Middle English Dictionary Entry
greith(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | greith(e n. Also grath, gratht, grethe. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI greiði. Meaning influenced by OE gerǣde. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Readiness, order, governance, control; in ~, out of ~; don ~ on, to exercise control over (a nation); don in ~, carry out, put into effect; (b) effective guidance, counsel; command; (c) arms, equipment, apparatus; necessaries for a journey; ?also, a well-equipped or a competent man [quot.Awntyrs Arth.].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6934 : Muchel he dronk mede and win..ne dude nauer oðer god, ne greiðe on his þeode.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)66 : 'Sire,' seis Iosep, 'or semblaunt is feble, In gret Anguisse ȝe ben, þat nis not God [read: god] greiþe.'
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.193 : Þei be of þi faith..þei stand alle to gode graith whan þou ert þam among.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.307 : Bot he suore on his fayth..Whan it were don in grayth þe weddyng of Margarete [F kant le damoisele esposez averait], To mak þe purale.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)587 : And ȝef þe chylde haue nome by-fore, Lete hyt stonde..And ȝef hyt haue not, lete name hyt þare, Ȝef hyt schule in greyþe fare.
- ?c1450 Nicod.(1) (Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.25)340 : If my kyndome..Within þaire grethe were..My men..Wald stande and stryfe fulle faste agayne.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Mand.& Sultan (BodeMus 160)64 : Now, it semys, lowsit is Sathanesse, That sett this ward thus owt of graythe.
b
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)341 : Ȝif þise þreo persones..han bote on godhede, þei nare not goddes alle..þat on is a verrei god, I sei bi god greyþe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.333 : Sire Eymere of Valence lay at Saynt Jon toun..þer þei gan alle rest, tille þei herd oþer greith.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)37/482 : The ravyn, durst I lay..may happyn to day com agane or none With grath.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)34 : Sire, for grete gods loue, þe graiþ þou me telle, Of what myddelerde man myȝte y best lerne My Crede?
c
- (1394-5) in Salzman Building in Engl.471 : The abbot and the conuent sall fynd al maner of gratht that pertenys to that werk quhil is werkande.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2523 : Esau went for til hunt..Bot þat dai wayth þan gatt he noght, For haf man neuer sa gode graith It es noght ilk dai, dai o waith.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4796 : Lo, me! i am all redi bun..Giue me mi graith [Göt: tresur] and lat me ga.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5518 : Þan made he smythis to gaa smert & smethe him a chaiere Of blake iren..And foure Griffons full grym he in þat graythe festes.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.16 : We ar in wudlond..For to hunte atte the herd..Gyf thou be gome gladdest, now haue we no graythe [Thrn: gude graythe; Dc: gome graiþe], ȝet may thou be machet be mydday to morne.