Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēster(n n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ēster(n n. Also ester, estre(n, aster(n, yestre. |
| Etymology | OE ēaster (pl. ēastro) and ēastre (pl. eastran, -on); ēaster-dæg, ēaster-tīd, etc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The church festival of Easter; Easter Sunday; the Easter season;-- usually without article.
Associated quotations
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1103 : To þan Eastran heold se cyng his hired on Winceastre.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1106 : Se Þunres dæg toforan Eastran.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1111 : On þison geare ne bær se kyng Henri his coronan to Xpes mæssan ne to Eastron.
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1130 : Ðes ilces geares com se abbot..æfter Æsterne to Burch.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)12/18 : On þare Friȝenihte ðe ætforen Eastre bið.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)101 : Þe þre dage biforen estre [ben] cleped swidages.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18496 : He ferde to Lunden. He wes þere an æstre.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24143 : Hit wes an ane æstere [Otho: in on easter].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24195 : Þa æstre [Otho: easter] wes aȝonge.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)111b : From easter aþet te hali rode dei.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)551 : Fram þe bi-guynninge of estur.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3289 : Ðor-of in esterne be we wunen Seuene siðes to funt cumen.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1 : By-ffore six dayes of Ester as a palme-sone eue Iesus wente to Bethanye.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7723 : Þre siþe he ber croune aȝer, to midewinter at gloucestre, To witesonetid at westmunstre, to ester at wincestre.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8458 : Þere hii helde hor ester.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)213 : Þe festes principals..uor god to..worþssipie..At yestre his oparizinge, hou he aros uram dyaþe to liue.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.19 : Þe Lente fastinge to forne Esterne.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.71 : Ye sunday fowrtenytz aftere hestern.
- c1390 Mannyng HS, Mir.CC (Vrn)205/277 : And hit felde on an Asterne.
- (c1396) Doc.in Bk.Lond.E.234 : Þe friday folwynge in þe same Woke of Estarne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)127b/a : And at Estir alla is I songe ofte wiþ oþir songes of ioye and of mirþe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/b : Also to speke largeliche of Estir, oure estir stecchiþ [read: strecchiþ] to mony dayes, and first to palmesonday.
- (1417-18) EEWills39/26 : To be paid at Esteren next commyng.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)38/765 : Þai [the priests] shuld syng bot twyse a ȝere, At Crystymas and Astere.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)99/31 : Whan tyme of Estern er ellys Paske was come.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)554 : 'Bee Estyre', sais þe emperour, 'I ettyll my selfen To hostaye in Almayne.'
- (1444) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 851 : Halso at hyster for..the hester tapyr.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3140 : Þis miracle was þus at Wyltone y-do, In þe astere nexste after hurre body-dyenge.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)143 : Alle þe chyldren þat ben I-bore Byfore aster.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)15/35 : The barons..put it of in delay till the hyghe feste of Eester.
2.
The Jewish Passover; ~ time, the paschal season.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.341 : At þe fourþe Esterne Criste suffrede deþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/a : Ester hatte pascha in grewe and..is I clepid in ebrewe phase, þat is passinge oþir passage..And þis estir of Iewis was figure and bodynge of þe estir of cristene men.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)75.1 : Þo neiȝed þe feste of ester And þe folk of alle þe londes aboute comen te Jerusalem.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)131/36 : Wiþ grete desire I haue desired þis Eestren, þat is þis Paske.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)73.199 (v.2:p.51) : Crist was crucified in Esterntyme, and Petir was martired the same tyme.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.189 : The childer Israel..kepede Ester in that oþer day.
- ?c1475 *Trev.Nicod.(Sal 39)134a : Hyt hys costom and vsayge þat yh schal delyuere gou at estur on af þe prisoneres.
3.
(a) ester(en dai, Easter Sunday or Passover; (b) ~ eve(n, the day or the evening before Easter Sunday; (c) ester feste, Easter festival or celebration; (d) estern halidaies, the Easter season; (e) ester lomb, the paschal lamb; (f) ~ mondai; (g) ~ morn, ~ morwe; (h) ~ offering, the paschal sacrifice; (i) ~ quarter, the Easter, or spring, quarter of the year; (j) ~ saterdai; (k) ~ taper, a candle or taper used in church ceremonies at Easter; (1) ~ term, the church season of Easter, the spring quarter of the year; (m) ester(en tide, Easter, the Easter season; (n) ester-tide dai, Easter Sunday; (o) ~ time, the church season of Easter, the period from Easter to Whitsunday; (p) ester(en weke, ~ wike, ~ woke, the week beginning with Easter Sunday.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1109 : Se forma Easter dæg.
- a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1125 : He sang ðone heh messe on Eastren dæi æt Cristes wefod.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)123 : Ure drihten aras of deaðe on þene sunnen dei þe we hateð easter dei.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)97 : Þis dai is cleped estrene dai, þat is aristes dai.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)61 : Þene þuresdai biforen estrene dai.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24145 : Arður an æstere dæi hafde his aðele men at-somne.
- c1300 SLeg.Little Jew (Hrl 2277)3 : Hit biful vpon an ester dai.
- c1375(?c1280) SLeg.Advent,etc.(Eg 1993)1113 : Heo wenden forþ to ierusalem..Vpe þe feste of ester day.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.41 : Alle [þe] men of Gallia hylde þe Ester day in þe sevenþe day to fore Averil, appon what day it evere byfel.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.78 : Ye sunday after hesteriday.
- c1390 Vrn.Mir.Virg.(Vrn)150/43 : As falleþ wel for asterday.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.552 : From oon Estre day vn to another Estre day.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/b : And þerfore ester day is tyme of gladnesse and of ioye.
- (1413) Will in Bdf.HRS 218 : From good freiday in to Est'day.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)48a/a : Pascha: asterday.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)76/36 : And the doom [Doomsday] schall ben on Estre day.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)75/5 : Þe chapel þer owyr blyssed Lord aperyd to hys blysful Modyr on Estern Day at morwyn.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)6243 : On esterne day next folwyng.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)41.218 : The Satyrday..Aforn Esterne day.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3142 : Þis miracle was þus at Wyltone y-do..In astere-day ȝerlyche in þe mornyng.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3104 : To say hurre sawter tylle eystere-day.
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)352 : Þei weren wont to weynden þeder [to Jerusalem] eueryche ȝer to offren þer on estreday.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)241 : They schulen alle..be I-hoseled wyth-owte bere On aster day.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)648/24 : Candylmes day, Goodfryday, Hesturday, & Holy rode day.
- (1473-4) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum14 : On goud Friday and Ester day.
- a1500 *Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149:Hulme)267b : The xiijth sonday aftyr estyr day..ys called wyt sonday.
- a1500 Ihesu þat hast (Lngl 29)153 : Ihesu, make me þan to ryse..as þou rose vp on estre day.
b
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)70 : Holdeð silence..al þe swiðwike uort non of Ester euen.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)366 : A-gode friday al þe longue day for-to an ester eue.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.111 : Euery ȝere an Ester eue comeþ fire from heuene.
- (1429) J.Boys in Nrf.Archaeol.15148 : Ye saterday estern even we herieden j acre of lond.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)230/32 : Þei..abedyn þer Estern Euyn, & Estern Day, & þe Monday aftyr Estern.
- (a1440) Let.Coventry in EHR 55642 : On aster even that last was.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1006 : Ilke Esterne-ewyn..They send it hym.
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8)427/6 : On the ester-euyne nexte sewynge.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)127 : This same yere upon estern even.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)68/31 : From þis day ynto Setyrday yn Astyr-euen.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (Hrl 2277:Horst.)215 : Eche ȝer ȝe schulle her mid ous holde ester-feste.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9098 : Nobliche is ester feste he huld..In is vaire halle at oxenford.
d
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)28/29 : I abood stille with myn heremites all þese estern halidayes.
e
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)1 Cor.5.8 : Crist is y-offred, oure astur-lomb.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3131 : Þis astere-lomb apered þere opynlyche in herre syȝt.
f
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.133 : On Eestir monedai.
- (1455) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 498 : Yn costys in ystyre monday to tary at the Vycary ys hoce [house].
g
- a1350 Ase y me rod (Hrl 2253)44 : On estermorewe wen hit gon dawen hyre sone þat wes slawen aros in fleysh & bon.
- a1475 In place (Hrl 3954)185 : He ros on estryn morwe.
- a1500 A chyld ys born (StJ-C S.54)p.97 : On the Estern mo[r]n all blyth He ros fro deth to lyue.
h
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.339 : Iosue offrede þe Ester offrynge.
i
- (1442) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.6 : At myelmas qat..crystinmas qat..Estyr qat..myssomer qat.
j
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)68/37 : Forto do penance and labour jn longyng, tyll he come to Astyr Setyrday.
k
- (1443) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 827 : Estertapur.
- (1446) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 482 : Reseyvyd in mony to the Esterne tapyr vs. vjd.
- (1457) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1024 : Ye ester taper.
l
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.97 : Þe holdynge of þe Ester terme, þat was nouȝt þat tyme lawefulliche i-holde of Scottes and of Britouns.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.187 : Whan þe stryf was i-ended of þe Ester terme, he [Wilfridus] was i-chose bisshop of Ȝork.
- (1438) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.1 : For Crystemas terme next suying..For Ester terme next.
m
- 1123 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : Se king..wæs ealle Eastren tyde þære.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)87/3 : Pentecostes..is þe fiftuða dei fram þan ester tid.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2839 : Þer it [the sword Excalibur] stode til ester tide.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1417 : Þemperour erded stille in rome at þe ester tide.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.99 : Seint John..bygan to holde þe Ester tyde þe fourtenþe day of þe firste monþe, and rouȝt nouȝt wheþer hit fel in a Satirday oþer in a noþer day of þe woke.
n
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.403 : From þe þrittenþe day of Decembre to þe Estertide day þey [the Cistercians] eten but ones in þe day.
o
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.189 : For to holde ariȝt þe Ester tyme þre rules beeþ nedeful to knowe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2023 : Yn estyr tyme.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)266 : In Esterne tyme.
p
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6062 : Þe saterday þe ester wouke þis holy man hii slowe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.439 : Þis ȝere deyde Hughe abbot of Cluny, in þe Ester wyke.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)127b/a : To þe satirday in þe estir weke..In þe esterne wooke þe graiel is I songe wiþ alleluya.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)129a/b : Al þe estir wooke is solempne and holy, and þe ende þerof is in þe satirday þat hatte sabbatum in albis.
- a1425(c1406) in Owst Preaching23 : In Estir Weke.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)21/13 : Þe Wednysday in Estern Woke.
- (1448) Shillingford59 : Yn the Ester wyke.
- (1454-5) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15147 : The service of the Tuesday yn the Estur weke.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)70/34 : Þe Wonnysday yn Astyr-weke.
4.
(a) ester of floures, Palm Sunday; (b) utas of ester, the octaves of Easter; the Sunday after Easter or the period of eight days beginning with Easter Sunday.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/b : Palme sonday..is comounliche I clepid ester of floures, for þat day oure lord was I fonge wiþ processioun and wiþ bowis & sprayes of treen.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.259 : Sone þerafter in þe utas [vrr. eotas, eoytaues] of Esterne [vr. Ester] was a counsaile i-made at Wynchestre.