Middle English Dictionary Entry
fēren v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | fēren v.(1) Ppl. i-)fēr(e)d, fērt, feird. |
| Etymology | OE ge-) fǣren. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To frighten (someone), terrify; ~ fro, to scare (someone) away from (truth, etc.).
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)675 : He wile himm færenn ȝiff he maȝȝ.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)230 : Fearen [Nero: Auh heo neuede þo none leaue bute one uort to offeren him].
- a1350 Mayden moder (Hrl 2253)31 : He ferede vch an fode.
- ?a1425 Luke in his lesson leres to (RwlPoet 175)288 : In my name gett þai force fendes to fere.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))2 Esd.6.9 : Alle these fereden vs [WB(2): maden vs aferd].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.139 : Þe lordes..bere whippes in hir hondes and so fered [Higd.(2): ferenge] þe cherles, and droof hem away.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)198a/b : Crisolitus..ysette in golde and y bore in þe left schuldre..feereþ feendes and chaseþ hem.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)12622 : Leue son, why hastou fered vs?
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.328 : Þe fend moveþ þes debletis to fere Cristene [men] fro treuþe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2203 : Þus is Schame froward..Lovis folk to fere.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1483 : Thus he shal yow with his wordes fere.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)79 : Prelatis also feren cristene men bi here false censures.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)51/24 : Many tymes haue I feryd þe wyth gret tempestys of wyndys.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)320 : Þat þey leede hym into vse and custum of vertuys and þat þei feere hym fro vicis.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)86a : Þat firste for-sakeþ þe feeld, he fereþ and feinteþ his owene menis hertes.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)75.129 (v.2:p.62) : Whan our lorde saugh that he myght nat reuokyn hem ageyn by ammonicion .. he wolde han ferid hem at the lest by wondirfull tokenes shewyng.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1013 : 'Go home'..Quod Beryne to the damesell & gan hir fray & ffeer.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)587/11 : For to feare hym sir Dynadan seyde hit was sir Launcelot.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.33 : In her hondys thei bare yrone speyruse, The fereful soule to feyre and enchase.
2.
(a) To fear (something), to be afraid; refl. to be afraid; to fear (to do something); ~ of, to be afraid of (something); ~ of (one's) lif, to be afraid of losing (one's) life; ~ for, to fear for the sake of (someone); (b) ?to respect (something).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.578 : And that schold every wys man fere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.454 : And ek so lowde his belle is runge, That of the noise and of the soun Men feeren hem in al the toun Welmore than thei don of thonder.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1588 : Fele ferde for þe frekez, lest felle hym þe worre.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.502 : Þou schalt nat fere For to be kyng of this regioun.
- (c1425) Stonor1.42 : I beseche ȝow þat ȝe wille þenke on my lord of Caunterbery, for me feryþ sore of hym.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.130 : But vynes fere [L formidant] of wynd & stormys cold.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1929 : We fors not his frendship, ne fere of his hate.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13842 : Þan Vlixes..of his lyf feerd.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)358/88 : Myn habundaunt mercy on here I extende..sche fere no maner of diuercyte.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)369/394 : Alle that company fere I ryth nouth.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)133 : Wich thynge is most to be fered off all þe worlde.
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)532/10 : Many oþer, fering of þe commyng of þe Quene to London, toke ashipp.
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)218 : I fere me þat I shuld stond in drede.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8101 : Sceu vs þe tre þat al sal fere.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.63/5 : The fyer ferid the feith of the womman, And one euery parte bernyd..And nat presumyd to touche the threid.