contemplaunce

Middle English

Noun

contemplaunce (uncountable)

1. (hapax legomenon, nonce word) Contemplation.
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Somnours Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 81, verso:

     […] er he hadde any speche / With hye god, that is oure lyues leche / He fasted longe, and was in contemplaunce[.] / Aaron, that hadde the temple in gouernaunce […]

     […] before he spoke / With God on high, who is physician of our lives, / He spent a long time in fasting and contemplation. / Aaron, who governed the temple […]

References

• “contemplaunce, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.