Middle English Dictionary Entry
derth(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | derth(e n. Also dirthe, dierthe, (late) darthe, (error) derke. |
| Etymology | Prob. OE; cp. OS diuriða, OHG tiurida, OI dȳrþ. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A period of scarcity or high prices, a famine; ~ of scarcite, a famine caused by scarcity; (b) ~ of, a shortage of (sth.), lack, scarcity; high price of (sth.), expensiveness.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2345 : Two ger ben nu ðat derke [?read: derðe] is cumen..ðat men ne sulen sowen ne sheren.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)1822 : While þat derþ was so strong, þer wiþ þai bouȝt hem mete.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)392 : He sente a derthe on eorthe, and made hit ful smart; A busshel of whete was at foure shillinges or more.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4284 : And thus be sleyhte and be covine, Aros the derthe and the famine.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4700 : And sua bigan þe derth to grete.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.330 : Þanne shal deth withdrawe, and derthe be iustice.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)20/11 : And if any derth [F chier temps] com in þe cuntree, þan pure knyghtes and sodyours selles þaire hernays.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick195 : When a quarter of whete were at x s., that thenne euery dedeman..shulde haue euery weke x d. ob. duryng the derthe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)246 : In a tyme of myche derþe whanne peple were in poynt to deie for hungir.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1974 : Of plente and of gret famyne, Of chepe, of derthe, and of ruyne.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)168 : A buschel of whete, that was beforn but at iii pens, was aftir this tempest worth ii s.; and this same derth lastid ni xl ȝere.
- a1475 St.Paul Rule (Brog 2.1)40 : Ȝyf yt be snowe or reyne, it is tokene of derþe.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)13 : And the same tyme fell so grete derthe of skarssyte that men myght neþer gete met nore drynke to by for no money.
- a1500 Ihesu þt was borne (Adv)154 : Mych of owre welth hase wastud awey With grete darthe and poverte.
b
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)415 : Tho sente God on eorthe another derthe of corn.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)256/30 : Þe meste dierþe [Vices & V.(2): derþe; F chierte] þet is aboute ham is of zoþnesse an of trewþe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.55 : Londoun is a real and a riche citee vppon Temse..þerfore it is þat somtyme whanne derþe of vitailles is in al Engelond aboute, þere is þe lasse i-solde.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.414 : Precious clothyng is cowpable for the derthe of it.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2618 : Grett derth of corn did þam all grefe.
- (1417-9) Paston2.8 : As towchyng to the derth of vytayles withyn this forseyd Cytee, j Buschell of Whete was worth v scutys..j rat vj d. sterlinges.
- a1425 Glo.Chron.B (Pep 2014)8598 : Derþe [A: Gret..dere of þing..me sai].
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)23/3 : Þer falles oft sithes grete derth of corne [F chier temps] in þat cuntree.
- c1430 Const.Masonry(2) (Add 23198)270 : Euery maister of this art schulde be wysse and trewe..and not yefe more pay to no mason than he wot he may diserue after the derthe of korne & vytayl in the country.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3881 : Þer was of al maner vytayle..sodeyn derth.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)175/214 : Spare nother mete nor drynke, and spare for no dyrthe [rime: myrth, byrth, gerth] of wyne nor of brede.
2.
Excellence, splendor, glory.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)99 : So al watz dubbet on dere asyse Þat fryth þer fortwne forth me ferez. Þe derþe þerof for to deuyse Nis no wyȝ worþe þat tonge berez.