Middle English Dictionary Entry
grēve n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | grēve n.(2) Also greave, gref, græfe & grave, grava, graf(fe. Pl. grēves, etc. & grēve. |
| Etymology | OE *grafa pit, trench & græf, Merc. *gref pit, cave, etc. Also cp. Cealhgræfan in Birch Cart.Sax. 2.335, æt Bīgrafan 3.615, Greflēa 3.643, Greftone 3.321. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. grave n.(1).
1.
(a) A low place, a hollow; a cave, pit, hole in the ground [see also ston ~]; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.207-8].
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)9210 : Whærse iss all unnsmeþe get Þurrh bannkess & þurrh græfess..Þær shulenn beon ridinngess nu, & effne & smeþe weȝȝess.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)31881 : Þat folk was to wode iflowe and wonede ine stokkes, leien in greaues [Clg: stan-graffen], and leuede ase eares.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5757 : Hij founden many lake and pett Wiþ trowes and þornes byshett, Wiþinne greue and mychel weed.
- c1400 SLeg.Geo.(2) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)9 : A gret water þer was..And in þe grevys of þe banke..Þor had wonned many a day a wonder fowle dragone..both vggely & grete.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)310 : In a greue [Cmb: clyff; F ual] vndir ane hille, Scho found a welle fulle faire and schille.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)314/1249 : Wole ȝe vouch-saffe to go with me and sele þe graffe þat he ne aryse out of þe grave?
b
- (1157-63) in Ekwall PNLan.207 : Oregraua.
- (1173) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)117 : Chalgraue.
- (1190-1200) in Ekwall PNLan.207 : Orgraf.
- (1226) in Wallenberg PNKent286 : Siligraue.
- (1232) EPNSoc.13 (War.)209 : Grefton.
- (1346) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)117 : Chalfgrave.
- (1363) EPNSoc.13 (War.)209 : Temple Grafton.
- (1411) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)167 : Grevelee.
- (1428) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)155 : Beygrave.