Middle English Dictionary Entry
ferken v.
Entry Info
Forms | ferken v. Also farken. |
Etymology | OE fercian proceed, carry. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To move hastily, to walk quickly, to hasten, to run; of a stream: to flow swiftly; fig. to depart, die [quot.: c1440]; ~ forth, to go out or away; -- also refl.; (b) to rush, to charge; (c) to travel; esp. to travel in haste; (d) ~ on fot, to spring to one's feet; ~ up, to start up (from sleep), to get up (from bed); -- also refl.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)133 : As he ferked over þe flor.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2173 : Bi a forȝ of a flode þat ferked þare.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)78 : Þey token hym to Titus..& he fraynes, how fer þe flode hadde yferked [vrr. drevyn, bore].
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1042 : He ferkiþ hym [vrr. ferkede hym, hertely wente] forth.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4152 : He es eldare than I, and ende sall we bothen; He sall ferkke before, and I sall come aftyre.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)545 : Þan faris scho vp & farkis furth a fute or tway.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)622 : Thenne ferkid I forth as faste as I mighte.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.90 : Þey ferkyd hem forth as faste as þey myȝte.
b
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2071 : Sir Ewayne..Ferkez in with the fewle in his faire handez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2452 : Oure forreours ferse..Come flyeande before..Ferkande in arraye.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6585 : The freke þen in fuerse hast ferkid on horse.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)484 : He ferkes owte with a fawchon And hittis þe Sawdane.
c
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)173 : Þe fole þat he ferkkes on.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)873 : Now mowe þey ferke no ferr her fode forto wynne.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)984 : To ferke of this farlande, fande sall I neuer.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1036 : Þen to Philon þe freike ferkit in haste.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)659 : I founded appon fote and ferkede towarde townn.
d
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)897 : Fast þe freke frekez up, ful ferd at his hert.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)187 : Þe freke hym frunt wyth his fot & bede hym ferk vp.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2013 : He called to his chamberlayn..þat oþer ferkez hym vp.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11259 : Þen þe traytur Antenor titly con ryse, fferkyt on fote, & to þe fre sayde.
2.
(a) To drive (someone forward or away), urge (someone) onward; ppl. ferked, put to flight; to hunt (game); ~ of (one's) hed, to cut off (someone's) head; (b) to carry (something); (c) ~ (out) of lif, ~ to deth, to kill.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3630 : Þei..bisiliche fondede fast to ferke him [þe kinges sone] forþward.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.603 : Fortune..was to this lord diverse, The which upon the See sche ferketh.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6090 : And alle his men he for ward ferked Out of the toun toward that place.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)300 : For to hauke ne hunte have we no leve, Ne foure-fotede best ferke to kille.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5260 : He..Hof vp his hond..With a fouchon felle to ferke of his hede.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)67 : By force of hur fight ðei firked him ðennse.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)1219 : Hee was ferkid with fyght of his fone grimme.
b
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)614 : I you helpe shall The flese for to fecche and ferke it away.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3840 : So bolnet was his body, þat burthen hade ynoghe The fete of þat freke to ferke hym aboute.
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12191 : Þe fell kyng of Frigie I ferkid of lyue.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12362 : Hom happit so hard..With hor fos to be felly ferkit to dethe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)145 : He caste in his thoghte The freike vpon faire wise ferke out of lyue.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)78 : He fraynes how fer þe flode hadde yferked; 'Out of Surre', he seide, 'y am come.'
Note: New spelling
Note: !Quot. already used under 1.(a)