Middle English Dictionary Entry
fervǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fervǒur n. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Heat, hotness; (b) pathological heat of the body or of one of its humors.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)12.124 : But yf this tree to sore in sonne drie, Hepe erthe aboute..the feruour of declyne.
- a1500(?a1450) St.Dor.(1) (Hrl 5272)99 : The feruor of the oyle was schent.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)57b/a : Of feruour & of oþer grete boilynge of þe humour of galle comynge aȝen to þe lyuour, blood is in fect.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)66/36 : Þis, forsoþ, quencheþ þe feruour of blode.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)2.35.113a : Summe louers of god..streyn hemselfyn þurgh grete violence & panten so strongly þat þei bresten in to bodily feruours.
2.
Turbulence (of the sea), raging.
Associated quotations
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.43/16 : The swellynge [L mare tumidum] yn his feruor with the hepys growyng of wawys leift vp hym-self.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.53/14 : The see cesid from his feruour.
3.
(a) Ardor, passion, excitement; earnestness, zeal, eagerness; (b) extreme anger, wrath.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 2.17 : The feruour of loue [L zelus] of thin hous hath etun me.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.4.12 : Nyle ȝe go in pilgrimage in feruour [L feruore] that is maad to ȝou to temptacioun.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)268 : Þei fele no sauour ne deuocion be feruour of loue.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)290 : Praying wiþ mouþe geteþ & kepeþ feruour of deuocion.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)250 : And fervor of thoght [vr. yhouthe; L fervor juvenilis] and riches Reves a man sight, skylle, and mynde.
- ?a1425 Wycl.CGosp.Luke (Cmb Kk.2.9:Hudson)24/143-144 : He þat receyueþ þe place of prechyng..þouȝ sumtyme þe feruour of riȝtfulnes axiþ þat he be sharp aȝenus sugetis, þilke feruour be of loue not of cruelte, ;þat he ȝyue wiþoutefortþ þe riȝtis of chastisyng, and loue hem wiþinne.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)198/18 : Vn-ethe sche myth stondyn on hir feet for þe fervowr of lofe & deuocyon þat God putte in hir sowle.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)472 : Deuocioun, feruour and strengþe forto labore, do & suffre for hise neiȝboris.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)17/16 : Than in gret feruoure of lufe and lyghte of Godd..þe saule may here & fele heuenly sowun.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)9713 : Of swych feruoure She was þat hyr madynnys she dede preuente..ful many an oure.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)379/1 : Þe fervor & þe luff þat he had vnto his religion.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)93/4 : Bi reryng þoo vicis into ouer hiȝ degre of feruour.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)331/4 : Þe grettenesse and feruour of loue.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)374/11 : Lakke of sprituel feruoure.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)388/19 : Þe feruoure of deuocyone.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deut.29.20 : Thanne ful greetli his strong veniaunce be feers, and the feruour [L zelus] aȝens that man.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.23.25 : And Y schal sette my feruour [WB(1): enuye or wraththe] in thee.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)29b/15 : If þe byle be bygyleng, staunche it feruour [L feruor].
Note: Needed for date
Note: Sense 1.(b)--per MLL
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Pet.4.12 : Moost dere, nyle ȝe go in pilgrimage in feruour, that is maad to ȝou to temptacioun.
Note: !Quot. already used under 3.(a)--JL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.20vb (1.4) : Noȝtforþan if þe stomac be so colde þat be cause of his coldenes he swageþ & lesseþ þe hete and þe feruoure of þe blode.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.26va (2.2) : Þat he mai noȝt slepe & þat he is lettede of his hering for peyne is be cause of feruour and of scharphede of þe mater, þe whiche mater is resoluede into fumosite.
Note: Additional quots., prob. sense 1.(b).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. fervour.