Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēvẹ̄r, -er n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēvẹ̄r, -er n. Also deveir, devoir, devor, devour, deiver, devir(e. |
| Etymology | AF dever, CF devoir; cp. ME duete . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
don dever [AF faire dever], (a) to do (one's) duty (as a Christian, priest, lord, knight, tenant, official, etc.); (b) to do one's best, do all one can; also, make an effort.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)53/1471 : And ȝyf hy douþ wel hare deuer Ine þysse heritage, Ne may hem falle after þys lyf Non oun-worþ desparage.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)520 : He has don his deuere dignely as he out.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2546 : Do þi deuer þat þow hast to done.
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)47/87 : He shal..do his deuer as a wardein of þe bretherhede ought to do.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.764 : Skile is that men do hir deuoir ther as it is due.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)54/17 : A wounde mai be kept from apostyme..if þat þe leche be kunnynge & do his deuer.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.331 : Edward þan he toke folk with his banere..wele þei stode & did þer deuere.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.122 : Yf preestes do her deuer wel, whe shullen do þe bettere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.321 : Whiche dide his dever dewe.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)460 : His leches he charged..Til he were Hool, Her deuer forto do.
- a1425 Wycl.MCh.(Bod 788)399 : God wolde þat lordis wolden do her dever here.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)38/278 : Þat dose þaire deueyre day and night.
- (1426) EEWills76/2 : To se þat þis prest and his successours..do diligently her deuer, as hem oweth to do.
- (1433) RParl.4.423a : My Lorde of Bedford..be his grete wisdome and manhede..hath nobly doon his devoir to ye kepyng yerof..as ferforth as in hym hath bee.
- (1433) RParl.4.478a : That the seid Bailliffs..doo here true devoir with all here cunnyng, to brynge..all maner rentz..to the comyn profite.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)186/18 : Good dowtyr, do þu þi deuer & prey for hem.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1940 : Thow has doughttily donn, sir duke, with thi handez, And has donn thy deuer with my dere knyghttez.
- (c1447) Let.Midylton in Lin.NQ 16199 : I wyll that myn tenauntes not doyng there dever be seuyd to the utterest as law wyll.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)145 : He maad his menee her deveer doon as swithe, That al wer reedy.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2956 : I schal þee makyn a nobyl feste, & þanne haue I do myn deuere [rime: clere].
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)7/156 : Ather in a kynde courese..does dewly ȝhour deyuer [rime: neuer]!
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5051 : Þese comen and deden here deuers Agayn þe heþene pawteners.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)25 : J am nouht ydel..to do alwey my deveer after my wit and my powere.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.377 : Yf the seid Baillies do not hur devor in executynge these seid ordenauncez.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)24812 : Yef thou ha not in suffisaunce Don..Iustly and truely thy devere [rime: here].
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)112/109 : She hath not don here devyr [rimes: levyr, evyr].
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)474 : & doþ nouȝt but his deuer as destine wol falle.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2598 : Do now your deuoir, yonge knyghtes proude!
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.966 : Though thyn array be badde and yuel biseye, Do thow thy deuoir at the leeste weye!
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.92 : Þe see and þe seed, the sonne and þe mone Don her deuer day and nyȝth.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.73 : [They] dewli done her dever aftir that thei han chosen.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.205 : To deuoide al rancour and debat Amongis ȝow, I haue do my dever.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6578 : Til Vlixes..His deuer dide and his dilligence, To saue hir lyf.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5299 : Lat hym..His dever don in ech degre, That his freend ne shamed be.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.42/17 : She yaue her soule to contynence, and..did her devir, God to plese.
- (1443) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23253 : That ye do all the devoir and diligence possible to yow in this behalve.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.243 : I haue, vnto þis þat is in me, Full do my devire, þat þou schuldest knowen Þe myght of schrewes.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1487 : I shall do my devoir..ffor to plese yeur hert fullich.
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.298 : That ye fayle not, but assay and do yowr devyr.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1204/5 : In that I myght, I ded my dever.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)2544 : Wherfor doth iustly your dever To smyte & hurte!
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)659 : Sen..þat science ye wold fayn lere..y shalle do my devere to enforme yow feithfully.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.107 : That he hym selffe wold..hys deyver doo To worschyp hym.
2.
putten in devoir [F se mettre en devoir], (a) to assume responsibility (for sth.), make an effort or undertake (to do sth.); -- refl.; (b) to undertake (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (1450) Paston2.178 : I..wol put me in devour for to execute your comaundements.
- (1452) Tiptoft Let.Cranebroke21 : The explite of your desire taccomplisshe..I haue put me in deuoir.
- (1457) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)390 : Þat þe said Rauf more effectuelly myght have put hym in devoir to oversee the good reule..of his said servauntz.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)337/15 : I am muche beholdyng unto that knyght that hath so put his body in devoure to worshyp me and my courte.
- (1471) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.717b : When his seid Commissioners..shall Entend and put theym in their devoyrez for good Reformations [etc.].
- (1473) Paston (Gairdner)5.194 : I thank you of..the gode and effectuelle devoires that ye putte you in to assiste my depute [etc.].
- (1473-5) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xcv : She..put her in devour & charge to kepe the same gaole.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)9 : To put yow in youre devoire to conquere youre rightfulle enheritaunce.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)56 : Every man..shuld principallie put hym in devoire and laboure for the avaunsment of the comon profit.
- c1475(1459) Pros.Yorkists in EHR 26 (Roy 17.D.15)517 : Withoute eny erubescence [he] hathe..put him in his utmoste devoire to accomplesshe his pernysious entent.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)543 : To occupye my body, I wyll not put me in deuer.
- a1525(?1461) Cov.Leet Bk.314 : Of your true & diligent deuoir that ye haue put you yn..to the sure & save kepyng of oure Cite of Couentre.
b
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1697 : Tha thei..putte it in deuoyre, That desperaunce shal fle.
3.
(a) A feudal service or tax; (b) whatever is due or proper; for mi ~, for my sake.
Associated quotations
a
- (1444) RParl.5.113b : Paieng unto the Kyng..all maner of Custumes, Subsides, Tallagies, Devoirs and other Deutees therof.
- (1450) RParl.5.188b : Yey may chese hem a Maier yerely..whiche shall have rule and governaunce of the seide Citee..doyng and beryng to us..the duitees and devoirs for the seid Citee.
- (1463) Case King Council in Seld.Soc.35111 : [He] assured our said souerayn lorde of all maner devours to hym..perteynyng.
b
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1045 : For my devoir and youre hertes reste, Wherso yow list, by ordal or by oth..lat preve it for the beste!