Middle English Dictionary Entry
grẹ̄vǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | grẹ̄vǒus adj. Also greves, greveus, grewo(u)s, grefeous, gref(f)es, & gravewis, & (error) grovous. Forms: comp. grẹ̄vǒuser(e; sup. grẹ̄vǒuseste, grẹ̄vǒuses, grẹ̄vest, grẹ̄vǒust. |
| Etymology | AF grevous; cp. CF grevos. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Oppressive, burdensome, bitter; of temptation: hard severe; (b) of sin, crime: grave, serious; (c) tedious, difficult, distasteful; (d) important.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4140 : At tyme of midniȝt..him mette a greuous cas; Him þoȝte he sey a grislich bere fle in þe eir an hey.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 6.3 : Wolde God my synnes weren weȝed..and the wrecchidnesse that I suffre..As the grauel of the se this more greuous [WB(2): greuousere; L gravior] shulde seme.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.12.14 : I am redy for to come to ȝou, and I schal not be greuous [L gravis] to ȝou; forsothe I seke not tho thingis that ben ȝoure, but ȝou.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.361 : This ȝere Engelond and Normandie were i-greved wiþ a grevous [Higd.(2): grete; L gravi] tribut, and wiþ moreyn of men.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3258 : Ther mihte no fortune laste Which was grevous, bot ate laste The god himself it hath redresced.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)16a/a : [Thrones] fongith þe knowleche of the godhede..& sendith it forth to þe lowere withoute greuous suffrauns [L impassibiliter].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.234 : So for his glotonie and his grete scleuthe, he hath a greuous penaunce, Þat is welawo whan he waketh and wepeth for colde.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)113/31 : Þei schal no pees haue from greuousear oppressyng, as is takyng of her beestis, wiþ corn & oþir vitails.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2362 : I wil..do my bysynesse To reforme ȝoure grevous hevynesse.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.123/57 : Also we compleyne gretely vpon the dong about the horspole, wich is a right greuous nuysance.
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)102/9 : Vp peyne of greuouse enprisonment of his body.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1492 : And this to me so grevous is to thynke, That fro my brest it wol my soule rende.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)3 Kings 12.4 : Abate thou a litil..of the greuousiste [L grauissimo] ȝok which he puttide on vs, and we schulen serue to thee.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.85 : Theodoric..comaundede that no man schulde byen no corn til his corn were soold, and that at a grevous dere prys.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.SSol.(Cld E.2)6.11 : As cartis chargid, greuouse birthuns to bere in the weye.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8510 : Ye charge is to me full hevy and grevous forto ber..after ye grete losses I have had.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)17/15 : Þe swetter rest of euyrlastynge pore men sall fele, in als mykyll as in þis lyfe moste greuous [L grauissimos] labours þai haue borne.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)90/41 : For ay þe ma temptacions, & þe grevoser, þai stande agayne..þe mare sall þai ioy in his luf.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)342/24 : For his most preciouse tresour..& most greuose sorowe and peyne, is suffisante and passynge aseþe.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)42/227 : For synful levynge þis werde doth for-fare, So grevous vengeauns myght nevyr man se.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)58a : Grevous [Monson: Grevos]: grauis..noyus.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)47.6 : Sorowis of penaunce is [read: as] of a wommane that trauails, that is, thai ere ful grefeous, bot thai ere profitabil.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)160/16 : God ther-of toke grewos vengeaunce.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)723 : Of all peynes the moste grevous payne is for one faille to begyne all agayne.
b
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)96/553 : Ane is fornication..An other is auoutry..That greuouser and gretter is than that othir.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.449 : Al be they greuouse synnes, I gesse that they ne be nat dedly.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)14 : Auarice..and symonie..ben greuousere synnis in him, thanne is bodili fornicacioun.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9736 : Ful grete þoȝte þan was he ynne, Þat he hadde do so greuus a synne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26451 : And rises a sin of vnkindness Wit alle þat als greues es.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)209/34 : I..was assoylled of all þat lay in my conscience of many a dyuerse grouous [read: greuous] poynt.
- (1442) Doc.Ireland in RS 69287 : Þe taking, imprisonyng, and rampsonyng of the Priouer of Conale..is þe grevoust and henoust article of all þe seide articles.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1240 : Noman suld curs mor ne lese, Bot for thyng þat ful greuus es.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)272/11 : He accusid a yong man vnto þe Abbott, & putt vppon hym grevus trispas.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)101/24 : Þey been enioynid to do þe penaunce..for greuouses trespasis.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.732 : This vertu [fortitude] maketh folk vndertake harde thynges and greuouse thynges by hir owene wil wisely and resonably.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)92/5 : Þow þat it be greuous [Add: greffes; L molestum] for to cure it, þer is noon oþer wey, but a liȝt cauterizacioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3789 : To me it schal be ful greuous..But þou of me..Be slaie anon.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)211 : Grevows..tediosus.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)4 : Huntyng, haukyng, and fowlyng be so laborous & greuous þat non of them may performe to enduce a man to a mery spryȝt.
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.23.23 : Woo to ȝou, scribis and Pharisees, ypocritis, that tithen mente, anete, and comyn, and han lefte tho thingis that ben greuouser or of more charge [L graviora], of the lawe.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)6/28 : Abot az at be wis; greueus þing es hym bi-taht: þe sauls for to gete, And mony þing for to wite.
2.
(a) Injurious, noxious; deadly, hostile; (b) physically painful, unpleasant; (c) of sickness, wounds: serious, severe.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.641 : Man shal nat taken his conseil of fals folk ne of angry folk or greuous folk.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)69b/b : Þey [children] desiren þat is to hem contrarye & greuous [L noxia].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)196b/a : Quik siluer passeþ out by euaporacioun..þe smoke þerof is most greuous [L obest] to men þat ben þerby for it breedith palsy.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)270b/a : A certeyn maner kynde [of spider] hatte spalangio..and is swyft in lepynge and greuous [L noxium] in bitynge.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)43/3 : Cold is..greuous to senewis & woundis.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)123/5 : Cold is moost greuous [Add: most greuest; L vltimo..nociuum] to boonys..þat ben woundid.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4695 : Martys..spere, greuous to sustene, Shall now no mor wh[et]tyd be so kene.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)964 : Faire-Semblaunt men that arowe calle, The leeste grevous of hem alle. Yit can it make a ful gret wounde.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)43/10 : Ofte-timis it happins þat..greuus sklaunders rysis in monesterys.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2943 : The duke..Graythes to sir Gawayne with full gret nowmbyre Of gomes of Gernaide, that greuous are holden.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)20 : My sinne and my confusioun..Han take on me a greevous accioun.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)4372 : Phylysteyns fast can hym [Samson] scorne, for he had bene a greuus geyst.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2189 : The pacient Iob..in his body endured and receyued ful many a greuous tribulacion.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.469 : This Fievere [Jealousy] is thanne of comun wone Most grevous in a mannes yhe.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)37 : Almighti God shal punshe alle hem that sweren thus bi peyne greuousere withouten comparisoun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3274 : Vlixes..amyd of al his greuous payne..made his sones for to be al oon.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2910 : Þat syght es a payn ful grevous, For þe devels er swa foul and ydous.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)36b/b : Censible membrez as þe eie suffreþ noȝt egre ne greuous [*Ch.(2): harde; L grauia] farmaciez.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)97/6 : [W]alwort is ane herbe..In odour it is sumwhat greuous and stynkyng.
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)55/30 : Þere is noþynge more grefes [Ashm: noious; L nocibilior] þan ys akynge & declynacioun of a lyme.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2495 : I can not declare the grewus woo and payn That y suffre for this grete offence.
- c1500 Late as I (Rwl C.86)99 : I from hewene agayn wolde discende And grevouser deth yt to suffir for þe.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)56b : As sheweth in women..withe grevous thrawes affore her childinge.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Lucy (LdMisc 108)5 : On Dame Eutice cam a siknesse swiþe greuous and long.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)499 : Þe sarsyn knew..he hadde a greuous [orig.draft: grisly] wounde.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1010 : They founde, Thurgh girt with many a greuous blody wounde, Two yonge knyghtes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1001 : Scarsly may he..repenten hym for the greuous maladie of his deeth.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)144/13 : And after þat longe tyme a grevous sikeness toke him, wherfore he deide.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1462 : Thoas..ȝaf hym þo a wounde so grevous..þat he fil doun dede.
- (a1450) Paston2.119 : Without he be had out of prison in hast, it will be right gravewis to him to heile of his hurt.
3.
Sorrowful, bitter; of the heart: hardened.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.130 : This sorwe [contrition] shal been..heuy and greuous and ful sharp and poynaunt in herte.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.8.15 : Farao..made greuous [WB(1) engredgide; L ingravavit] his herte, and herde not hem, as the Lord comaundide.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.9.7 : The herte of Faroa was maad greuouse [WB(1): agreuyd; L Ingravatum], and he delyuerede not the puple.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.1.95 : Sche, byholdynge my chere that was cast to the erthe hevy and grevous of wepynge, compleynede.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)397 : Pykyd or purgyd fro fylthe or oþer thynge grevows: Purgatus.
Note: Additional quote(s) for sense 2.(a).
- a1500 Craft Dying (Rwl C.894)410 : We haue..ensample..in the woman þat was takyn in avoutry..in Mary Egipciane, & vnnomberable oþer greuouce & grete synners.
Note: New spelling: but no need to include it here--it should be subsumed under the -ǒus suf. entry. (See the Supplement entry for -ǒus suf. which lists the -ǒuce as a variant spelling.)
Note: Belongs to sense 2.(a).
Note: Add gloss: also, of a sinner: egregious, deplorable.--per MLL
- a1550(?a1475) Otterburn (Cleo C.4)226 : The stonderds stode styll on eke a syde wyth many a grevous grone.
Note: Belongs to sense 3.--per MJW
Note: This is late MS, to be quoted only when other sources fail, but the sense is poorly attested & nothing after Chaucer Bo. is cited.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(?1451) Petrarch Secret.(Add 60577)5/77 : Thou knowyste..how longe and greuouse hathe lastyde hys infirmyte, the whiche to þe dethe encresythe more and more.
Note: Appears to belong to sense 2.(c), albeit in fig. context, and perhaps technically to be parsed adverbially, depending on how much like a copula 'lastyd' can behave. Glossed by editor as adverb.