† wlonkadj.n.
Obsolete.
A. adj.
1. Proud, haughty.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > arrogance > [adjective]
wlonkOE
moodyOE
rankOE
surquidous1377
insolentc1386
wantona1393
arrogantc1405
angardc1425
surquidrousc1430
stately1448
imperiala1456
superbious1509
succudrous1513
surquidant1528
ruffling1543
controlling1564
lustya1568
cocking1568
superbous1581
bog1592
swaggering1596
superarrogant1598
arrogating1601
pyrgopolinizing1605
high-handed1606
outbearing1607
high-horsed1613
dictatory1639
bardish1641
self-assuming1647
superbient1647
huffy1680
dictatorial1692
huffish1755
cobby1785
high-riding1831
braggadocious1853
snouty1858
you-be-damned1887
OE Beowulf 341 Ellenrof..wlanc Wedera leod..heard under helme.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 35 He wes prud & wlonc.
a1225 Leg. Kath. 844 Nawt wið wit ah wið wind of ane wlonke wordes.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6397 Þir Iuus þat o will war wlanck, þai cund him ai ful litell thanck.
2.
a. Rich, splendid, fine, magnificent: in later use esp. as a conventional epithet in alliterative verse.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] > and splendid
wlonkOE
clear1362
wlonkfulc1400
royalc1425
imperial?1435
magnificousa1474
splendidious?a1475
triumphant1494
glorious1622
aureate1625
candid1648
splendid1653
magnifico1654
magnificent1664
dazzling1749
splendiferous1827
angeliferous1837
million-dollar1854
purple1894
colossal1895
(like) a million dollars (also bucks)1911
swell1926
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > splendour, magnificence, or pomp > [adjective]
wlonkOE
kine-wurtheOE
reala1325
rialc1330
royalc1400
wlonkfulc1400
statelyc1415
pompousc1425
imperial?1435
pontificalc1440
sumptuous1472
magnific1490
magnificenta1530
statelike1534
pompatic1535
magnificala1538
princely1539
portly1548
regal1561
queen-like?1571
haughty1585
portlike1587
Minerva-like1598
lustrous1605
pompatical1610
pontificial1613
commandinga1616
pompal1616
grand1622
splendid1624
pontifician1629
regifical1656
queenly1791
presidential1804
angeliferous1837
slashing1854
sultanesque1862
pageanted1902
OE Phoenix 100 Þonne waþum strong fugel feþrum wlonc on firgenstream under lyft, ofer lagu locað georne.
OE Beowulf 2833 Maðmæhta wlonc.
c1230 Hali Meid. (1922) 43 & tine wide wahes wlonke & welefulle.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 489 Sumeres tide is alto wlonc.
c1325 Song of Merci 3 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 118 Wlanke deor on grounde gan glide.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1634 A while wol i stinte of þis wlonke murþe.
a1400–50 Wars Alex. 5089 A worthi wedow & a wlonk.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 903 I schulde not tempte þy wyt so wlonc.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 122 Wod & water & wlonk playnez.
c1400 Anturs Arth. 347 Wlonkest in wede.
15.. Tayis Bank (Bannatyne MS.) 118 Joy wes within and joy without, Vnder that wlonkest waw.
a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 553 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 112 Archebald ye honorable..Weddit yat wlonk wicht.
b. Rich in moisture or sap; rank; lush.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > [adjective] > juicy or sappy
wlonk1398
frimc1400
juicyc1430
sappy1562
sapful1674
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by good growth > [adjective] > flourishing or luxuriant in growth
greeneOE
frimOE
ranka1325
wlonk1398
flourishingc1400
rankish1495
frank?1548
gole1573
abled1576
wanton1579
proud1597
unseared1599
unwithered1599
ramping1607
lusha1616
fulsome1633
luxurious1644
rampant1648
luxuriant1661
lascivious1698
pert1727
unnipped1775
verdurous1820
happy1875
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum xi. xi. (Tollem. MS.) Snow..norischeþ and fedeþ good herbes and makeþ hem wlonke [L. impinguit; ed. 1495 cranke; ed. 1535 ranke].
c1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 449 The potters cley, the wlonk [L. uliginosa], or sondy lene,..nys nought.
B. n.
A fair or beautiful one.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun] > beautiful thing or person > beautiful person > beautiful woman
clearc1330
comelya1375
wlonk?a1400
brightc1400
gayc1400
sheenc1400
violet1412
berylc1440
blossomc1440
bonnya1529
pertc1540
bonylasse1546
Venus?1572
spark1575
bellibone1579
bonnibel1579
nymph1584
cheruba1616
lily1622
bellea1640
fine1639
toast1700
houri1745
belle dame1768
peri1813
beauty queen1835
stallion1970
?a1400 Morte Arth. 3338 I went to that wlonke, and wynly hire gretis.
?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 45 The wedo the tothir wlonk warpit ther wordis.
a1513 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen in Poems (1998) I. 42 Of thir fair wlonkes..Ane was ane wedow.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.n.OE