nobley

Middle English

Etymology

Old French nobleie.

Noun

nobley

1. The body of nobles; the nobility.
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Nonne”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 171, verso, line 449:

     youre Prynces erren as youre nobleye dooth

     your princes err, just as your nobility does

2. Noble birth; nobility; dignity.
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The [Clerkys] Tale [of Oxenford]”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 185, verso, lines 771–774:

     That ye so longe of youre benygnytee
     han holden me in honour and nobleye
     Where as I was noght worthy for to be
     That thonke I god and yow to whom I preye
     fforyelde it yow ther is namoore to seye

     That you, of your benignity, for so long
     have held me here in honour and nobility—
     me, who was never worthy to be treated so—
     I thank god and you for, and I pray to him
     to repay you. There is no more to say.

3. Splendor, grandeur, luxury.
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Squiers Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 129, verso, lines 76–79:

     And so bifel þ^t after the thridde cours
     Whil þ^t this kyng sit thus in his nobleye
     Herknynge his mynstrals hir thynges pleye
     Biforn hym at the bord deliciously

     And so it came to pass that after the third course
     While this king sat in grandeur
     Hearing his mistrals play their instruments
     at the dinner table luxuriously