Middle English Dictionary Entry
first n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | first n.(1) Also furst, ferst, feorst, forst, virst, vurst, frest, vrist. |
| Etymology | OE fyrst, first (corresp. to OFris. ferst, OHG frist), & ON frest (whence the N forms). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A (limited) period of time; yere ~, a period of years; yeven ~, to grant time (for a certain purpose).
Associated quotations
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)48/16 : Heo þeo ælmesse..moniȝfealdæþ ȝearæ fyrstæs.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)18/14 : Dauid, Se for godes lufe wyle nihtlongne fyrst mid us wuniæn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4192 : I þiss fresst, Whil þatt tiss werelld lassteþþ.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1997 : Inne lut ȝeren firste [Otho: forste] wes þet folc swa muchel [etc.].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4506 : Næuede heo bute þreo nihte feorst faren þat heo scolde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17282 : We scullen ræsten to þreom dæȝen uirsten.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22931 : To feouwer wikene uirste [Otho: firste] þat wrec wes iuorðed.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30138 : Næfde þe sehtnesse ilast buten seouen ȝere urist.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)89/16 : Ne hafst tu no lengere fierst ðanne ðe apostele seið.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)147/22 : Ȝif me ȝiet a litel ferst for þine godnesse.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)103/638 : Hi criez him, merci..Þat he ȝiue hem furst of liue [Suth: for to length her lyue].
2.
(a) A period of grace; a delay or postponement; bidden frist, ask for a delay; leten (yeven) ~, grant a delay or respite; don in (on) firste, postpone; firste daies, days of grace, truce; (b) a delay in payment; taken to friste, get or buy on credit.
Associated quotations
a
- c1120(OE) Leges Hen.I in Liebermann Gesetze 1570 : De quibuscumque implacitetur aliquis, furst et fandung habeat.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)32/1 : Nolde þe ðeȝen læten him nænne fyrst.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)19 : Þa hwile crist us wule ȝefen furst on þisse liue.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)65/707 : As ha schulde stupin & strecche forð þet swire, ha bed first, & feng on þus forte learen þeo þe þer weren.
- a1225 Lamb.Hom.Pater N.(Lamb 487)71/294 : Vre deð he do in firste ȝet.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)630 : To conseili us betere, ȝif us furst are we speken her-of more.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)890 : So þat heom was respit [vr. furst] i-graunted.
- c1300 SLeg.Marg.(Hrl 2277)265 : Heo bad þe quellere ȝeue hire furst to bidde hire bede.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1337 : Do þou nouth onfrest þis fare.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.49 : First [vr. vurst; L induciæ] of ten days were i-graunted..þe firste dayes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15954 : Þan wijst he cummen his maister word Wit-vten langar frest.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2352 : Bot thare was more fyrst to doon Er the caudron wer found.
b
- c1350 How GWife(1) (Em 106)145 : Borewe þou noȝt to bleþeli, ne tak þou noȝt to ferst [Hnt: ne take nought frest].
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5505 : Alle þat þey take now to frest [F largement; vr. mut], Þerof shal God take a quest.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)178 : Freste, or to frest yn byynge or borowynge: Mutuum. Frestyn or lende to freste: Presto, comodo, accomodo, mutuo.
- 1451-1500 Tundale (Wagner)60 : He wolde ȝeve dayes as hym leste, But he solde ay þe derrer for þe freste.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)53/33 : Þa æfter sumen fyrste wurden heo ungesome, Philippus & Areth.
Note: Antedates 1.--per MJW