Middle English Dictionary Entry

ēgre adj.
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Entry Info

Forms ēgre adj. Also eger.
Etymology OF aigre, egre.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) Sour, bitter, sharp (to the taste); egre win, sour wine or vinegar; (b) of medicines: sharp, stinging, strong.
Show 10 Quotations
2.
(a) Of pain: sharp, severe; (b) of words: biting, sharp.
Show 3 Quotations
3.
Of persons and animals: (a) fierce, impetuous, grim (in battle); enraged, angry, irritable; bold, spirited; (b) impatient, eager.
Show 17 Quotations
4.
Of warlike actions: fierce, bitter.
Show 4 Quotations
5.
Of the emotions and the will: fierce, impetuous; with egre mod, impetuously, angrily.
Show 9 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1475 *Hrl.Bk.Hawking (Hrl 2340)27b : Lat hyr flye Also hye as sche may syt, ffor wit mych beryng, castyng and batyng þu mast kepe hir Ekyr I now.
    • Note: New form: Also..ekir.
    Note: Belongs to sense 3.(a).
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Revised form section: Also egrē, eger, egir, egor, egur, ekir; sup. egrest.--notes per MLL

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