Middle English Dictionary Entry
firsen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | firsen v. Also fursen, fers(i)en. |
| Etymology | OE ā-)feorsian & ā-)fyrsian go or drive away; cp. feor far. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. afursen.
1.
(a) To keep away, remain aloof; flee;--intr. or refl.; (b) to take away; separate; give up, abandon;--trans.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14198 : Þatt all his aȝhenn hallȝhe brid..Himm [God] shollde lefliȝ þewwtenn, & ferrsenn aȝȝ all hire lif Frawarrd te defless wille.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14208 : To ferrsenn & to flittenn Fra woh till rihht, fra læs till soþ.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)19a : For þi is þet þe ȝeiȝeð up on him [God] ofte & he firseð [vr. furseð] him awei frommard ure steuene ne nule nawt iheren hire..hwa se wule þenne þet godes eare beo neh hire tunge, firsi [vr. fursie] hire from þe world, elles ha mei longe ȝeiȝen ear godd hire ihere.
b
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)205 : On two wise man mai forsake woreld winne: on is fersien hit fro him, swo þat he it nabbe; oðer is, lete swo litel þer of, þat he it noht ne luuie.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)13/145 : Ah ich him [Jesus] luuie..& leue on as o lauerd. Ne schal me firsen [Roy: firsin] him from Nowðer deouel ne mon.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)85a : Ah we schuhteð him [God] awei hwen we doð deadlich sunne ant heo leapeð þenne to sone se he us firseð.