Middle English Dictionary Entry
differren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | differren v. Also deferren, defaren. |
| Etymology | L differre & OF diferer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. deferen v., from deferre, often confused already in Latin with differre.
1a.
To put off (action, experience, etc.) until some future time, delay, defer; postpone (justice, mischief, etc.); ~ fro dai to dai: (a) with noun obj.; (b) with inf.; (c) absol.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.91 : Þe Danes were monested..þat þey schulde make a sethe to þe bisshop, bot þay differred [L differunt] it.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6087 : Your purpos is to longe drawe a lengþe And differrid it furthe fro day to day To ȝour damage.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Num.30.15 : If the man herynge holde his pees, and into another day deferre [WB(2): delaieth] the sentence.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)4/25 : He voyded & deferryd þe wrytyng of þis boke wel on-to a iiij ȝer or ellys mor.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4025 : In a prince it is riht comendable, Rancour of herte, of cheer & of corage For to differre til that ther ire aswage.
- (1447) Shillingford134 : Neither the King shuld deferre ne deny right or justyce.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)24 : Who may eschape, who may myschef dyfferre?
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)22/3 : Who longe wilt þou suffir, Lord, þat I go so ferre fro þi seruyse and differre my conuercion fro day to day?
- a1500 12 PTrib.(2) (Rwl C.894)403 : Heuenly comfortis schul not longe be deferred, yf worldly comfortis be shette owt by tribulacion.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.98 : This Constaunce of Britayne..the comon wele preferryd..not lettyng for disdayne, He wrought it aye, and no tyme it differed.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)116/13 : Anotamie of yȝen..we deferren to ordeyne in þe þridde tretis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6105 : It is foly þat ȝe so differre, Sith ȝe be redy, for to make a werre On ȝoure enmyes.
- (1426) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.1102 : Henry Bisshop of Winchestre..longe hath stande bounde under a vowe of certain pilgrimages..he hath long differred to parfourme them.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7118 : To wende hame þai noȝt deferde.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)438 : The clergy differede to grawnt theym untylle after Ester.
c
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.7.10 : So that he scater hem, and ferther differre not; anoon ȝeldynge to hem that thei deseruen.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)221 : Than gode seemenne wolde no more deferre, But bete theme home.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7523 : He defard, and walde noȝt trus.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.288 : Eche day thence..He helde the felde..And castelles gate full many & not differred.
1b.
(a) To put (sb.) off, keep (sb.) waiting, postpone a response to (sb.); (b) to put off (the time for doing sth.), postpone (an appointed day, etc.); (c) to put (sth.) out of one's mind, dismiss from consideration; (d) ~ fro(m, to withhold (sth.) from (sb.); keep (sb.) from having or enjoying (sth.); (e) to hinder the passage of (light).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 24.22 : Sothli Felix deferride [WB(2): delayede; L distulit] hem..seiynge, Whanne Lisias..schal come, I schal heere ȝou.
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 24.22 : Felix differde hem þat accuseden hym.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)11.374 (v.1:p.116) : The kyng .. differrid the compleynours vnto the tyme of his commyng.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Trin-C R.3.19)256 : Deferryd [Cmb: Y am defied and put a-fer].
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4614 : It is ful sure þat þei wil nat differre Þe tyme forþe to trete for a pes.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3802 : The hour is come, we wil it not differre.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.12.22 : Dais shulen be differrid, or drawen in to loong, and eche visioun, or prophecie, shal perishe.
- (1467) LRed Bk.Bristol1.19 : That ye deferre the seid xvme of Seint Michell unto the xvme of Estre next commyng.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3074 : Envie..Hath conscience so differred That noman loketh to the vice Which is the Moder of malice.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)411 : The circumstancis me list nat to defferre.
d
- (1414) RParl.4.57b : That fro hennes forward no persone of his Rewme deferre ony of hise lieges fro hise graciouse grauntes..to the partie so defferred fro the Kynges graunt.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)20/7 : Sumtyme sche wept ful plentevowsly..for desyr of þe blys of Heuyn & for sche was so long dyfferryd þerfro.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4509 : Fortune..list hir malis from hym nat differre..But caused hym to gynne a froward werre.
e
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)452/73 : Noo clowdys Blak, noo darknes noctyall, May defare þe beemes of þis light.
2.
(a) To be different; differing, different; (b) to differentiate (sth. from sth. else); differed, different.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.5.27 : Ther comen many maner knowynges to dyverse and to differynge substaunces.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)20b/a : It makeþ it forto differre, or for to be different, fro euery oþer þing.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4617 : We..Differris..fere fra ȝoure kynde.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1446 : A new metyr..Callid Saphicum, frome odyr differynge.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4223 : Ȝour manars fra all othire mens so mekill ere deffirrid.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)94a/b : Bynde vppe þe wounde wiþ a roller as y haue tauȝte aforne and differre þe preparacioun of þe wounde as muche as þu maie.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)97a/b : It is beter to differre þe takinge out of bones in case þat þere be enye schyuer of bone þe whiche prickeþ þe dura mater.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)97a/b : And ȝif it so be þat vertue of þe pacient stonde & amende, þe schyueres schal be taken aweie as hastilie as þe maie, ne differre it not ouer sexe daies in somer & nyne daies in wynter.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: New spelling: Also differre. (Note that the list of variant spellings in the form section may not be complete. For example, in sense 1a.(a), quot. (?a1429), the form "differre" should be listed under "Also," as should "deferre" in the next quot. For this one, emend existing "Also" form to read diferre(n.)--per MLL
Note: Quots. belong to sense 1a.(a).--both notes per MLL