Middle English Dictionary Entry
estre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | estre n. Also ester. |
| Etymology | OF estre to be, used as noun; ?also OF estrée road, path, journey (sense 3(e), and possibly quots. c1330 & 1440 under 1.) |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
What is or happens; circumstances, conditions; events, happenings; ?journey.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4563 : Al mi pine & alle mine estris ichil telle þe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.94 : He told him of alle þe estere þat him mette þat nyght [in his dream].
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)1559 : Þay..talked and tolde Off othir estres fulle olde.
2.
Beings, living things; -- pl.
Associated quotations
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)64.11 : Brokes of it indronkenand, Felefalde his estres [genimina ejus] in þe land [Hrl: þou manifalded estres hisse].
3.
Any place or locality, such as (a) a country or district, (b) a city or port, (c) an estate, mansion, dwelling, building (usually pl.), (d) an apartment, room, hall-way, or recess in a building (usually pl.), (e) the paths or the recesses of a garden, neighborhood, or the like.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2/3370 : What schal I telle unto Silvestre Or of youre name or of youre estre?
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.212 : Jon regned in þis estre kyng auhten ȝere.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.264 : Southwales, þat was his estre, þorgh Morgan had he lorn.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10585 : Þys Tumna..was abbot of an house; So long he leued yn þat estre Þat for hys name he hyȝt Tuncestre.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.89 : To Wales is William schaken, estres to spie.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3975 : Yualon..dide make many estres.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5398 : Hauene he tok at Porcestre..Kaer Perys hight þan þat estre.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5504 : [He] com a-geyn to Porchestre, & brak þe walles, & brente þe estre.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3583 : Leir is an is londe icume ouer sæ streme to isen is [Aganippus'] eastresse.
- ?c1225 Ancr.(Cleo C.6:Morton)296 fn. : Eastres [Nero: Þe cwene seide ful soð þet mid one strea brouhte o brune alle hire huses].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2252 : His [God's] esters [vrr. estres, estris] sal we see ful suyth.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.145 : Þe bisshop of Wynchestre at þe kyng he bouht Two maners tille his estre.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)403 : Ȝour forfadirs were fayne, when any frende come, For to schake to þe schawe & schewe hym þe estres.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)837 : His [a Centaur's] sportis & his estris were ful evenaunte Of tresour & of lordshippe.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)293 : The Estyrs of Rome..hyt ys feyre bygged wyth halles and bowrys.
d
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)6256 : Into þe tour ich was y-gon, For to se þe esters ichon.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1971 : Al peynted was the wal..Lyk to the estres of the grisly place..That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4295 : She sterte vp also, And knew the estres bet than dide this Iohn.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7600 : Y wil hir sende loue-drurye, And hir Estres ek aspye.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7646 : Mowe myne Esterys sene! Oure mete shal, þer bituene, ygreiþed & redy bene.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)29 : I ne myȝt..bihold The wondre estres [of the temple] for briȝtnes of þe sonne.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1715 : The husbonde knew the estris wel and fyn.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1094 : He gan espie thestris off the place.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1225 : Yn man-is herte his hovsing is..And mynde is his mansion þat made alle þestres.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)556 : Þow knowest better þen I Al the estris of this house.
e
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1768 : Ȝede a grom of grece in þe gardyn to pleie, to bi-hold þe estres & herberes so faire.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)5627 : And I..went ferther for to se Al the estrys envyron.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)5758 : This wel most royall Was y-pavyd with cristall, Shewyng by refleccion Al the estris environ.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)242/13 : A yonge gentilman, that knewe alle the estres of the forestes and the weyes.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)1448 : It was nat lefte Tyl I had [in] al the garden ben, In the estres [OF tout l'estre du vergier] that men myghte sen.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)3626 : Bialacoil..Hath shewed me..The estres of the swote place.
4.
Location or whereabouts.
Associated quotations
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14345 : Constantyn herde of þer estre, & hyed hym ȝerne vnto Wynchestre, & in a kyrke he hym fond.