Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēvǒuren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēvǒuren v. Also deworen, dovouren. |
| Etymology | From OF devour-, tonic stem of devorer (L dēvorāre). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a beast or monster: to devour (sb.), feed on; (b) of a person: to eat (food) greedily or profusely; fig. ~ ouen flesh, to commit incest.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)28/781 : To be to-trede, And of bestes deuoured.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.195 : The briddes of helle shul deuouren hem.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.327 : To caste him out..So that som beste him mai devoure.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3207 : Þe body..Of Achille..þrowen vn-to houndis, To be deuourid in þe brode strete.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)142/15 : Þis nedder will sla men and deuoure þam.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)851 : He ne has clenly dystroyede alle the knaue-childyre..and clenly deworyde!
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)32.74 : Dragouns wilde, that don devowren bothe Man and Childe.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)410 : He moste have ben al devoured, Yf Adriane ne had ybe..She made hym fro the deth escape.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.280 : Poliphemus..So fiersly had devoured all his men.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)122/17 : Ponthus dremed that a bere had dovoured his lady Sydone.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.700 : The kynde of a Beere is to haue shepe devoured.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)206/5 : Devowryd of cursid bestys.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)112/387 : To meche fode deuoury, And to lykerouslyche.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.825 : Whan a man deuoureth his mete and hath no rightful manere of etynge.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.309 : The wylde fader thus devoureth His oghne fleissh [i.e. his daughter].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.12.10 : Ȝe schulen not ete therof ony raw thing..but roostid oneli..ȝe schulen deuoure [L vorabitis] the heed with feet and entraillis therof.
2.
Of the sea, hell, etc.: to swallow (sth.) up, engulf; also fig.
Associated quotations
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)20.9 : Þe fur of helle shal deuoure [L devorabit] hem.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)68.19 : Ne depenes ne dou-oure [L absorbeat] me nouȝt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2808 : The auaricious man is likned vn to helle, that the moore it swolweth the moore desir it hath to swolwe and deuoure.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.314 : The stronge coffre hath al devoured..The tresor of the benefice.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2052 : I was lyk to haue be deuourid Of Caribdis.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.644 : My ship and me Caribdis wol devoure.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.11.29 : Þe Egipcyouns..ar deuourid of þe se.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.2.15 : Hir cruel ravyne, devourynge al that they han geten, scheweth othere gapynges.
3.
(a) To waste or squander (possessions); of age: to make (sb., sth.) waste away; (b) to devastate or ruin (a country, an institution); destroy (property); ravage (a people), despoil (a person); (c) fig. to kill (sb.); (d) fig. to destroy (a maidenhead).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 15.30 : This thi sone, which deuouride [L devoravit] his substaunce with hooris.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1720 : Abouen euery thyng, Excited he the peple..to yeue, for goddes sake, Wher with men myghten holy houses make..Nat ther as it is wasted and deuoured.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)17.280 : Lightliche þat þei leue, loseles hit deuoren [vr. deuouren].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.395 : Therfore, er that age the devoure, Go love!
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)14 : This olde storie..That elde, which that al can frete and bite..Hath nygh devoured out of our memorie.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.29.6 : Gret vois of whirlewind..and of flaume of fijr deuourende [WB(2): deuowrynge].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Joel 2.3 : Byfore the face of hym fijr deuourynge, and after hym brenyng flawme.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Hab.3.14 : Hym that deuourith [L devorat] a pore man in hidils.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.3986 : He wolde his holy blood honoure Thogh that he holy chirche sholde deuoure.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.775 : Thilke lordes..ben lyk wolues that deuouren the possessiouns or the catel of poure folk.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.654 : Where he seith he wol socoure The poeple, there he woll devoure.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)115 : Englonde..wolde be than a pray to all oþer nacions þat wolde conqwer, robbe, or deuouir it.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)214/26 : That dragon that so deuouwrede here contres.
- ?a1500 Job (Hnt HM 140)49 : The terrible fire..Consumed and deuored his shepe and Shepherdes all.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)16/59 : The storm so straungely and in a devouring maner gan so faste us assayle.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.175 : In defaute of lawe and peace conserued, Comon profyte was wasted and deuoured.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1189 : Thei that wende pees, Tho myhten finde no reles Of thilke swerd which al devoureth.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)2 Kings 18.8 : Thei whom the swerd deuowrede [L voraverat] in that day.
d
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)96/4 : ij of hur enmys..drew hur into þer ship, to þe entent at þai wold devowre hur maydenhede.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.459 : We thenke also wrong to deuoure [Trev: woundy; L vulnerare] the hilles with plowes.
Note: New sense: could go under sense 1. as a fig. subsense (c), since it it different from the fig. in subsense (b).--per MJW
Note: Gloss: fig. to damage (the hills with a plow), chew up.--per MLL