Middle English Dictionary Entry

ēr adv.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms ēr adv. Also ei(e)r, ar, or, ȝer, ȝar, ȝor.
Etymology OE ǣr & ON ār; ȝār, ȝōr, perh. also ȝēr, are from the partly synonymous OE geāra of old (orig. gen.pl. of geār, gēr year).

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. erer, erest, yore.
1.
(a) At an early time or hour; early; er and late, at all times; (b) ?soon.
Show 10 Quotations
2.
Earlier in time; sooner; er beforen.
Show 11 Quotations
3.
As the earlier of two actions or of two contrasted predications; ahead of something else; first (before something else).
Show 8 Quotations
4a.
At or during some earlier time in the past, on a former occasion, formerly, previously;-- (a) simply; (b) freq. with never, occas. with ever.
Show 30 Quotations
4b.
Phrases: (a) (a) litel er, a little while before; a short time ago; (b) er-don dede, q.v.; (c) erward, erware, earlier, before; (d) er whil = whilom er; (e) longe er, er longe, a long while ago; (f) when er [OE hwene ǣr], just before; (g) whil er = whil(om er; (h) whilom er [OE hwīlum ǣr], some while before or ago; formerly.
Show 26 Quotations
5.
Rather, as a matter of preference or choice;--often with correlative er or than.
Show 6 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)1876 : Hereof wondred more & lesse & sayd..Ffor þou dos thyng was never arevsed.
    • Note: Needed for form: Also..are.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 4a.(b).--
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.--notes per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1500 Dc.45 Artist.Recipes (Dc 45) 150/26 : Latte hyt stonde tyl hyt be drye, but ar dow lay dy goldfoyle dervpon, brede a lytyl dervpon and after lay dy goldfoyl, and rubbe hyt wyt an hors toth.
    • Note: Postdates sense 3.
  • ?a1350 Recipe Painting(1) in Clarke Lymmyng (Hrl 2253) 230/21 : Tac a lutel radel ant grynt to þin asise vorte loosen is colour bi resun of þe goldfoyl, ant sovorþ as I seyde er.
    • Note: Need date, sense 2.

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