Middle English Dictionary Entry
fervent adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | fervent adj. Also vervent, fervein, farvent. |
| Etymology | OF, & L fervent-em ppl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Hot, burning, fiery; ~ hete, burning heat; (b) ~ oil, hot oil; ~ water, scalding water; (c) ~ ground (lond).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)118b/b : Canicula is a ful feruent sterre.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)126b/a : In þe feruent mydday þey gooþ out of here hooles.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)198b/a : In þe north mounteyns, þere þe sonne is most feruent in somer.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3376 : Phebus..drieþ vp þe moysture..Of herbe & floure with his feruent hete.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.310 : And amyddes þe feruent firy glede..He let hit brenne into asshes colde.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)104/9 : Men may not duell þere for the feruent brennynge of the sonne.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)257/96 : He had leuere be sette By þe feruent fire to fleme hym fro colde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3871 : Flawmes feruent as fyre floȝe fra þaire eȝen.
- c1450 Lydg.Guy (Harv Eng.530)267 : Phebus..gan shewe his hevenly lyght, Eorly on morne with his fferuent [vr. hoote] stremys.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking (Hrl 2340:Halliwell)298 : Be well war that thyn hawke be not put..in fervetn sonne.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.159 : Somme..curse the sonne for the grete feruent hete of hit.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)465 : Whiche fyre was so fervente that hit brente..whatsoever thynge that hit towchede.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)23/8 : The sternes also full feruent..To shyne thou maide ful bright.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)485/20 : Water may causen a temperence..The faruent hete attemperyng with moysture.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)311/34 : In þis caas we mowen vse hoot feruent oile [L oleo feruenti] for to springe vpon þe corrupcioun..it is bettir þan medicina caustica.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)56b/b : Whete brede infused in feruent water [L in aqua feruenti; *Ch.(2): in scaldyng water] is beste.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)119b/a : Som men..brenneþ þe place wyþ feruent oile [L cum oleo feruente; *Ch.(2): with hote brennynge oyle].
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)9391 : Vpon hyre he bad men throwe Feruent oyle ful fast boylyng.
c
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.454 : Northward of feruent ground [L locis aestuosis], southward of colde.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.450 : Ek braunche and claue in londis feruentest [L calidissimis regionibus] At heruest forto sette, as do thy cure.
2.
Of the sea or its motions, of storms: turbulent, violent, raging; fig. of pestilence: raging.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)157b/b : Þe see hatte fretum..as it were hauyng feruent [L feruidum] and stronge mevyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4473 : Þe fomy water grene, white, and blo Of feruent boilyng..With storme & wynde, þat al goth to wrake.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)487/29 : The peple were sore agast of the grete fervent tempestes þat shewed that tyme.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1583 : The wedir was so fervent of wynd & eke of thundir, That euery shipp from othir was blowe of siȝte a-sondir.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.180 : The pestylens ys so fervent in Norwych that thay ther no lenger abyde ther.
3.
Of persons: (a) ardent, passionate, zealous, earnest; ~ in desir (hope, ire), ~ in knighthod (vertu), etc.; -- also of animals; (b) stirred up, excited, enraged; (c) eager (to do something); -- also of serpents.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.12.11 : Feruent or brennynge in spirit, seruynge to the Lord.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)4/56 : Þou art so feruent in vertue Þat sum men seyn þart waxen newe Out of þi witte.
- c1390 Swete Ihesu now (Vrn)13/138 : Ihesu, whi weore þou so gelous, So feruent and so disirrous, To buggen wiþ pris so precious Wrecche Mon?
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259a/a : Þe oxe is slowe and stable..and þe hors feruent in desyre and coueytous of females.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)288a/b : The goot bukke hatte hircus and is a leccherous beste, alway feruent to þe dede of leccherye.
- (?c1410) Hoccl.Chancellor (Hnt HM 111)16 : To sheete at yow good wil..Ther-in am I ful hoot & ful feruent.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2536 : Ȝonge folkis..ben amerous, Feruent in hope, & inly desyrous.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8587 : Þei wer so feruent in her mortal Ire.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Josh.24.19 : God is hooli and a strong feruent louyere [L æmulator].
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)23/20 : Be þou feruent alway..& haue not þi desyre bowed to anyþing of þis warld.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)16/15 : Þei of peers were þe more feruent and studieng after þis sterre.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)239/32 : Two wyckyd Danes..myȝty in armes and feruent in knyȝthode.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)8/19 : Wherefore þere is no pees..but in þe fervent spiritual man.
b
- (1384) Appeal Usk in Bk.Lond.E.24 : That was euermore an excitation to the pore poeple to make hem be the more feruent & rebel a-yeins the grete men of the town.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.59 : Þey were fervent and dede aȝenst counsaille.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)126b/a : Þat tyme þey [serpents] beþ more fervent to stinge and schede & cast venyme.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.930 : Priamus was..Riȝt desyrous and inwardly fervent..To bilde a paleys.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1735 : He so fervent was Amyd his foon to helpe kyng Thoas.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3112 : Some wern so feruent and so wood Vppon the water that..Out of mesur the watere so þei drynke That they fille ded.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)37/2 : He es mare feruent for to come into Perse, þan we intill Ellada.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2154 : Than was priam..More feruent to fight.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)44/34 : Thei be not the more redy for to synne, bot the more feruente and redy to repente.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)1888 : That made hym..to destruye Crist more feruent.
- c1475 Why Nun (Vsp D.9)7,15 : They were as ferfent as ony fyre To excecute her lordys byddyng..they were so feruent To seke owte nunryes.
4.
(a) Of emotions or desires: ardent, powerful, fierce, keen, poignant; of devotion, prayer, etc.: ardent, earnest; (b) ~ hete, ardor.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)121 : He yefþ uor to confermi oure loue to his, þet hi by feruent and guod and zoþe and clene.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)277 : Þi desyr..may not be so clene ne so feruent as þou wolde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)275a/b : Hire [the camel's] talent and hire desire is strong and feruent in tyme of loue.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)58/1 : Singyng in grace wiþ feruent deuocioun.
- (1417) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)69 : This feruent desire wiche we han to the bodyly sight of your most excellent and noble persone.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4235 : Of verray angre and of fervent Ire..al attonis he vppon hem set.
- (1424) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)87 : To satisfie and refressh þe feruent desire of vs that long haue thursted aftir knowlech of your prosperite.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.5.13 : I the Lord spake in my feruent wraththe [WB(2): in my feruent loue; L in zelo meo].
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)86 : Thi feruent loue made me to be meltid.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)97/19 : I hope no þinge..may vs socur so mikyll..als feruent lufe of þe godhede.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)348 : Þe seid fervent appetite or lust may come bi pricking fumys or stemys gendring in þe privei fleisch.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)182 : We haue the ferventir wil forto do and suffre in seruyng him.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)190/30 : A feruente prayer is not of lippez bot of hertes.
- a1450 Deadly Sin (Cmb Dd.5.55)183 : Feruente charite distroyed venial syn.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)98/28 : Þe seid passions of delectacioun, of dolour..beyng in oure sensual appetitis and in oure bodili hert, ben mych scharper and smerter and feruenter þan ben lijk namyd to hem passions in þe wil.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1088 : So ffervent was his sorowe, his angir, & his pyne.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1340 : Þe sorowe so fervent smote in his hert.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)198 : For grete feruente love þat hathe i-bene atwene vs.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)529 : In his feruein malice and subteltee.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5299 : Þe feruent hete and þe gredy Ire..settiþ vs afire.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1666 : The pryve sighes and the feruent hete of louys folk.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4093 : O blyssyd agnete, Wych enflawmyd in þi tendyr age Of þe loue of god wyth þe feruent hete So sore were.
5.
Med. & surg. (a) Of humors: hot; esp., pathologically hot, feverish, violent; ~ hete, fever; (b) of sores, diseases: pathologically hot, virulent, violent; (c) of a medicine: strong in effect; (d) ~ vertu, power to induce heat in the body.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.536 : Ire after the philosophre is the feruent blood of man yquyked in his herte, thurgh which he wole harm to hym that he hateth.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)99b/b : Þis maner lepra comeþ of most feruent [L feruentissimo] humour and passinge malicious.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)207/12 : If blood & colre be feruent [L intensi] togidere..þere falliþ manie harde þingis þerto.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)216/207 : Grett syknes hym sore doth holde, For veruent hete his blood doth dreye.
- a1605(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(2))18308 : Of corruption of wyckyd humours & corrupt blood, of colore adust, fervent and wood.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)208/7 : Formica is a pustula þat is swiþe feruent [L feruens].
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4584 : A feruent mygreyn was in þe ryȝt syde of hurre hedde.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)290/942 : The juyse of coliandre..wil distroy wormes and kyrnels and feruent whelkes.
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)563/27 : A sore and a fervent malady hym toke.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)32.213 (v.1:p.241) : He was taken with a feruent accesse, and .. sawe in spirite that the tyme of his deth bigan to neighen.
- a1500 As I walkyd vppon (Hnt HM 183)32 : Nere I had be baptisyd yn watyr and salt, Thatt fervent ffester wold nevyr me fro.
- ?a1500 Job (Hnt HM 140)89 : To this rightfull man Job he cam full right..And smote hym with plages and wondys right vervent.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)321b/b : Some þinges þat draweþ, laxeþ also and beþ feruent as Scamonea..and worcheþ by colde and þresteþ dounward.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)219a/a : Papias meneþ þat it [calamus aromaticus] haþ a feruent vertu.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- 1448 Fox Brut in Camd.64 (Woburn 181)116 : Hit was a fervent coolde weder.
- c1475 GLeg.Suppl.Dorothy (Add 11565)232/132 : He seid..he glorified the God of Dorathe for that gret myracle þat was schewid there of rosys and applys in that tyme of the yere that was so feruent colde, for al the grounde was then coueryd with frost and snowe and no grene aperyng in no place.
- ?1484 Warkworth Chron.(Peterh 190)3 : In the thyrde yere of the reyngne of Kynge Edwarde and anno Domini [1463] ther was ane fervent froste thrugh Englonde, and snowe, that menne myght goo overe the yise, and a fervent colde.
Note: New sense, 'severe(ly), extreme(ly),' applied to cold or frost. Cp. OED fervent adj., sense 1.(c) 'Of cold: Intense, severe.' Note to GLeg. quot.: "feruent: severe." L. Matheson's gloss to the Warkworth quot.: "bitter, keen."
Note: Note that the word in the first two of these three quots. may be construed as an adverb ('bitterly, severely (cold)").
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Dc.45 Artist.Recipes (Dc 45) 150/29,31 : Forto know whan þe cyse ys to feruent, wryte yn parchement wyth þe cyse hwat þu wylt and let hyt drye; ȝyf hyt chappe hit ys to feruent.
Note: Glossary: "fervent adj. 'strong'."
Note: New sense.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.10rb (1.3) : If swyche materes maken duellyng in þe body and wickede aire or colde takyng, and greuance or myskepyng, or swyche oþer poynts comyng, þo helpen, conforten, and strenghen þose wickede humores, and þan ar þai more feruent and more perilouse.
Note: Additional quot., sense 5.(a). Editor's gloss: 'hot, intense'.