medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From: Henk 't Jong <[log in to unmask]>
> Even by the later 13th c they lived in proper monasteries.
is that because all the trees were cut down by then?
in any event, were they called "hermits"?
> By the 14th century, the OESA were not hermits in the original sense.
no, apparently not.
the OED's 2.a ["immediately derived from 1"], **first noted in Holinshed**:
hermit, n.
1.
a. One who from religious motives has retired into solitary life; esp. one of
the early Christian recluses. See eremite n. 1.
c1275 (1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9382 Sone þe armite [c1300
Otho heremite] com in.
c1300 St. Brandan 610 The ermite that was so old aȝen hem com gon.
a1400 (1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 8135 An armyte [Vesp. heremite,
Fairf. ermyte] þar þai fand at hame In þat montayn, was halt and lame.
c1440 Promp. Parv. 141/2 Ermyte‥heremita.
β.
a1300 Cursor M. (Gött.) 17900 A man come þan widuten lite, Þat semed wele
haue bene hermite [v.rr. eremite, eremyte, Ermyte].
1362 Langland Piers Plowman A. Prol. 3 In Habite of an Hermite [B.
Heremite, C. Ermite] vn-holy of werkes.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) vii. 24 A haly hermit mette‥a beste
forschapen.
1481 Myrrour of Worlde (Caxton) i. v. 22 The other gaf it [their tresour]
away and‥wente as hermytes.
γ.
c1275 Laȝamon Brut 18804 Þan heremite he iseh come.
c1480 (1400) St. Mary Magdalen 811 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial.
(1896) I. 279 A preste‥þat fled þe warld as heremyt.
1497 J. Alcock Mons Perfeccionis (de Worde) D iij b, An heremyte cam to
saynt Anthony.
b. transf. A person living in solitude.
2. In senses immediately derived from 1.
a. In the formal designation of certain monastic orders: e.g. Hermits of St.
Augustine: see eremite n. 2.
**1577–87** R. Holinshed Chron. III. 926/1 At Padua in the church of the
heremites of saint Augustine.
1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. iv. xi. 449 The
Augustinians produced one [new branch] that of the Hermites of St. Augustin.
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