Middle English Dictionary Entry
fōr(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | fōr(e adv. Also vore. |
| Etymology | OE fore, foran. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Beforehand, previously.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)41/422 : Ah wel ich warni þe uore [Roy: biforen], hit nis nawt þin biheue.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)16/151 : Ich com..forte warnin ow fore & tellen ow þeos tidinges.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4142 : Sende wittili to þi wif & warne hire fore.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12479 : Al masters war, i for of melt [Frf: als maisters was, as I talde are].
2.
Forward (in space or time); bi fore, in front; fro nou ~, henceforth.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1815 : Marie Magdaleyne and hure ffelawes tweye..ȝeode abak and stode stille, and suþþe ȝeode ffor [vr. forþ] softe.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8158 : Þis gode compainie þen riȝte wey uor [vrr. vorþ, forþ] nome.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18267 : Fra nu for [Göt: forth], vnderstand þou wele Hu fele pines ai sal þou fele.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)50b : Ȝyf here enemyes come sodenliche vppon hem by fore oþere by þe syde.
3.
(a) ~ maken, to make (someone) out (to be), describe; (b) sheuen ~, to foresee, provide; (c) tellen ~, tell (something) forth; tell; tell beforehand; tell in the presence of (someone).
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)90b : Nis nawt godd..se grim as ȝe him fore makieð.
b
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Þis was his in gang; of his ut gang ne cunne we iett noht seggon. God scawe fore.
c
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)323/15 : Sore of him heo dradde, And þouȝte ȝif heo tolde hire louerd fore, þat he wolde beo wroth.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)267 : Floriz imai þe telle fore, Heo schal beon his quene icore.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)2/31 : The manere of Engelonde this Gilbert hire tolde fore.
- c1300 SLeg.And.(Hrl 2277)37 : Er wel longe he tolde ous fore, hou hit scholde beo.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5647 : Me tolde sein dunston vore, þat he [the king] sik lay.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.143 : Whan he hadde ete his childe, þoo he tolde hym fore.
- a1450(a1400) SLeg.Corp.Chr.(Bod 779)146 : So we finde in moyses, as I may telle fore.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: See note under forn- pref.