. glye] on the glee, till it downe glide. 1567 Fenton Trag. Disc. vii. 141 Conuerting the naturall coollour [of her haire] in to a glistering glee suborned by arte. 1573–80 Baret's Alv. To Rdr. A vj a/1 Large wide feelds..Adornde with floures most beautifull in glee.

    † b. Phr. gold and glee: cf. prec. and quot. 1567.

1563 Mirr. Mag., Buckingham xli, Agaynst whose feare no heapes of golde and glie [rime-wd. skye]..His cruell hart of safetie could assure. [1567 Fenton Trag. Disc. vii. 139 To encrease the glee of his golden coffers.] 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. ix. 32 Not for gold nor glee will I abyde By you.

    5. attrib. and Comb., as glee-book, glee-god, glee-maiden, glee-singer, glee-singing, glee-woman; glee-club, a society formed for the practice and performance of glees and part-songs; also transf. † Also (OE. and early ME.) glee-beam, a poetical term for the harp; glee-craft, minstrelsy; glee-dream, delight of minstrelsy. Also gleeman.

Beowulf (Z.) 2263 Næs hearpan wyn, gomen *gleo-beames. a 1240 Ureisun in Cott. Hom. 193 Mid ham is muruhðe moniuold wið-ute teone and treie Gleobeames and gome inouh.

1862 O. W. Norton Army Lett. (1903) 124, I would rather see two or three pretty girls and a *glee-book..than the whole of them.

1814 R. Clark (title) The words of the most favourite pieces, performed at the *Glee Club, the Catch Club, and other public Societies. 1879 J. R. Planché Extrav. I. 46 Come to the Glee-club, at the Cat and Swallow. 1879 Encycl. Brit. X. 677/1 The most famous amongst these—The Glee Club—was founded in 1783, and at first used to meet at the house of Mr R. Smith, in St Paul's Churchyard. 1934 H. Nicolson Let. 7 Nov. (1966) 187 He would ask the glee-club to sing that song. 1971 Times 30 Jan. 13/1 Labour members will neither win back the confidence of the country nor prevent the passage of the Industrial Relations Bill by turning themselves into a political glee club.

a 900 tr. Gregory's Dial. i. ix. (Lye) *Gliᵹ-cræft. c 1205 Lay. 7012 Al þis mon-cun þat of him iherden tellen seiden þat he wes god of alle gleo-cræften.

Beowulf (Z.) 3021 Nu se here-wisa hleahtor aleȝde gamen ond *gleo-dream. c 1205 Lay. 1823 Brutus & his duȝeðe makeden halinesse..mid murie gleo-dreme.

1586 Warner Alb. Eng. iii. xvii, Whom Brutons did their *Glee-god for his skill in Musicke call.

c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Spelm.) lxvii. 27 Madena glywiendra vel *gliew meden. 1810 Scott Lady of L. vi. vi, Thou now hast glee-maiden and harp.

1811 Jane Austen Let. 18 Apr. (1952) 269 There is to be some very good Music, 5 professionals, 3 of them *Glee singers. 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. ii, Itinerant glee-singers. 1854 E. Twisleton Let. 29 June (1928) xi. 213 Mrs. Adderley's concert was all *glee-singing, English music and very pretty.

1912 W. Owen Let. 22 Sept. (1967) 162 Putting together..a Glee-Singing Band.

1828 Scott F.M. Perth x, Here is a strolling *glee-woman with her viol, preparing to sing beneath the royal windows.

    Hence † glee v. (a) intr. to make merry, to rejoice; (b) trans. to delight, gladden. Also ˈgleeing vbl. n., playing. rare.
    The vb. corresponding to glee n. was properly glew (q.v.), and the following instances of glee vb. are of doubtful value.

a 1300 K. Horn 1490 (Ritson) Hue gonne murie synge And makeden huere gleynge [v.r. gleowinge]. a 1400 Pistill of Susan 84 On grapes þe goldfinch þei gladen and glees [v.r. gladyn in her glees]. Ibid. 354 Alle þe gomus..gladen and glees [v.r. gladid in her glees]. a 1400 Sir Beues (MS. C.) 189, I wolde, þow it hadde The for to glee.

▪ II. glee, gley, v. Obs. exc. north. and Sc.
    (gliː, glaɪ)
    Forms: α. 3 glei, glaye, 3–4, 9 gley. β. 4–6 gle, 5–7, 9 glee. γ. 4 gliȝe, 5 gly-, 6, 8 glye, glie, 7 gly.
    [Of obscure origin. The northern forms (α and β) are normal variants from an orig. ME. glēȝen; in the midland dialects this was narrowed to glīȝen, whence later gly (cf. die, eye, fly, etc.). The vbs. gledge, gleg are related as fleg v.¹ to fley v.]
    intr. To look asquint; to have a cast in one or both eyes. Also, to look with one eye (see quot. 1866).

α, β a 1300 Cursor M. 3862 Þe eilder sister [Leah] he forsok For sco gleied [Gött. MS. gleyed], als sais þe bok. [Fairf. MS. gleand ho was for-soþ of loke.] c 1400 Destr. Troy 3772 With grete Ene & gray, gleyit a litill. 1483 Cath. Angl. 158/2 To Glee, limare. 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 2093, I daunsed the darlynge on my kne; I garde her gaspe, I garde her gle. 1552 Huloet, Glaye, or loke a skope, transuertere hirquos. 1570 Levins Manip. 46/28 To Glee, lippire. 1691 Ray Collect. Words 63 To look a squint, to glee. 1808–80 Jamieson, Gley, glee, glye, to squint, to look obliquely. 1818 [see gledge]. 1824–7 Moir Mansie Wauch xii. (1828) 189 But I could scarcely keepe from laughing when I glee'd round over my shoulder, and saw [etc.]. 1866 Gregor Banffsh. Gloss., Gley, to take aim; to look with one eye. 1876 Mid. Yorksh. Gloss., Glee, to squint.

γ c 1340 Cursor M. 3862 (Trin.) Þe elder sister [Leah] he forsoke For she gliȝed seiþ þe boke. c 1400 Destr. Troy 3943 Faire Ene hade þe freike, & of fyn colour, Glemyt as þe glasse and gliet a little. ? a 1500 Glye [see glee n. 4]. 1570 Levins Manip. 99/13 To Glye, lippire. 1573–80 Baret Alv. G 274 To glie, or looke askue, ouerthwart. 1673 Wedderburn Voc. (Jam.) Laborat strabismo, he glieth. 1674 Ray N.C. Words 21 To Gly (Lincoln), to look a-squint. 1721 Kelly Scot. Prov. 339 There's a time to Glye and a time to look even.

    Hence ˈgleeing vbl. n. and ppl. a.; ˈgleer, ˈgleyer, ˈglyer, one that squints; glee, gley n., a squint, a glance or side-look. Also Comb., as glyhalter (see quot. 1825).

c 1440 Promp. Parv. 199/1 Glyare, or goguleye (S. gloyere), limus, strabo. Ibid., Glyynge, strabositas. 14.. Nom. in Wr.-Wülcker 709/23 Hec stroba [sic], a woman glyande. Ibid. 709/33 Hic strabo, a glyere. 1483 Cath. Angl. 158/2 A Gleer, limus. a 1605 Polwart Flyting w. Montgomerie 788 Feard flyar, loud lyar, gooked gleyar on the gallows. 1824–7 Moir Mansie Wauch xii. (1828) 191 Giving first a glee eastward. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Gly-halter, a halter or bridle with blinkers, as those of draught-horses. 1857 J. Scholes Jaunt to see th' Queen 6 (Lanc. Gloss.) Iv yoan tay notis yoan see ut aw've o sooart ov o gley wi mi een. 1897 Blackw. Mag. Nov. 610 A servant lass with one eye on the pot and the other up the lum as we say of a glee or cast.

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