Middle English Dictionary Entry
crīǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | crīǒur n. Also crier, creiour. |
| Etymology | OF criëor |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who cries out; (b) one who makes a public complaint, accuser, agitator.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.40.3 : The vois of a crier [WB(1): vois of the criende; L vox clamantis] in desert, 'Make ȝe redi the weie of the Lord.'
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.2 : Þis Joon was a vois of a cryer in desert.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)80a : Þan þe þu and þyn oost first criours on þe enemyes, raþer þan þe enemyes of þe.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)82 : A Cryer; clamator.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)215/29 : Thou shalt ordayne..amyddys, tho that shall caste brondys of fyre brandynge, the Archeris and Criours wyth horribil vioces [read: voices].
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)166/35 : I am a voys of the cryer in þe deserte.
b
- c1475(1459) Pros.Yorkists in EHR 26 (Roy 17.D.15)520 : Per aventure ye say that alle the world cryed aponn thaim þe whiche thay slewe; and I say that thay were principall cryers and styrrares of other.
2.
(a) A royal officer who makes proclamations and public announcements, an officer who commands silence; an officer in a court of law who makes announcements, summons the accused or the witnesses, etc.; a town crier; also fig.; (b) one who makes announcements on behalf of a private person; one who cries wares or makes announcements in a market or a fair; (c) mil. an officer who transmits commands; ?a herald; (d) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.247 : A cryour [Higd.(2): a bydelle, or the crier of the cite] schulde stonde vppon a toure and, as meny dayes as were from þat day to þe bygynnynge of the feire, he schulde crie, 'Calo.'
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.177 : It was opounly cried by þe kynges criers and bedelles [L per regios præcones] þat..Godwyn schulde presente hym self.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.Barlaam (Vrn)219/348 : Þe kyng wolde sende to his ȝate A Crior to stonde þer ate, Wiþ a Trompe for to blowe.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)98 : Ech prest hath the office of a criere to cri bifore the cominge of the highe iuge that men ben conuertid fro here synnis.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)60b/b : Silenciarius: a pes cryare.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)189 : Eche þat comeþ to presthod takiþ þe office of a bedele, or criere..to crie to þe peple here synnes and vengaunce of god.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1295 : Tytus suþ sett hym..As juge Jewes to jugge..Criour [vrr. Criours, bedells] callen hem forþ.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)95a : Why clepest þow not him by a Cryour and not sende a Currour for him?
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3084 : The criour gan to calle The Burgeys þat had pleyd with Beryn atte ches.
- (a1466) Paston3.254 : A resonable remedy shall ease you of a gret part that the criour cleymeth of you for Maister Fastolffs detts of xiij or xiiij yere at the lest.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)8 : It folowiþ not, if a bedel or criare schewe þe fre graunt of his lord, þan þat þis seruaunt..grauntiþ swilke maner of fredam.
- a1500 Aboue all thing (Roy 17.B.47)p.262 : In westmyaster Hall the criers call, The sergeauntes plede apace.
b
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)97/281 : Þe forseid mon..Sende a criour þorwh þe cite.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)47b/b : Paristus: a criour in market.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)103 : Cryar, he þat cryethe yn a merket, or in a feyre: Declamator, preco.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)30a : A Crier in the merkett: preco, preconizator.
- a1500 Gloss.Garland (Hrl 1002)126 : Cryers: Precones vini clamant.
c
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52105/19 : Cuidam cryour comini Marescalli ibidem de dono domini, vj s. viij d.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334a/a : Where þe crioures voice may [not] be y herde for noyse, þe noyse of trompe schulde be herd.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)24a : And by þe criour [L praeconem] of þe oost hit schal be warned what þe firste hundred and what þe secounde & what þe þridde schul schul worche til al þe werke be wrouȝt.
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)538/26 : Prynce Edward with xj banerettes, cij knyghtes, cclxiiij men of armes..vjc Walshmen, wherof on was a chapeleyn..and anoþer a crier.
d
- (1221) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms153 : Rad. le Criur.
- (1237) Close R.Hen.III428 : Rogerus le Criur.
- (1251) Close R.Hen.III412 : Wm le Criur.
- (1269) Assize R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.88218 : Rob. le Crieur.
- (1285) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms153 : Joh. le Cryer.
- (1299) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.496 : Andrew le Crior.
- (1300) Let.Bk.Lond.C (Gldh LetBk C)69-70 : Edmund le Criour..Edmund le Creyour.
- (1316) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms153 : Joh. le Crier.
- (1340) Doc.Oxf.in OHS 73226 : Galf. le Criour.
- (1358) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.3.308 : William le Criour.
- (1447) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms153 : Rob. Cryour.
3.
A small bell.
Associated quotations
- (1467) *Will Langewith (Somerset Ho.) [OD col.] : To chirch, a small belle called a cryer.