Middle English Dictionary Entry

cǒurs n.
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Entry Info

Forms cǒurs n. Also course, cource, curs(e, cors(e, coorse. Pl. cǒurses, cǒurs, curses, cors, corps.
Etymology OF cours, cors, curs & L cursus.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
Running (of man or beast); a run; riden a ~, make a run.
Show 4 Quotations
2.
(a) A charge in battle or tourney; a passage at arms; ~ of pes (werre), a charge with blunted weapons (with unbated weapons); in plein ~, in full charge; riden a ~, make a charge; (b) pursuit (of game with hounds); haven a ~; (c) a race; (d) a racecourse.
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3.
(a) Force of movement, impetus; with (a) gret ~, forcefully, impetuously; hastily, rapidly; (b) an access or fit (of anger).
Show 9 Quotations
4.
(a) Movement from one position or place to another; movement in travel or navigation; (b) a way or direction of travel; a nautical course; (c) holden ~, to keep going, keep on (one's) way; gon, maken, rennen ~, make (one's) way; nimen, taken ~, start on the way, pursue (one's) course; strechen ~, direct (one's) course; walken ~, make (one's) way by walking.
Show 23 Quotations
5.
(a) The flow or surge of water; current (of a stream), ebb and flow (of the sea); a stream or river; ~ of water; (b) the direction of flow; tournen ~, reverse the flow; (c) the channel or bed of a stream; a watercourse; water ~.
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6.
The flux or flow (of 'humors'); discharge (of pus); ?also, propensitiy to flow, runniness, viscosity.
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7.
Astron. The movement of a heavenly body or sphere; the orbit (of a heavenly body), path (of a star), revolution (of a sphere); fulfillen, passen, rennen ~, maken even ~, to complete a circuit or revolution.
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8.
(a) A sequence of periods, stages, or events; rennen ~, run (its) course; the ~ of the worlde, the history of the world; the ~ of yeres (monthes), the succession or cycle of years (months); calendar, chronology, appointed sequence; (b) (one's) turn of duty; (c) in ~, as the ~ cometh aboute, in succession; in due course; in ~ of daies, in the course of time, in time.
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9.
(a) Progression or development (of an activity or condition), course (of a disease); maken ~, proceed; ben in ~, be in progress; (b) the course or span of (one's) life; life viewed as a race well run.
Show 13 Quotations
10.
A process; ~ of kinde, a natural process or way, natural behavior; propre ~, normal course; bi (comoun) ~, in a natural way, of course; as usual; out of ~, unnaturally, abnormally; haven ~, have (one's) way; etc.
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11.
(a) Procedure or practice established by law or custom; after, bi ~ of (the) lawe, in accordance with the law; haven ~, of a law: be carried out, have its course; (b) of persons: conduct, esp. customary or proper conduct.
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12.
(a) Arch. A horizontal range of masonry, arches, or ornaments, a course; (b) ~ restour, ?a stone supporting a course of masonry; ~ table, stone (with moldings) for a stringcourse; (c) cook. a layer.
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13.
One of the courses of a meal.
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14.
Misc. uses: (a) the flow or exchange (of goods); (b) the course (of a boundary); the prevailing direction (of muscles), orientation, lay; (c) setten in ~ of, align with; (d) turnen ~ to, direct to (sth.); (e) haven ~, of coinage: be current; (f) holden ~ with, keep up with; (g) counten no ~, not to mind; (h) in the first ~, ?at once.
Show 9 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may not be complete.--notes per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1475 Yale-BA.Artist.Recipes (Yale-BA R486.M43 1450) 95/17 : Grynde hit fast al hote a good whyle [Brog 2.1:Clarke: cowrse] with vynegre, and than put hit into the potte aȝen.
  • a1500 Sln.122 Artist.Recipes (Sln 122) 117/8 : Grynde it faste al hoot with vynegre a good cours, and put it into þe potte.
    • Note: Glossary: "cours, cowrse n. 'a while'." ?New sense. ?Cf. OED course, n., sense 17. b. 'The space of time over which any process extends; length (in time), duration'.

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