Middle English Dictionary Entry
grẹ̄f adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | grẹ̄f adj. Also grewe. |
| Etymology | OF grief adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. gref n.
1.
(a) Physically or mentally hard to endure, damaging, grievous, onerous, troublesome; (b) ill-disposed, obnoxious; (c) of sin: serious, grave; (d) weighty, heavy.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275 On leome (Trin-C B.14.39)7 : He þolede pine & passiun, Derne wnden & greue.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.210 : For it is an unwys vengance, Which to non other man is lief, And is unto himselve grief.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.288 : Of many foule mischeue com him tiþing þikke, Bot on þer was oure greue.
- c1400(?c1375) NHom.(3) Cec.(Tbr E.7)373 : He cumand smertly on þe morn To bring Maximius..And grefe turmentes to him he wroght.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)990 : Thei bounde him and bete him as a þeef Al a nyȝt in peynes greef.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)4/3 : Mi scole wil i stablis to godis seruise; greue [L asperum] þing will i noht stablis.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14104 : Þer-fore were manie at meschef, & þer lost was more gref.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)394/26 : He toke no kepe of his greve wounde that kynge Marke had gyffyn hym.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)1020 : Ande þat, to mercy mor dothe me move than þou dyscyplynyde þi body with peynys grewe.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)116a/b : Of yuel willid sterris & greues [L nociuis], he takeþ yuel qualitees & greues.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.138 : If it so be of Scotlond skape a thefe, & tille Inglond fle als a felon grefe, Bot if he..mak his sikernesse, þat þei will hym maynpis.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.259 : Þou has no right, with wrong holdes it in lite, Ageyn alle maner skille, & ȝit þou ert so grefe.
c
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3711 : Þat synne ne ys ryght gref Þat sone ys wroþe, and lyghtly lef.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27986 : Þis licheri..It es sua greif..Þat noght þe ded all of it an, Bot þe muthes..It files.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)21/20 : Sain Benet spekys in þis sentence til þa þat ere fallen in greuer [L gravioris] faute.
d
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)37.4 : For myn wickednesse ben ouergon myn heued, and as a greue charge [L onus grave] hij ben greued up me.