Middle English Dictionary Entry
drēd(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | drēd(e n. Also drẹ̄d(e, dret, drade, dride, dridde. Pl. drēdes, dreddes. |
| Etymology | From drēden v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Fear, fright, terror; also, a fit of terror, a fear; for ~ (of); (b) timidity; -- also personified.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1682 : I þon castle wes muchel dred.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)165 : Feole..for dred of deað, duden þes deoueles lac.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)313 : Oðre fules hire fallen bi..derflike wiðuten dred.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)27819 : For þan grete drede, Romleode wende þe rugges to Bruttus.
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(LdMisc 108)90 : He quakede for drede and for pine.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)90 : Of knith ne hauede he neuere drede [rime: vt-lede].
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2806 : Ðat wond..wurð sone an uglike snake, And moyses fleg for dredes sake.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8273 : Hii uor þe wonder cas in drede velle echon.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)288 : Þe couherd comsed to quake for kare & for drede.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3831 : Al this world for drede of hym [A lisaundre]..hath quaked.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.223 : They shullen haue noon hope to escape..ther shal horrour and grisly drede dwelle with outen ende.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1987 : It was an ydel speche, Which caused was of pure drede, For lack of herte and for no nede.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)198a/b : Crisolitus..helpeþ night frayes and dredes.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)22398 : Sua sal he be..wid drede and soru bitin.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5731 : Þe olyfauntz..ne haue so mychel drade Of noþing as of hogges grade.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Par.14.14 : Greet drede [WB(1): fere] hadde assailid alle men.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5371 : Þar sal be nouther aungel na man Þat þai ne sal tremble for drede þan.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1820 : Brent child of fir hath myche drede [rime: rede].
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)71 : Here mowe we see in the comynge aȝeyn of Jesu..drede and disese menged with comforte and ese.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4966 : To donn ony diseyse..Euery godemon hadde þo gret drydde.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13804 : He was drecchit in a dreame & in dred broght.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)302 : Thai were in grete drede and care.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)99/28 : Bi þis name 'schame'..y vndirstonde þe seid drede and sorow of vngloriyng; and bi þis name 'drede'..y vndirstonde alle oþire spicis of passional drede.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)33/154 : Of hym I xal nevyr more han drede; He xal here after nevyr ete brede.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)218/15 : The coragis of men ham chaungyth..In amours, In frenesy, in Dreddys, in Soroufulnesse.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)153 : All the worlde trembled for fere and drede.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)48b/b : Fro sorwe to gladnes..fro drede to boldenesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)256a/b : Wyn..torneþ þe soule out of..drede in to boldnesse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2191 : Drede and Schame..Of on assent haue pitously denyed Vn-to Loue herte and hardines.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4228 : With a puff of litell wynd Drede is astonyed in hir mynd.
2.
(a) Anxiety, worry, uneasiness, concern; haven (taken) ~ of, to be worried or concerned about (sb. or sth.); (b) for ~, for ~ of, for ~ that, to avoid (sth.), lest (sth. happen), for fear of (doing sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1664 : Þi fayre wif..haue þou of hire no drede! Shal hire no man shame bede.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)781 : Drede & dol drouȝ to his hert.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1313 : I thynke out of this land to wende..So ful am I of drede and eek of care.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.411 : Of dredes and of wrathful thoghtes He fret himselven al to noghtes.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)11624 : For me drede nu haue ȝe nane.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)173/15 : He schal bigynne wiþ his good worchinge, riȝt as he took no drede þerof.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.463 : Alle other dredes weren from him fledde, Both of th'assege and his savacioun.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2936 : Now have I declared thee all oute, Of that thou were in drede and doute.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1254 : This was his dreed, þat aftir his desees On schuld go þis weye a-nothir schuld go þis.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)2/24 : He schal resceyue into his laboure chereful counfort..his drede and dispeir fer aweie putting.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1792 : Þei drow hem to a dern den for drede to be seiȝen.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2399 : Schete durst þei nouȝt, for drede þe child to hurte.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.286 : For drede of ialous mennes aperceyuynges.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)223/16 : Kutte..not to depe..for drede of þe braun & of senewis & of veynes & arterijs.
- c1400(?c1382) Wycl.Lincoln.(Bod 647)231 : For drede þat hor ypocrisye schulde be knowen to þe puple.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1214 : Kniues to bed þai sal non bere, For dred þat þai myght do þam dere.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)171 : Some [come] for drede of more losse.
3.
Awe, reverence; ~ of god (drihten), godes ~, the fear of God.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)6/54 : Rihtwisnesse sit on hest as deme..for dret [vr. dred] of hire nimeð his hirð euch efter þet he is warde to witene.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)81 : Wisdom, in godes drede, Vse wel!
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)883 : Drede of god..Off wisdom is þe biginning.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)74/29 : Þe holy drede of god þet is beginnynge of guod lif.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)127/30 : Þe yefþe of drede is þe uerste of þe yefþes þet kest out alle þe zennes of þe herte..He bestreþþ þe rote of prede and zet in his stede þe uirtue of mildenesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)10b/b : & is to menynge timor, drede, for al þat worschippeth god schal drede.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)295 : In þe drede of Dryȝtyn his dayez he usez.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3843 : Shame to longe hath be thee froo..thou hast lost bothe drede and feere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)465 : For drede of peyne more than for drede of Godde.
- c1440(?a1375) Abbey HG (Thrn)56/35 : The lady Drede es portere, þat kepis besyly þe cloyster of þe herte.
- a1450(1400) Eche man be war (Dgb 102)40 : Thy soule is goddis rent: Quyte that wele in loue and drede.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)82 : Þe drede of god I sall ȝow lere.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7056 : Þe schame of man Ouer come goddis drede þan.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)105/236 : I can-not Answere grett shamfastnes and grett dred is in me.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)39a : Drede: metus religionis.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)16/233 : Of god me thynke thou has no drede [rime: spede].
4.
(a) Doubt, uncertainty; it (that) is no ~, it is withouten ~, that is out of ~, there is no doubt, unquestionably; (b) no ~, out of ~, withouten (eni) ~, without doubt, assuredly, surely; -- often merely emphatic.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)105/13 : Hit ne is no drede þet..þe ilke þet tekþ þe uoȝeles zynge ne heþ uele notes sotiles and zuete.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.63 : I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede!
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.775 : 'Wostow that wel?' 'Ye, that is out of drede.'
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6608 : Men mote eten, that is no drede.
- a1425 Hayle bote (Wht)42 : It is no drede that we hym greue.
- ?a1425(c1390) Chaucer Truth (Benson-Robinson)21 : Lat thy gost thee lede, And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.232 : It is wiþouten drede Þe wicked may not be wiþouten peyne.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5855 : Of þis myracle was na drede, Þat it was goddis and cuthberts dede.
b
- a1325 Heil beo þou Marie Mylde (StJ-C S.30)9 : Ioyful was þin herte with-outen eni drede, Wan ihesu crist was of þe boren.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)105/8 : Huo þet heþ wel þise uour þinges zoþliche, wyþoute drede he ssel by yblyssed.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2388 : I am, withouten eny drede, Al gulteles.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.865 : To yow broght I noght ellis, out of drede, But feith and nakednesse and maydenhede.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1544 : Thus kan a squyer doon a gentil dede As wel as kan a knyght, with outen drede.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)10155 : His modir was she, out of drede.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1751 : In many cruel bataille, out of drede, Of Troilus..Was seen his knyghthod.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.87 : No drede, ordenaunce of Crist were betere þan þes newe lawes.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)303 : That knowe I, out of drede!
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)292 : Withoute drede, this ys no lye.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)203 : Astronomy, wythe-owt drede, May no man know perfyte and clere.
5.
(a) Danger, peril, hazard, risk; it is ~, there is danger, it is hazardous; putten in ~, to put (sb., one's life) in jeopardy; (b) a quality inspiring fear, fearfulness; (c) a warning, threat, threatening.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2517 : I sey nat thow shalt be so coward, that thow doute ther wher as is no drede.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.1082 : Wher that wisdom waxed wod..that bringth in the comun drede Which stant at every mannes Dore.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)98b/a : Whanne hit [posteme] is I broke, is no drede of perile.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)98b/b : Hit is drede þat lepre comeþ aftirwarde.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)299/19 : It is ful greet drede for to lete a child blood.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.98 : Drede is at þe laste, Lest crist in constorie acorse ful manye.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.152 : For doute of dyuerse dredes we dar nouȝte wel loke.
- a1425 Hayle bote (Wht)13 : Þow art syker and I am in drede.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.5.28 : A tyraunt..that hadde assayed the peril of his estat, schewede by simylitude the dredes of remes by gastnesse of a swerd that heng over the heved of his familyer.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)25b/b : In place where it is drede of goynge to the principal membres.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2020 : Thanne may he flen awey out of this drede.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)13630 : Þey ne roughte where þey ȝede, Ne nought rewarded how þey were in drede.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)634 : Than wolde I seye, 'allas cupidite, That they..have here lyves put in drede!'
- c1450(c1396) Chaucer Buk.(Benson-Robinson)28 : If thow be siker, put the nat in drede!
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1594 : To chamber scho hym bare; Then was he owt of drede.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)13.9 : Thai..quoke for dred whare dred was noght [L trepidauerunt timore vbi non erat timor].
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)36/425 : We ar in grete drede: Thise wawghes ar so wode.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.12 : O Myghty Mars..whos feerce lokes ben as ful of drede As the levene.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.28.34 : Be thow euer..stonyed at the drede [WB(2): ferdfulnesse; L terrorem] of tho thingis that thin eyen shulen seen.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)147/43 : He xal us brynge fro þe develys drede.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)112/15 : Drede god & be not a ferde of mannys dredes!
c
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9248 : A tale hyt ys of feyre shewyng, Ensample and drede aȝens cursyng.
- (1436) RParl.4.501b : The more sufficient that men be of liflode..ye more unlikly they are by corruption, brocage, or drede to be treted or moeved to perjurie.
- (1444) RParl.5.112a : To procede of areignement of the seide John, in all godely haste, uppon the seide Murdre..in exsample and drede to all other that wold offende in like wise.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)1.11 : Of alegeaunce now lerneth a lesson..Wher-by it..stablithe moste: By dride or be dyntis or domes vntrewe..Or be ledinge of lawe with loue well ytemprid.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)474 : Stente, or certeyne of valwe or drede [vr. dette], and oþer lyke: Taxacio.
Note: Belongs in a separate sense (sense 6.). Gloss: ?error for dette n.
Note: Note variant spelling of dette n.: ded.--notes per MLL
Note: Kane-Donaldson think that the definition for the c1400(c1378) PPl.B quot. (prol. 152) in sense 5.(a) is not accurate: "We do not consider that the meanings 'object or cause of fear,' or 'danger, risk' (NED s.v. Dread sb. 2., MED s.v. dred(e 5.) are lexically warranted by the respective examples offered." (Note that some variant manuscripts have "dedes" instead of "dredes"). Kane-Donaldson further explain "the senses 'fear of fears' or 'fear of occasions of fear' seem less appropriate and easier than 'fear of actions' with an accompanying pun on dedes, 'deaths.' The r of drede was subconsciously induced by the synonymic suggestion of doute."