Middle English Dictionary Entry
hē̆res pron.
Entry Info
| Forms | hē̆res pron. Also hers, heires, herres, hir(e)s, hores, heores, heoræs, hares, hures. |
| Etymology | From hē̆r(e pron. & genitive suf. (orig. sg.) -es. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Used absol.: theirs, their own; their people, their land, their name, etc.; for hem and ~, for themselves and their families; of ~, belonging to themselves; ~ unthankes, against their will; (b) in early use [prob. error]: their.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)235 : Þer for god hafd ȝescepe ham reste, sume wile hares unþances.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.417 : The Grees grauntede pees to..Antenor, to Eneas, to Polydamas, and to alle hires [Higd.(2): to alle theire men].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1926 : Al the gospel may ye seen, Wher it be likker oure professioun, Or hirs [vrr. heris, heyres] that swymmen in possessioun.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)2507 : Was noon þei wolde graunte griþ; þei helde heres [Vsp: þairs] was þe lond.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)22578 : Vnto hir chanel shal she [the sea] turne, And þo to hores [Ld: heris; Vsp: þairs] vche a burne.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)14 : Thay arn happen þat han in hert pouerte, For hores is þe heuen-ryche to holde for euer.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.148 : And the thinges eek that men wenen ne haven none soules, ne desire thei nat, ich of hem, by semblable resoun to kepyn that that is hirs?
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)454 : Sire William Wendouere, Abbot of Oseney, & oon Sire Harry Norwode, his chanon..wiþ sloo, hure carpentere, and oþer wurkemen of hures, leet a rere a newe buldyng.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)397 : If y..consente not for me and my successouris, in my name and heris, forto..performe thilk trust.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)670 : The Yrichemen have cause lyke to oures, Oure londe and herres togedre to defende.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)142/35 : Þerfore seiþ oure lord þat þe kyngdom of heuene is herys.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)300 : Freris, when þei beggen of men, þenken not hou þei ben rychere þen pore men þat þei beggen of, þat hauen greet neede, for hem and heoris, to þyng þat frereis tillen of hem.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxxiii : Crist forsoke his wille; þei seken hers, be it riȝt or wronge.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)145 : Thei loste all here harneyse of hirs and of her mayne.
b
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)13/11 : Þat hi onstondende mit Godes fultume þurh swustren ȝetrymnysse onȝean þane deofol & heoræs fleascæs leahtres & heore yfele ȝeþanc winnan cunnan.