† ˈseldseen, a. Obs.
Forms: 1 selds{iacu}ene, -s{yacu}nde, 3 seldcene, seltsene, -scene, 6 seld-, seildsene, seeldseene, 6–7 seldseen(e.
[OE. selds{iacu}ene = MDu. seltsiene, OHG. seltsâni (MHG. seltsæne, mod.G. with change of suffix seltsam), ON. sialdsénn (Sw. has sällsam after Ger.):—OTeut. *seldosewnjo-, -sǣwnjo-: see seldom and sene a.]
Seldom to be seen or met with; rare. (By 16th c. writers sometimes analysed as seld seen.)
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. ii. iv. (1883) 76 Cirus ᵹeahsade..þæt þæm folce seldsiene & uncuðe wæron wines dryncas. c 959 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. (1845) III. 450 ælc seldsynde fisc ðe weorðlic byð. a 1225 Ancr. R. 80 Our speche schal beon seldcene. c 1230 Hali Meid. 37 Hit is selt sene on eorðe. 1547 Baldwin Mor. Philos. i. viii. C iv b, Thales..was asked what was the most difficill and seldest seen thing? He aunswered: an olde Tyrant. A selde sene thing in dede. c 1590 Marlowe Jew of Malta i. 63 Seildsene costly stones. 1616 T. Scot Philomythie D 5 b, The most precious-seld-seen Vnicorne. 1916 E. Blunden Pastorals 30 Even as she flung the seld-seen gaud away. |