Middle English Dictionary Entry
fō̆rmer(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fō̆rmer(e n. Also fourmour, -eour. |
| Etymology | From fō̆rmen & from OF fourmeur (L formātor). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of God or Nature: creator.
Associated quotations
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.187 : Þou forȝate my God, þi formeour [L creatoris tui].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.24.12 : Thanne comaundide and seide to me the foormere [WB(2): creatour] of alle thingus.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)10.28 : Kuynde..is C[r]eatour of alle kunne [beestes], Fader and Foormere [B: fourmour] þe furste of alle þing.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.19 : For he that is the formere principal Hath maked me his vicaire general, To forme and peynten erthely creaturis.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)795 : My fadyr, my former, my mayster.
- c1400 ?Nassyngton SV (Cmb Ll.1.8)304 : And of alle thynges makere he is, Formere and begynnere of al godenes.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.167 : So is the fader a ful god formeour and shepper.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)2/8 : He þat was formyour of all the world wolde suffre for vs.
- a1450 3 KCol.(1) (Roy 18.A.10)47/33 : God þe which is fourmer and saueour of þe world.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)419/13 : He was former of al thyngis visible and invisible.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)348/2 : Þou þat art formere & makere of alle menne.
2.
(a) One who makes or shapes (tiles); (b) some kind of tool for shaping objects.
Associated quotations
a
- -?-(1401) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.96104 : Goldridus Goldyng, fourmour tegularum.
b
- (1399) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.3517 : xcvj chisielles ferri, xxiiij mallietes ferro ligati, cccc fourmers ferri.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)172 : Formowre, or grubbynge yryn of gravowrys: Scrofina, runcina.
3.
One who informs, a teacher.
Associated quotations
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)42 : Thus is Jak Uplond fodid with folie, and thourȝ formyng of his formere thus freyneth a frere.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)43 : Jak, thi formur is a gole, that thus thee hath yfourmed, to make so lewid an argument.