middle-erd Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: see middle and erd; also 4 myddelnerde, 2–3 middelert, 4 midulert, 5 medlert, 8 midlert, 5 middle yorde, myddell yarde. See also middle earth.
[Formed by substitution of middel middle a. for middan- in middaneard, -ᵹeard: see middenerd. There may have been an OE. *middel(ȝ)eard corresponding to OS. mittilgard, OHG. mittilgart.]
The world; the earth taken as situated between heaven and hell; also, the people dwelling on the earth.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 15 Þas laȝen weren from Moyses a þet drihten com on þis middilert for us to alesnesse of deofles onwalde. c 1200 Ormin 3638 Godess þeowwess blomenn aȝȝ Inn alle gode þæwess, Her i þiss middellærdess lif. c 1205 Lay. 25569 Lauerd drihten crist domes waldende midelarde mund. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9052 Me nuste womman so vair non in þe middel erde. c 1315 Shoreham vii. 580 Wy nedde hy be ine helle y-stopped For euere mo, Ac Nauȝt her in þys myddelnerde, For to maky men offerde. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2100 More he is þen any mon vpon myddelerde. a 1400 Pistill of Susan 263 (MS. A.) Þou maker of myddelert, þat most art of miht. c 1460 Towneley Myst. iii. 100 Therfor shall I fordo All this medill-erd. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. iv. 267 Father,..I hope for all middle-yorde you will not slaye your childe. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. viii. 11 Thair saw he als, with huge greit and murnyng In mydle erd most menit, thir Troianis. 1768 Ross Helenore (1789) 59 This gate she could not long in midlert be. |