Middle English Dictionary Entry

drīe adj.(1)
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) Not humid, moist, or drenched; dry; (b) of land: not flooded or submerged; also, not wet or sodden; comen (driven) to ~ lond, to come (drive) ashore; (c) not moistened or soaked; mid (with) ~ fet, without wetting the feet; (d) wipen ~, to wipe (sth.) dry, wipe away (tears).
2.
(a) Of land: lacking in moisture, arid, barren; (b) of the air, the weather, a season: lacking in humidity or precipitation, dry; (c) of persons, the mouth, etc.: parched, thirsty; of a season: dry, drinkless.
3.
(a) Of a tree or branch: dried out, dead; also, bare; ~ hegge, a hedge of dry wood; (b) of the body or a part of it: emaciated, shriveled, withered.
4.
Cured by drying out: (a) of fruit, herbs, fish, etc.: dried; (b) of timber: seasoned.
5a.
(a) Of a spring, river, etc.: containing or yielding no water, waterless; also fig.; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.136].
5b.
Of a cow: giving no milk, dry.
6.
Of a liquid: coagulated; evaporated, dried up.
7.
Of persons, the heart: lacking in warmth of feeling; unfeeling, apathetic, unresponsive; empty, lifeless.
8.
Phys., med., etc. Dominated by the quality of dryness: (a) of the elements, earth and fire, and of certain physical substances; (b) of the seasons of summer and autumn; (c) of certain planets and signs of the zodiac; (d) of the complexion or temperament of man and beast; (e) of the humors choler and melancholy; (f) of certain parts of the body; (g) of certain diseases; (h) of certain herbs and medicaments as producing dry quality in the organism.
9.
Misc. uses: (a) of bones: bare; (b) of bread: eaten by itself, without butter or the like; of bread or food: eaten by itself, without drink; ~ fast (feste), the eating of dry food; ~ mete, dry feed, ?hay; (c) of a liquor vessel: empty; drinken ~, to drain the pot; (d) pullen ~, to pluck (a bird) without dipping in water; (e) surg. ~ ventose, a cupping glass applied to the unbroken skin or membrane.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1475(c1450) ?Scrope Mirror World (Bod 283) 4643 : Somtyme theye most take theyre evil stuffe, the whiche theye ouerselle theyme, in brede, in wyne, and in oother goodes, that if theye hadde theyre moneye drye theye sholde employe it better.
  • Note: Ed.: "drye: 'paid in cash' ([F] sec)." Cf. OED dry, adj., sense 19. 'Of money, rent, or fees: Paid in hard cash, in actual coin'.
    Note: New sense.