Middle English Dictionary Entry
drī(e n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | drī(e n.(2) Also dre, dreigh, dergh. |
| Etymology | Cp. drī(e adj.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Annoyance, trouble, grief.
Associated quotations
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)112/363 : Wose lat is wif his maister wurþen..he sal him rere dreiȝe & moni tene selliche hawen.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5373 : Yhit sal þai þat day dre hafe Noght for þam-self, for þai er giltles.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5578 : All þe dreȝe of þa deuels þai drenchid or þai past.
2.
Length or period of time; the ~ of the night, the greater part of the night; al the ~ of the dai, all day long.
Associated quotations
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2915 : Thus they dreuen to þe dede dukes and erles All þe dreghe of þe daye.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)678 : Medea..Persauyt pertly, with hir pure artis, When the dregh was don of þe derke night, Þat all sad were on slepe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4788 : viij daies be-dene þe driȝe was..Or he miȝt couire to þe copp fra þe caue vndire.
3.
In phrases: (a) on ~ [cp. adrigh], at a distance; fer on ~, far off; dep on ~, far down; drauen on ~, to take (sb.) aside; refl. go back or aside, draw back; holden on ~, refl. stay away, remain aloof; (b) drauen on ~, to hold back, delay, put off (an action).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)788 : Þai durst noght negh him negh, Bot folowd..euer on dregh.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)731 : Þat wili warlau him heild on drei And ganid noght cum him [Adam] to nei.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21859 : Bi takens ferr on drei [Phys-E: dreigh] Men wat it es command nei.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27281 : In spiring loke þe preist be sli, Noght ouerbald bot als on drei.
- a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)23657 : Þis werd..It sal be brint sa dep on dreh Als noes flod rais quilum heih.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1031 : Þere he draȝez hym on dryȝe, & derely hym þonkkez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4219 : Þe toþer withdrewe one dreghe.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)5848 : Agag þat euer on dregh hym drogh.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)2826 : Launcelot than hym drew on dryhe.
b
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)513 : One dreghe [IrBl p.19: Querto draues thou so dreȝghe]?
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3968 : Þou duellis to longe! Why drawes þou so one dreghe? thow drownnes myn herte!
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)349/2 : This dede on-dergh we may noght drawe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11647 : Why draghes þou on dregh þes dedis so ferr?