DENYS (saint). Denis, fl. third century A.D., was bishop of Paris and became the patron saint of France. He died c. A.D. 250. He was also called Dionysius. Gregory of Tours tells that he was born in Italy and sent to preach Christianity to the Gauls. He was beheaded, and over his tomb was built a chapel and an abbey. In the ninth century he was identified with Pseudo-Denys the Areopagite, who claimed to have been one of Paul's disciples. In England forty-one churches were dedicated to him. In Abelard's time the monks of St. Denis still claimed that Dionysius the Areopagite was their founder.
The action of The Shipman's Tale is set in St. Denis, a village outside Paris. Don John the monk swears by St. Denis of France, ShipT 151. [John5: Martyn]
The form, an ME spelling variant, appears in medial position.