Forms: 5 bygyn, begyne, 6 begine, -ghine, -gyn, biggayne, 7 beguin, beggin, 6– beguine. [a. F. béguine (13th c. in Littré), in med.L. beguīna, begīna, beghīna (Du Cange), an appellative derived from the surname of Lambert Bègue or le Bègue (‘the Stammerer’), a priest of Liège, in the 12th c., the founder of the order.
(Cf. the annal of 1180, quoted in Du Cange: ‘God stirred up the spirit of a certain holy priest, a man of religion, who was called Lambert le Bègue (because he was a stammerer) of St. Christopher [in Liège], from whose surname women and girls who propose to live chastly, are called Beguines, because he was the first to arise and preach to them by his word and example the reward of chastity.’ The cap béguin derives its name from them, and not vice versâ.)]
A name for the members of certain lay sisterhoods which began in the Low Countries in the 12th century, who devoted themselves to a religious life, but did not bind themselves by strict vows, and might leave their societies for marriage. They were protected by Pope John XXII., when he persecuted the male Beguins or Beghards, and are still represented by small communities existing in the Netherlands, with an organization somewhat similar to some Anglican sisterhoods.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 431/1. Almoses to ye blynde begynes, doughters of god.
1552. Bale, Apol., 20. Not to vysite … wydowes in their trouble, but wanton wenches, beghines, nunnes and vowesses.
1595. World of Wond. (1608), 184. Young wanton wenches, and beguins, nuns, and naughty packs.
1599. Thynne, Animadv., 37. But this woorde ‘Begyn’ sholde in his owne nature rightlye haue ben expounded, ‘supersticious or hipocriticall wemenne.’
1629. S’hertogenbosh, 37. The Beggins … did make cushions for the Souldiers.
1765. Sterne, Tr. Shandy (1802), VIII. xx. 162. She was a young Beguine … they can quit their cloister if they choose to marry.
a. 1843. Southey, Poet’s Pilgr., Proem. xvi. Behold the black Beguine, the Sister grey.
1851. Kingsley, Yeast, ix. 182. To write at once to the Superior of the Béguines.
attrib. 1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, lvi. The Béguine convents which they visited.
