Middle English Dictionary Entry
frẹ̄r(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | frẹ̄r(e n. Also freyer, frier, frir. Pl. frẹ̄res, (S, rare) frẹ̄ren; (attrib. or in comp.) frẹ̄ren(e; frẹ̄re(s prēchǒurs, frẹ̄re(s mēnǒurs, etc. |
| Etymology | OF frere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Brother, friend or comrade; in direct address: beau ~, good friend, fair sir; (b) member of a brotherhood; a monk; ~ of the hospital, one of the Knights Hospitallers; ~ of the temple, a Knight Templar.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(LdMisc 108)334 : Ov, beau frere..strong is þe misdede.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)441 : Beu freres..Ichulle loke ȝwat mine felawes of þis þing wollez rede.
- c1300 SLeg.Devil Serv.(Hrl 2277)45 : Nou, beau freres, ȝe mowe iseo..Wham ȝe habbeþ iserued ȝare.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2247 : Y was þy felaw, þy trewe frere.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.162 : Lordes of renoun..Frere Ruffyn Delmount & þe duk Leoun [OF et le duk Leoun, Frere Ruffyn des mounz].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)51b : A ffreere: ffrater, fraternus.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)295 : Þe Abbot seide..'We beoz foure ant twenti freres.'
- c1300 SLeg.Dunstan (Hrl 2277)199 : He [Dunstan] let clipie þe saterday þe freres bifore him alle.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)259/37 : And ffrere Maryn heo was cald, And for a good Monk heo was told.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.197 : Þe freres of þe hospital & þe temple also.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)75/12 : Þe Frerys of þe Tempyl mad hir gret cher and ȝouyn hir many gret relykys.
2.
(a) A member of one of the religious mendicant orders, a friar; esp., a member of one of the four (later, five) principal orders, i. e. Franciscan, Dominican, Augustinian, Carmelite (and later, Fratres Cruciferi); (b) used attrib. (orig. gen.pl.): of the friars; freren-folk; (c) in proverbs and sayings.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)262 : Þer freren woneden swiþe sley.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)287/335 : Ore louerd..drowen þane frere up þare-bi.
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.155 : Hail be ȝe freris wiþ þe white copis.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)63/1780 : Sudeakne may be ywedded nauȝt, Monek, muneche, ne no frere.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)60 : He slow þe Pope..monekys & frerys eke.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.55 : I Font þere Freres, all þe Foure Ordres.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)94 : Freris departed in foure ordris, that ben clepid in Ingelond religiouse mendycauntis or beggeris, owen to lyue sympliere and streitliere than other religiouse.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1912 : I speke of vs, we mendynantz, we freres.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.191 : To peers þei drowen..freres and alle fyue ordres.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)16.80 : Ich wiste neuere freek þat frere is ycallede of þe fyue mendynauns.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)137/5 : Þere duellen many religious men, as it were of the ordre of freres, for þei ben mendyfauntes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)148/33 : Þer is comyn on of þe most famows frerys in Inglond to þis towne.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)363 : Wheþer it be in man or woman..monke or frere or nunne.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)555 : Freris of Seint Frauncessis religion ben bounde.
- (1453) LRed Bk.Bristol2.204 : And that the iiij orders of ffreris be at the saide Obite.
- (1459) Will Wells in Nrf.Archaeol.2101 : Sche woll yat..ye mony ther of comyng be ȝowyn among freyers, to sing and pray for ye sowle of ye seyde Elyenoor.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)1 : A pore Frere of the Heremites of Seynt Austyn.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)105 : A frere wandring voyd in the world is a ded careyn, gon out of þe graue.
b
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11320 : Þe king hadde þer to g[o]lde wille þoru frerene rede.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.208 : Faitours in frere cloþynge hadde fatte chekus.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)311 : All þis freren folke weren founded in townes.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.835 : Loo, goode men, a flye and eek a frere Wol falle in euery dyssh and matere.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A sculke of fryers.
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)57 : Thre freris and thre fox maken thre shrewys.
3.
(a) beger ~, a mendicant friar; (b) blak ~, a Dominican; (c) crouch(ed) ~, ~ of the crois, a Crutched-friar, one of the Fratres Cruciferi; (d) grei ~, a Franciscan; (e) sakked ~, a Sack-friar, one of the Fratres de Poenitentia or Saccati; (f) whit ~, a Carmelite.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)109/286 : Geder vp, lo, lo! ye hungre begers ffrerys.
b
- (1451) *Will Suf.Ipsw.PR 1151b : The blake ffryres of Don[wich].
- (1464) Will Drayles in Antiq.8243 : I bequethe to the Blak Fryeres in Yippiswich v marcs.
c
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)239 : Without leue of þe kyng [Edward I] or of his consaile..freres of þe croice & monk & chanoun Haf drawen in ovoice his feez to þer almoyn.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)67 : Yitt have we nat touched off Talages off Chauntres..ne off Crouched ffreres.
- (1465) Will Gregory in Camd.n.s.17p.xliv : To the hous of Crouched Freres in London..xiij s. iiij d.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)74 : Alle so the same yere be ganne the ordyr of Powlys, that ben callid Crowche Frers.
d
- a1350 Mon in þe mone (Hrl 2253)19 : He leneþ on is forke ase a grey frere.
- (1438) Will Dixton in BGAS 11157 : I bequeth to the Grey Freres of Hereford for to doo semblably for my moder.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)227/30 : Sche mett a Grey Frer, a worschepful clerk, a doctowr of diuinyte.
- (1464) Will Drayles in Antiq.8243 : The Greye Fryeres of Yippiswych shalle haue of my goodes v marcs.
e
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7460 : So ben Augustyns and Cordyleres, And Carmes, and eke Sacked Freeres, And alle freres, shodde and bare.
f
- (1436) EEWills106/9 : The saide som yerly vnto the white Freres, greye freres, & Austins.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)171/12 : Sche went on a tyme in þe White Frerys Cherch at Lynne.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.517 : To þe White friris.
- (1451) *Will Suf.Ipsw.PR 1151b : The whyte ffryrys haue iij s. iiij d.
4.
(a) Augustin ~, ~ Austin, an Augustinian friar; (b) ~ menour, menour ~, a Franciscan, a Minorite; (c) ~ of the Carme, a Carmelite friar; frer(es) Carmes, the Carmelites; (d) ~ prechour, a Dominican, a Jacobin friar.
Associated quotations
a
- (1411) Will in Bk.Lond.E.216 : Y be-queþe the Frer Austynes ij s. vj d.
- (1423) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.134 : The Frere Austyns walle..is defectif.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)167/2 : Aftirward in Lenton prechyd a good clerk, a Frer Austyn.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.517 : To þe Aug' frires at Orford xiij s iiij d.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)168 : Sche was biried in the Frere Austines at Clare.
- (1465) Will Gregory in Camd.n.s.17p.xliv : I biqueth to the hous of frere Augustines in London..xl s.
- a1500 Trental St.Greg.(2) (Adv 19.3.1)11 : To mynour ne to frere Austyn, To caryne ne to Jacobyn..Ho durst not schow hor yvel warke.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)16b : Ure freres meonurs beoð of swuch ordre.
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)430 : Seint Fraunceis was frere Menour in þe ordre twenti ȝer.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10241 : In þe ȝer of grace tuelf hundred & tene..þe ordre bigan of frere menors.
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)49/75 : The wardeyns schul warne þe frere menours that they come to þe place þer he schal be beried & seye þer a dirige.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9598 : As y herde telle Ones a frere menor spelle.
- (1411) Will in Bk.Lond.E.216 : Y be-queþe to the frer menoures ij. s'. vij. d.
- (1421) Doc.N.Convocation in Sur.Soc.113166 : John Ricall Warden of ye frer' menours of ye covent of York.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6338 : Now am I Robert, now Robyn; Now Frere Menour, now Jacobyn.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)235/15 : Þei comyn forby an hows of Frer Menowrys hauyng mech thrist.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)333 : Menour frere, or frere menowre: Minor.
- (1446) Proc.Privy C.6.40 : Frer John Bredon, frer minour in þe convent of our cite of Coventr.
- (1453) LRed Bk.Bristol2.204 : Pai to the freres menours vj s. viij d., and to eueri of the other orders iij s. iiij d.
- (1459) Lin.DDoc.117/27 : I beqweth to the Conuent of the frerys mynours of Oxford..v s.
- a1500(1396) Indent.Francisc.in RS 4.1 (Vit F.12)523 : Freer John Bruyll Wardyn of the freers minors in London and the couent of the same place.
c
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)164 : Ther is another ordre, Menour and Jacobin, And freres of the Carme, and of Seint Austin.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)238/17 : He commandede his men forto goe to þe cherche of þe Frere Carmes.
- (1411) Will in Bk.Lond.E.216 : Y bequeþe to Freres Carmes off london ij s. vj d.
- (1464) Will Drayles in Antiq.8243 : I wyll haue a messe..aftyr my decesse in the Churche of the Fryres Carmys in Yippiswych.
- (1465) Will Gregory in Camd.n.s.17p.xliv : To þe hous of Frere Carmes in Flete Strete..xxvj s. viij d.
d
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)112b : Na mon ne eote biuoren ow bute bi ower meistres leaue..as of freres preachurs.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)278/19 : He [Dominic] scholde an ordre make of frere prechours.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10105 : Þe ordre bigan of frere prechors..Sein dominic it bigan þo in þe ȝer of grace ywis A þousend & tuo hundred ȝer.
- c1390 GGuy(2) (Vrn)294 : His wyf wente to þe hous of þe Frere Prechours of þat ilke Citee.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.326 : Tuo knyghtes were þer in..& a frere prechoure.
- (1411) Will in Bk.Lond.E.216 : Y bequeþe to the freres prechoures with-yn ludgate ij s. vj d.
- (c1418) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.1.14 : That Thomas Dyss, a frer prechour..wer a good man and a sufficient ther to.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)209/16 : Þis creatur was in an hows of þe Frer Prechowrys.
- (1450) RParl.5.187a : The Priour and Covent of the Frers precheours of Kynges Melcombe in the Counte of Dorset.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)73.38 (v.2:p.47) : Petir of Melan .. forsoke the worlde and al his worldly frendis and entrid into the frere prechours ordre.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)150 : In his [Henry III's] V ȝere..the Frere Prechouris cam into Ynglond.
- a1500 Lamb.Mir.Virg.(Lamb 432)322/22 : Too ffrerus prechours excitid and stirid a mane languyssing.
5.
An establishment or house of friars; at the ~ menoures (prechoures), at the house of the Franciscans (the Dominicans); crouched freres, house of the Crutched-friars; Crouchedfrerestret, the street of the Crutched-friars' house; etc.
Associated quotations
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10809 : At kildar he was aslawe..& at þe frere prechors ibured, at kilkenni.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10411 : She..vn-to þe freres ȝede, For þere hoped she best to spede.
- c1400 GGuy(1) (Tbr E.7)63 : Sone efter opon a day vnto þe freres [Vrn: þe hous of þe Frere Prechours] scho toke þe way, þat prechures war in þat cete.
- (1405) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)2.381 : [He leaves certain tenements in the street called] le Crouchedfrerestrete.
- (1424) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.185 : John Aleyn, Brewer, atte Cok ny crouched Freres.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)17/31 : I byd be gon to þe ankyr at þe Frer Prechowrys.
- 1448(1435) *Mandeville Brut (Arms 58:Kooper)f.312v : Þey come togedre at þe Frere Prechurs of London and þer þey spake of þe mysgouernaunce of þe reme.
- (1449) in Willis & C.Cambridge 210 : Next the Freres.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)136/11 : Yn a feyre chirche þe wich is cleped þe frere precheours.
- (1451) Paston2.208 : They arne accorded that..they shall have here loggyng atte the Frere Menours atte Lenn..And it is here avyse that the meyre shuld purveye for hem in sum other Freres.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.50/26 : Þe Brigge bynethe the Millys of the castell of Oxonforde towarde þe ffrere Menoures.
6.
In personal names.
Associated quotations
- (1197) Feet Fines Rich.I in Pipe R.Soc.2457 : Inter Ricardus le Frere petentem et..tenentes de dimidio virgata terre.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 197 : Wiltus le Frere.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2113 : Cecilia Frer.
- (1332) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 18188 : Richerus Frereman.
- (?a1375) Gild R.Shrewsbury in Shrops.ANHS ser.3.1 [OD col.]()121 : Johannes le freremon.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)232 : A skulke off frerez.
Note: Additional quote(s)
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(3) (Lamb 306)233 : A Skulke of Freris.
Note: Postdates 2.(a)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.4ra (Prologue) : Frere Henry Danyel of the ordre of Frerez Prechoures..vnto his belouede felowe in Crist, Walter Turnour of Ketoun.
Note: Additional quot., sense 4.(d). New spelling (pl.) = frerez.