Middle English Dictionary Entry
derf adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | derf adj. Also darfe. Forms: infl. derve, derue, derfe, derffe; comp. dervre, derure, derfre; sup. deruest. |
| Etymology | ON *derf- (Gmc e), akin to OS derbi (Gmc a); cp. OI djarf-r. The word occurs chiefly in N & NM texts. Senses 3 & 4 may come from derf n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Bold, daring, courageous; valiant, doughty, noble (knight, king); (b) audacious, forward; impudent, wicked.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)16780 : He nass nohht derrf inoh All opennliȝ to sekenn Þe Laferrd Crist biforr þe follc.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)19598 : He bigrap þe king..Wiþþ derrf & openn spæche Off all hiss ille dede.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)166 : Summe..vouched a-vowes..to..derf Nepturne [!].
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1047 : Then frayned þe freke..Quat derue dede had hym dryuen..fro þe kyngez kourt to kayre al his one.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1492 : 'Ȝet I kende yow of kyssyng,' quoþ þe clere..'Do way,' quoþ þat derf mon, 'my dere, þat speche!'
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2970 : Dolphyn the derfe dyghte hym agaynes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)528 : Ne deme no dishonesty in your derfe hert!
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1336 : All shodurt as shepe..Non so derffe to endure a dynt of his hond.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1958 : I, sir Dari, þe deyne & derfe Emperoure, þe kyng of kyngis.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)2607 : Knyghtis breme as Any bare, And derfe of drede as is the drake.
b
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)131 : By a wynliche welle Susan caste of hir kelle..Nou were þis domus men derf drawen in derne..Forte heilse þat hende, þei hiȝed ful ȝerne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12936 : Þat derf o ded, þat fals traitur, Com for to faand his creatur!
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25451 : Ful derf i was to bidd vndo, þat luued i neuer rest na ro, Bot wildnes and wa.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27749 : Wreth..wentes man fra godd his will And mas him derf to dedis ill.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3778 : Thow sall be dede and vndon for thy derfe dedys.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4218 : Þe derfe dogge syche dynttes he rechede þe toþer withdrewe one dreghe.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)856 : Neghe noȝte þou þat lady; For and þou do, þou schall dey For þi derfe dede.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)367/1 : Full darfe has bene oure deede, for thi commen is oure care.
2.
Strong, sturdy, powerful; massive (hills); precious (jewel); great, boisterous (commotion); great (miracle).
Associated quotations
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)205 : Ðe mire muneð us mete to tilen..do we forði so doð ðis der, ðanne be we derue: On ðat dai ðat dom sal ben, ðat it ne us harde rewe.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)862 : Dotz away yor derf dyn and derez never my gestes..yor iapez ar ille.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1233 : Þe dor drawen & dit with a derf haspe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)312 : No more dowtte the dynte of theire derfe wapyns, Þan þe dewe þat es daunke.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2052 : The vyscownte valiante..drissede in a derfe schelde [etc.].
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4240 : That derfe dynt was his dede [i.e. death].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1211 : He þat was duke of þe droues & of þe derfe hillis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2091 : Days thre þurȝe-out thraly we foȝten, Derfe dintis & dreȝe delt & taken.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3653 : A doughti mon & deruist of hond.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)1.42 : It was full goodeliche ygraue with gold al abouȝte..With diamauntis derue y-douutid of all.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)99 : Hit is a derfe wonder, Bot summe segge couthe say þat he hym sene hade.
3.
(a) Fierce, dreadful, cruel; dreaded, painful; (b) wicked, sinful.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)15/153 : Swa much..ich beo him þe leouere, se ich derfre [vr. derure] þing for his [Christ's] luue drehe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)566 : Ich hire wule don to þe derueste deað þet me mei hire demen.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)40/680 : Ah þoleden stronge pinen..& derf deað on ende.
- c1225 St.Marg.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)13/11 : Ichulle biteachen mi bodi to euereuch bitternesse..ne beo hit neauer so derf to dreien.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)564 : Of destines derf & dere What may mon do bot fonde?
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)125 : Of all þe dedes þay couthe doo, þat derfe ware & dill, Thou dyede noghte.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3967 : A, dowttouse derfe dede [i.e. death], þou duellis to longe!
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.541 : Þat deth, þat is derue, here to dye not þei dowte.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)183 : Depe woundes and derfe.
b
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)308/46 : He dois many derffe dedis on oure sabotte day.
4.
Difficult; hard (to do).
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)947 : Þes is þe..schal strengen me aȝein ow..ne beo ȝe se monie. For nis him no derure for to adweschen feole þen fewe.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)18/270,279 : His reades..derue beoð to fullen, & lihte þah hwa se haueð riht luue to him..eauer se deorre þing, se is derure to biwitene.