mawmetry

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English[edit]

Noun[edit]

mawmetry (countable and uncountable, plural mawmetries)

  1. Archaic form of mammetry.

References[edit]

Middle English[edit]

Noun[edit]

mawmetry

  1. Alternative form of mawmetrie
    • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Parsons Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, [], [London]: [] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes [], 1542, →OCLC, folio cxii, recto:
      What dyfference is there betwyxt an ydolaſter and an auaricyous man. But that an ydolaſter perauenture ne hathe nat but a mawmet or two, but the auaricious man hath many. For certes euery floreyn in hys coffre, is his maumet. And certes the ſynne of maumetry is the fyrſte that God defended, as in the .x. commaudements
      What is the difference between an idolater and an avaricious man, but that the idolater has only two idols when the avaricious man has many. Indeed, every gold coin in his coffer is his idol. And, certainly, the sin of idolatry is the first that God prohibited, as in the Ten Commandments