Middle English Dictionary Entry
driht n.
Entry Info
| Forms | driht n. Also driȝt. |
| Etymology | OE dryht & gedryht. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A host; esp. a body of retainers or warriors; o (on) ~, as a host, in a body; (b) ~ fare (fere), a procession of attendants; ~ folk [OE dryht-folc], army, host; ~ man [?OE], a warrior; (c) a man [?OE gedryhta].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)92 : Þes duc mid his drihte to þare sæ him droh.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15198 : He nalde bringen on drihte buten þreo hundred cnihten.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3868 : Dragons dryfes doun o driȝt fra þe derfe hillis With kene carefull crie.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1388 : Ich þe wulle mid fare mid mine driht folke [Otho: gode folke]..& halden þe for herre.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14715 : Hengest gon to flonnen mid al his driht-monnen [Otho: mid heaþene folke].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16584 : Aurilian þe king..wende in to Cuninges-burh mid his driht folke [Otho: mid alle his folke].
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1832 : Ure lauerd him seolf com wið engles..wið swuch dream & drihtfare [vr. drihtfere] as drihtin deah to cumene.
c
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)9.60 : Þe Meruiloste Meetynge Mette I me þenne, þat euere dremede driht [vr. driȝt; B: wyȝte] In drecchynge.