Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēliver(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēliver(e adj. Also delivre, (error) delivered. |
| Etymology | OF delivre |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Agile, nimble, active, quick; (b) mentally quick, lively; (c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3596 : It was þe kinges sone, & douȝthi man & deliver in dedes of armes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.9.4 : With a leperesse, or tumbler, be thou not besy, ne here hir; lest par auenture thou pershe in the delyuere doyng [L in efficacia] of hir.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.289 : He ordeynede knyȝtes delyvere [L agiles] men, strong and swyþer.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.84 : Of his stature he was of euene lengthe, And wonderly delyuere and of greet strengthe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.681 : Thei scholden come Unto the gamen alle and some Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2343 : Ȝif I deliuer had bene, a boffet..I couþe wroþeloker haf waret.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)69 : And also þat he be, boþ a feelde and at woode, delyuered and wel eyed and wel avised of his speche.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4544 : Menelay of stature was but mene..Worþi in armys, deliuere, & also strong.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)831 : Noble he was of his stature..Delyver, smert, and of gret myght.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2837 : Artagathus Icallid was the ton, Wonder delyuer, a man of gret myht.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)421 : Quyk, or lyvely, or delyvyr: Vivax.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3958 : A large man of lenght, delyuer, & small.
- (1472) Paston (Gairdner)5.144 : He is one the lyghtest, delyverst, best spokyn..of all the knyghtys.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)237/37 : Tho men whych kepyth reysonabill diette..bene more hole of body, of bettyr vndyrstondynge, more delyuerir, more strongyr.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)267 : Gawein, that was wight and delyuer, returned his horse vpon hym.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(Hrl 2277)294 : He nemiȝte him wawe fot ne hond..Ac delyure he hadde al his þoȝt.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)204/31 : Þou schalt þerbi be disposid..to kepe weel in delyuere and curraunt remembraunce and mynde þe seid fruytful exposicioun.
c
- (1199) CRR(1) 1279 : Radulphus le Deliure.
2.
(a) Free, unencumbered; (b) delivered of a child, having given birth; (c) of strength, power, etc.: active, full.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.458 : To the Sanguin complexion, Nature of hire inspeccion A propre hous hath in the livere, For his duellinge mad delivere.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)38/14 : Þis es þe rihte gate whare-inne þu salle life. Yef þu may halde it, cum inne; and ȝef þu ne may, ga forz al deliuir.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1084 : And alle hende þat honestly moȝt an hert glade Aboutte my Lady watz lent, quen ho delyver were.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Abbess (Cmb Gg.5.31)p.168 : This abbas suld paynes dreght And be delyuer of hir chylde.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)36/13 : Oure Lady restid hir when scho was delyuer of hir childe [F apres lenfauntier].
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13756 : The lady was deliuer of a loue sone.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)278/9 : Tyme come sho sulde be delyver.
- a1500(?c1400) Triam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)1670 : Y was delyuyr of a chylde.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)185/117 : It begynnys to pas ffourty dayes syn that thou was Delyuer of thy son.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1182 : He..was in his deliuer myȝt And desirous to honour to atteyne.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)164 : Yf he had be in his delyuer strengthe.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)692 : The oth was soche that yef I were in my delyuer powste, and in my powste and I nought.