Evangely

Obs. or arch. Forms: 4–7 ev-, ewangeli(e, -ye, (5 evangilye), 4–5 evaungelie, -y, 5– evangely. Also 5 aphet. vangelye. [ad. Eccl. L. ēvangelium, ad. Gr. εὐαγγέλιον good tidings (in class. Gr. only ‘reward for bringing good news,’ and in pl. ‘a sacrifice offered on receiving good news’), f. εὐάγγελος, f. εὖ well + άγγέλλειν to announce. Cf. EVANGEL¹]

  1.  The ‘good news’ of redemption; the Gospel revelation, the faith of the Gospel; = EVANGEL 1.

1382.  Wyclif, Gal. i. 7. Ther ben summe that … wolen mysturne the euangelie of Crist.

c. 1450.  Lonelich, Grail, lii. 969. [Piers] the holy vangelye gan him vndo.

c. 1540.  in Prance, Addit. Narr. Pop. Plot (1679), 36. To the most notable slaunder of Christs Holy Evangely.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 53. Christes Evangely.

1675.  Case of Quakers conc. Oaths def., 47. I … submit myself principally to the Evangely of Jesus Christ.

1683.  E. Hooker, Pref. Ep. Pordage’s Mystic Div., 29. This Gospel is, this the Evangelie.

  b.  In etymological sense: Glad tidings.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm. (Sel. Wks.), II. 339. Evangeli is seid as good tyþing of blis: and þus not oonly þes foure gospels but epistlis of Poul … ben clepid Evangelies.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. xi. 54. If oure Euangelie is couered.

  2.  The Gospel record; = EVANGEL¹ 2. Also a passage in the same.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 174. Þeos beþ wordes I-writen In þe Ewangelye.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 113. As he him selfe recordeth in his Evaungelie.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XII. 204. For clergie seith þat he seih in the seynt euangelie, That [etc.].

c. 1470.  Harding, Chron., LXXXVII. Thou vnderstandest full litill theuangilye.

1483.  Caxton, G. de la Tour, L ij. Jhesus Cryst sayd in theuangely that [etc.].

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus. (1877–9), 120. Our Sauiour Christ Iesus … in his Euangely, the sixt of Mathew, saith.

  b.  One of the Four Gospels; = EVANGEL 2 b.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XVI. 45. Þenne cam scripture, And seruede hem þus sone of sondrie metes menie, Of austyn, [of] ambrosie, of all þe foure euangelies.

a. 1400[?].  Chester Pl., 210. Austyne … his homilye upon Saynte John Evangelye.

1513.  Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 2854. Rehersed by Mathewe, in his evangely.

1529.  Latimer, 1st Serm. on the Card, I. 5. Christ … left be hind for our safeguard … the evangelies, the sacraments, the commandments, and so forth.

1530.  Compend. Treat. (1863), 53. That the Euangely off Jhon was drawen into Englishe by the forsayde Bede.

  ¶ App. taken to mean ‘evangelist.’ (The older texts have euangelist, wangeliste.)

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 13977 (Trin.). Als telleþ luke þe euangele.

  3.  As an object to swear upon. a. pl. A copy of the Four Gospels; cf. EVANGEL¹ 3. b. sing. used collectively: The Gospels.

1494.  Fabyan, VII. 548. And I swere vpon the holy Euaungelys here presentlye with my handys towchyd, that [etc.].

1547.  Homilies, I. Swearing, II. (1859), 79. Whosoever wilfully forsweareth himself upon Christs holy Evangely.

1577.  Harrison, England, II. v. (1877), I. 123. You shall … swear upon the holy evangelies by you bodily touched.