Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēvǒurer n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēvǒurer n. Also devourour & (error) devour. |
| Etymology | Partly OF devorëor, partly a ME formation. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A beast that devours; (b) a glutton; (c) a waster, despoiler.
Associated quotations
a
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.393 : As this mayden defended was here, Bi thy grace, from this Dragon devoure [read: devourour], So, Lorde, preserue this noble prynce, and euer be his socoure!
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 7.34 : Mannis sone cam etinge and drynkinge, and ȝe seyn, 'Lo! a man deuourere ether glotoun [L homo devorator]..frend of pupplicans and of synful men.
- a1450(a1449) Lydg.WTongue (Hnt EL 26.A.13)45 : Ȝif thow be fatte..Than wille folke seyn thow art a grete glotoun, A deuowrer or ellis vinolent.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.371 : Devourours of vetaile, þat fouȝten er þei paide.
c
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1369 : Thow rote of false lovers, Duc Jasoun! Thow sly devourere and confusioun Of gentil wemen!
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)199 : Gloffare or devowrare: Devorator, vorator, lurcus.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Ps.(Bod 554)19 (Ps.15.7) : Iewis blamyden Crist..and..seiden of Crist in xj capitulo of Matheu, 'Lo, a mandeuourere [L homo vorax; prob. assimilated to Luke 7.34: homo devorator] and drynkere of wyn.'
Note: In this example, as in that from WBible(1), man ~, calqued on the L homo devorator, appears to be analyzed as a noun+noun compound, the combination equivalent in meaning to the simple devourer.