▪ I. † mensk, n. Obs.
Forms: 3 mensca, mensce, menke, 3–6 mensk, menske, 5 menseke. (See also mense n.)
[a. ON. mennska humanity (Sw. menniska, Da. menneske), corresponding (exc. for declension) to OE. menniscu = OS., OHG. menniskî:—OTeut. type *manniskîn- wk. fem., f. *mannisko-: see mannish a.]
1. Humanity, kindness; graciousness, courtesy.
| a 1240 Wohunge in Cott. Hom. 269 Menske and mildeschipe and debonairte of herte and dede. c 1350 Will. Palerne 313 Moch is þi mercy & þi miȝt, þi menske, & þi grace! 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 163 A mayden of menske, ful debonere. a 1440 Sir Degrev. 83 He lovede welle almosdede, Powr men to cloth and ffede, Wyth menske and manhede. |
2. Honour, dignity, reverence; pl. honours, dignities.
| c 1205 Lay. 2535 Ah fourti wintre heore fader mid mensca heold his riche. Ibid. 2681. a 1225 Ancr. R. 192 Mid more menke, not ich non ancre þet habbe al þet hire neod is þene ȝe þreo habbeð. a 1300 Cursor M. 4245 Putifer..held ioseph in mensk and are. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 2118 More menske were it to þe Better for to do. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2410 Sele you bytyde, & he ȝelde hit yow ȝare, þat ȝarkkez al menskes! 1375 Barbour Bruce xvi. 621 Men sall se Quha lufis the kyngis mensk to-day! a 1400 Sir Perc. 1423 If..we foure kempys agayne one knyght, Littille menske wold to us lighte, If he were sone slayne. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xx. 175 Mensk be to this meneye! 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 352, I maid that wif carll to werk all womenis werkis, And laid all manly materis and mensk in this eird. 1509 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) V. 3 Ȝe shall have moch menske thereof. |
b. An honour, credit, ornament.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 276 Þe meste menkes [C. menske] of þine nebbe, þet is, þet feirest del bitweonen smech muðes & neoses smel. a 1240 Wohunge in Cott. Hom. 281 Þu þat menske art of al mon kin, of alle bales bote, mon for to menske swuch schome þoledes. |
▪ II. † mensk, a. Obs.
[a. ON. mennisk-r = OE. męnnisc: see mannish a.]
Worshipful, honourable.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 964 A mensk lady on molde. |
▪ III. † mensk, v. Obs.
[f. mensk n.]
1. trans. To reverence or honour; to dignify, grace, favour.
| a 1225 Juliana 7 He hire walde menskin wið al þat he mahte. a 1300 Cursor M. 2432 Þe king..commaunded thoru-out al his land Men suld him mensk and hald in hand. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 177 For ȝit I may as I mihte menske þe wiþ ȝiftes And Meyntene þi Monhede more þen þou knowest. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1855 Send hom þat semly þat I sew fore, That he may menske hur with mariage. c 1460 Towneley Myst. ix. 140 Mahowne the menske, my lord kyng. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 446 Hym to mensk on mold withoutin manance. |
2. To adorn; to render graceful.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 141 Þe abyt þat þou has vpon, no halyday hit menskez. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 153 A mere mantile abof, mensked with-inne, With pelure pured apert þe pane ful clene. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 12460 To menske hit [a cloak] þer hit was wane. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxviii. (Margaret) 525 One þe morne, quhen sown was brycht, Þat menskis al þe warld of lycht [etc.]. |