Middle English Dictionary Entry
encrēsen v.
Entry Info
Forms | encrēsen v. Also encressen, in-. |
Etymology | AF encreiss-, encress-, CF encroiss-; L incrēscere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. accresen, encren.
1a.
Of a material thing, condition, or institution (such as a tree, a river, the moon, fire, light; wealth, property, income, cost; a realm or country, the Church, an army; a report, age, illness, etc.): to become greater, grow, grow larger or longer, grow up, get stronger or more severe; to have success, to prosper;-- (a) without and (b) with in or of phrase.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.59 : In þe mene tyme meschief and honger encressed faste.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2355 : They enforcen and encressen day by day.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.2272 : The child is kept, his age encresseth, And Alisandre his name is hote.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.50 : The Poo..That estward ay encresseth in his cours To Emeleward, to Ferare and Venyse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)160b/a : Ful wele þey [fish] see when liȝt encresseth.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)264b/b : His [the lamb's] moysture of complexioun encresseþ by mylk.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5699 : Ful of gommys swete..Þat be processe may nat wexe feynt, But day be day encresen and amende.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3651 : Whiles þei encres[en] and amende, We shal oure store discresen and dispende.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2714 : To regne long in honure, and contune Ay to encresse be fauour of fortune.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.25.29 : To euery man that hath me schal ȝyue, and he schal encreese [WB(1): shal haue plente].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)4 Kings 20.10 : It is esy that the schadewe encreesse bi ten lynes.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)35a/b : Inundo: to flowe or encrese.
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 9.22 : Poule myche þo more he encresched, ande confunded þo Iewes þat dwelden atte Damaske.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)261 : Increse, or grow or wax more.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.205 : Lest that the tre increce & hit [i.e. the scion] oppresse.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)347 : The costis wolde contynueli growe and encrece.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.21.73 : Whan an hot planete cometh into an hot signe, than encrescith his hete.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)2077 : Thus north and south wente every tydyng fro mouth to mouth, And that encresing ever mo.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)321 : Then monethes yt [the Flood] encressyd.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)100 : Þis romula fel in to greuous siknesse, swech as þei clepe þe peralise, whech encresed up on hir þat sche lost all þe use of hir membris.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)86/2 : If þou wille late þe blood, do it noght to þe newe mone encrece so mekyll þat he part hym fro þe sonne.
- a1500 Length DYear (Hrl 941)318 : Two wekes and ij days after the forsayd fyrst day, the son encresyth an owre.
- a1500 Counsels Isidor (Hrl 1706)368/29 : Fyer by castyngeto of wode encreseþ more and more.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.3417 : Afftirward encresyng off his myht, To gretter age whan he [man] doth atteyne.
- c1450 Metham Days Moon (Gar 141)153/10 : He that ys born that day schuld gretly encrece in worldely goodys.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)380 : Siþ þe chirche encresid in possessyouns, it haþ decresid in vertues.
1b.
Of spiritual things, such as virtue, hope, love, joy, grace, honor, fame, freedom, knowledge, sinfulness, sorrow, worry, etc.: augment, increase, intensify;-- (a) without and (b) with in phrase.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)1726 : Þe grete fame Encresed of seint Austines name.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.782 : Hire love encresceth and his lasseth.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)959 : Þer glory & blysse schal euer encres To þe meyny þat is wythouten mote.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.19 : Goostly feeste shulde encreese.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3756 : A mater þat fret his herte sore, From day to day encresyng euer more.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2159 : Mor an[d] mor encresen gan hir peyne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3924 : Euere in on hir wo encreseth newe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1334 : Right so encrees of hope, of what it be, Therwith ful ofte encresseth ek desir.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1333 : My wo, that everich houre encresseth newe.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)59/29 : Þei wexiþ grete & encresiþ [in their own estimation] wiþ-oute eny ende.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)22 : The wise man is euer of oon corage; it lessyth it notte, ne encressyth not.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer Pity (Benson-Robinson)29 : But yet encreseth me this wonder newe, That no wight woot that she is ded but I.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)142/10 : Then encreset hungyr so in þe cyte.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)17376 : Hys worshepe on euery syde Gan encrece and sprede wyde.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)70/177 : As long as thay my lawes Wyll ken, thare comforth shall euer increasse.
b
- c1390 In Somer bifore (Vrn)67 : Dwelle wiþ us, lord..In Charite þat we encres.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)822 : So heylyche encresset þis kyng in alle godenesse And in so gret prosperyte he encressed also.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)12/34 : It [the child] encrecid gretelie in vertue & connyng.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)53/18 : Þay..ben fayne and prowde yn hor hertys and encresen yn hor maleyse.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)89 : He encresid..from day to day in honure and richesse.
2a.
Of material things: to make (a thing, institution, or person) larger, greater, more extensive, longer, more intense, more inclusive, more powerful, more prosperous; to add to (something); god encrese you (?1438), God speed you.--(a) Without or (b) with in or into phrase.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)760 : Cristendom by me schal encressed be sykerly if y may scape.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1338 : The nyghtes longe Encresen..the peynes stronge..of the louere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.554 : Pride that ay bloweth and encreseth the fyr [in the devil's furnace] by chidynge and wikked wordes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1271 : How that he despended hadde his good, And if that he encressed were or noon.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1450 : If so be that thi maister wolde That I his gold encresce scholde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2686 : Som colour is with fir made fyn, And som encresid with spicis & with wyn.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1806 : In hir closet sche toke hir beste array, For to encrese al þat sche may Natures wirke with royal apparaille.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)244/18 : In al regions the hettes bene encreschid.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1335 : Putte it al in youre discrecioun To encresse or maken dymynucioun Of my langage.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.34.12 : Encreesse ȝe the dower [WB(1): eche ȝe dower], and axe ȝe ȝiftis.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5596 : And set evermore his bisynesse For to encrese, and not to lesse.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)29a/a : The tokenes of antrax ben þe tokenes of þe carbuncle..encresed wiþ dyuerse colouring of þe veynes.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)67b/b : It schal..encrese apostemes.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)74b/a : He be war in þe ful of þe mone, for þan is the brayne encrescede and it is nygh þe brayne panne.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)139 : Aposteles..þat of cay[ti]fes he ches, holy churche to encresche.
- (1432) RParl.4.410a : Ne the Roialme yerby is nothyng encresed, ne the mynt at Caleys sustened.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)89 : His mortall foon to oppressen..And him to encresen as Cristis champioun.
- (?1438) Let.Ferrers in WANHSM 18 (Lngl 3)12 : My litell dowtere, ye wyche I prey God to encres to his plesaunce..I wryte no more atte yis tyme, but god yncrease yow to his plesauns.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)65/8 : That no man vndirpeyne of the seid curs schulde encrece or decrece the text or proces of the same book.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.886 : Alle weren Encresid that weren there.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)190 : Þe religiouse house of Wyltone he encreset also, þe whiche his fader had I-made byfore.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)12/21 : Oure lorde ihesu crist..encresid his life lenger by xv ȝeere.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)18/31 : God encresith sympille men and makith hem riche.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)8/30 : He schal helpe to encrese the lawe of Mahounde.
- (1458) Will York in Sur.Soc.30226 : Any kirke or elles temporal lyvyng, be the which the place [a convent] may yerly be imperpetuite be encressed.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)15/42 : This floode of Humbir is grettly encrecyd by Owse & Trente, þe which bothe fallyn þer-in.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)408 : Bi þis cause ben lordchipis chaungid, nou encreessid and nou destried.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)18632 : A man greetly to magnyffye, Encresse also, and multeplye.
b
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)83b/a : When þat þay [medecines given for ulcers] noyen forsoþe and thay encresen into moysture, þan þay be vncouenable.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)369 : Þe clergy in alle þes poyntis ben encresyd.
2b.
Of spiritual things, such as virtue, honor, bliss, grief, wrong, sin: to augment, enhance, increase or intensify (something); to make (someone) prosper;-- (a) without and (b) with bi, in, with phrase.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)683 : He wayted a-boute, to haue bi-hold þat burde his blis to encrese.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 17.5 : Encreesse feith to vs.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.205 : Þe fredom and þe privileges of þat place is encressed [vr. oncresed] to grete profit and worschippe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1654 : Nat that I may encressen hir honour.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2477 : Euerich of hem [wrongs] encresceth and aggreggeth oother.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.839 : Francus..Whiche vp-on Rone, tencressen his renoun, Bilt in his tyme a ful royal tovn.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2577 : He [Hector] presed in to encrese his name.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3281 : Þis was þat day her lamentacioun; Whiche to encrese, þe same nexte nyȝt..dirked was, with-oute sterre liȝt.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1785 : In myn herte the heed [of the arrow] was left, Which ay encreside my desir.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.6.15 : What thyng hath thilke pris echid or encresed to the conscience of wise folk.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)p.4 : Thi pyte, Lord, encrese and eke, To alle that wille repentaunt be.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)162/22 : Hir grace was not discresyd but raþar encresyd.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)405 : To encrese Vertue in soules.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1940 : Perfite luf forto encres.
- c1450 As Reson Rywlyde (Lamb 853)118 : He [Jesus] come to ȝe erþe; & now ȝe encreest His pyne.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)303/904 : Now is my care wel more in-cressyd.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)30/24 : A longe lif..som tyme encrescit synne.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6476 : Lo, what it is to ben encressed Of love which is evele wonne.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.408 : Thogh that euere vertuous was she, She was encressed in swich excellence Of thewes goode.
- (1421) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.186 : I pray unto God of hys grace encresce zow in worship..and perfit joye.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.26.29 : With pees we han laft thee encreessid with [WB(2): bi] the blissyng of the Lord.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)215/2 : Of þis maner speche and dalyawnce sche was..encresyd in mekenes & charite.
3a.
To become more numerous; to increase in number; to multiply (esp. of a nation, family or species); to multiply by reproducing its kind, to propagate itself.
Associated quotations
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)70/1980 : No stren may non encressy Wyþ-oute flesches loste.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.341 : Bartholanus..come þider wiþ his þre sones..and [they] encresede [L excrescentes] to þe noumbre of nyne þowsand men.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.321 : It is necessarie to vnderstonde whennes that synnes spryngen and how they encressen.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.389 : And badde euery creature in his kynde encrees.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.579 : Encressen ek the causes of my care.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.1.20 : And the puple encreesside [WB(1): growide].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deeds 16.5 : The chirches..encreseden [WB(1): haboundiden] in noumbre eche dai.
- a1425 Adam & E.(3) (Wht)76/17 : And God..seyde: 'Encreesse ȝe & be ȝe multiplied'.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.691 : Two thousand cherlis..Which aftirward..To sixti thousand encreced.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)48.304 : Thoruh his goode preching, Euery day his Compenye was Encresing.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)50/224 : So xal þi sede, þou mayst me trowe, encres.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)2767 : The kynggez ost encresid more and more.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)258 : Ther be assembled the peple of moo than xl dyuerse regiouns, and yet thei encrece euery day more and more.
- a1500 Parton.(1) (Add 35288)3109 : The frenche trewly Encrese faste.
3b.
To make more numerous, increase the number of (something); to add to (something).
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.50.24 : God..that encreside oure daȝes fro the wombe of oure moder.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.37 : It [the gild] was begunnen by þis entent, for to encresin a light of torchis atte sacrement of cristis bodi at selue auter.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2930 : He seith that swete wordes multiplien and encressen freendes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5204 : Þe schipis þat Palamydes Brouȝt with hym her noumbre to encrese.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)34/355 : Thei [my enemies] be encresyd & many folde.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)1437 : His ost he encresed with six thousynd Of noble knyghtis.
- (c1447) Let.Midylton in Lin.NQ 16197 : Hou myn catell and schepe above seyd be incresyd or dysincresyd.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)268 : Encrese þan þe more numbir be 3 & one vnite, scilicet be 4.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)2563 : He suld þer kynd encresse vnto grett reuerence forto ryse.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)224/7 : Wo to ȝou that be myghty to drynke and strounge men to drunkschipes to encrece.
- c1460 Dub.Abraham (Dub 432)34 : Of his sorow I shal delay hym, & for on childe encrease hym a þusunde.
4.
(a) Of a person or plant: to grow or grow up; (b) of the soil: to make fruitful.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.49.22 : Joseph, a sone encreessynge [WB(1): acresynge; L accrescens]..and fair in biholdyng.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)891 : Sen Philip had a fresche son þat fast now encressis.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.94 : Þat fruyt þat doth on erthe encresen Deserueth vnto bestes sustenance.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13805 : I cause..That bremblys, netlys..Wexe and encresse round a rowe.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5238 : That..on frutis & on greyn, The land tencrece bi gret[e] habundaunce, Doun from heuene he [Jupiter] wolde sende hem reyn.
5.
To repeat (a treatment).
Associated quotations
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)180/563 : Boyle wele togeder & put þerin a lynnen cloth to roll the legge in, and vse this roll offt put in the foreside juys hoote, and encresse it till itt [the leg] be hole.
6.
To develop or advance (a theory).
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2466 : As touchynge the proposicioun which that the phisiciens encresceden in this cas, this is to seyn, that in maladies that oon contrarie is warisshed by another contrarie.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)26040 : Pauline, primat of eborwik, Sagh sorow and slaghtre enchrest slik: Þe kyng edwin in bataile slane, Britons þe contres alle ouergane.
Note: New form: ppl. enchrest.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1a.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.74va (2.12) : Þe malice of þe malady encrecit & waxeþ wode more & more.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1a.(a). New form: pr. 3 sg. encrecit.