Middle English Dictionary Entry
forkerven v.
Entry Info
| Forms | forkerven v. Forms: p. ind. forcarf, subj. forkorue; ppl. forcorve(n. |
| Etymology | OE forcearfan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. kerven.
1.
(a) To cut or split (something) in two, cut to pieces, cut severely; ~ a two; (b) to cut off (something), to cut down (a tree).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)95.54/2 : Forcearf hi þanne mid swyþe sceape [read: scearpe]sexe on ðry dæles.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)19/12 : Nim forcorfen leac.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.King (LdMisc 108)52 : So ful he stikede of Arewene..þat in none stude on Arewe ne miȝte In wende bote he for-korue some oþure.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)8186 : Dunt he ȝef þe þridde and forcarf [Clg: forsmat] hine amidde.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)5292 : Allas..þat he no hadde his bodi forcorue!
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)617 : Elles had he is scholder bon forcoruyn at þat dente.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)744 : Þat swerd on ys syde swarf & Oþer half spanne forcarf atwo of is hauberke.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.340 : As a swerd forkutteth and forkerueth An arm atwo.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)1438 : Lamedon..lete hem lye..Sore woundid and al forkoruen.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1415 : An ax he hente..And forcarf bon and lire; Þat heed fell in þe plain.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1936 : Seuen chaynes..Our kynge forcarfe a mydwarde.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.11.6b : I schal vse my flawmyng swerde..to forkerve hem.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)4066 : They smyte faste..That forkoruen been guttes, lyuer, and longe.
b
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)24/2,3 : Ða het he heom faren to ant forceorfan hit..heo þa..forcurfon ðæt treow wið ðone grund ant biheowon hit on þare ilce stowe.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)26/4 : Asprong þær fyr on ðreo healfe ðæs treowæs ant forbernde sixtiȝ monnæ of þam monnum þe hit forceorfæn wolden.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)14/132 : Meiðhad is þe blostme þet, beo ha fulliche eanes forcoruen, ne spruteð ha eft neauer.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)476 : He forcarfe..A grete pese..of hys hauberk ful ryȝt.
2.
Med. To soften or dissolve (a substance).
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)102b/b : Ȝif þe matiere is hard & sadde, he ȝeueþ medycines þat defieþ & todeliþ and forkerueþ, þat þe matiere may be neische.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)221a/b : If he [onyoun] is y-ete couenablyche, he forkerueþ [L incidit] and departeþ gleymy humours.
3.
To erode or wear away.
Associated quotations
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)95b : Ȝif a citee by sette on an hy hulle or on a forcoruen scarres or in a place þere þe see ebbeþ & floweþ.