Middle English Dictionary Entry
arain(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | arain(e n. Also arein, arreine, aran(e, arani, erain(e, eran(e, nerane, eranie, erein(e, hiraine, iraigne, irain, irane, irein(e, irene, urin(e. |
| Etymology | OF araigne, iraigne & L arānea. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A spider; ~ thredes, ~ webbe(s; araines ei, egg-case of a spider.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.38.12 : Thou madest to flowen awei as an ireyne his soule.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)82b/a : Aȝens epilencia..aranes ey to the pacient.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)38.15 : To skulke als irain [L araneam] þou made saule his.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)77 : Ȝif ye fynde at the areyn hath imake her webbe by the myddelle of hem.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.59.5 : Webbis of an yreyn [WB(1): attercop].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)94b/b : An arane [*Ch.(2): arayne] webbe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135a/b : As ane erane [*Ch.(2): arreyne], flee, or stone.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)254 : A ereyn dropped oute euene fro a boue.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)140 : Eranye or spyde[r] or spynnare: Aranea.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)56/1 : Oure lyffe may be lykkened to þe werke of Eranes, þat sotelly makes þaire webbes.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1258 : Yff thei ther-with schuld fyght, With the uenym of a stode [read: tode] or off arany They sone yt sle.
- a1450(?a1390) Mirk Fest.Win.(Cld A.2)318/34 : An atturcoppe, þat somme callyn an vryne.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)78/21 : Fore that foly vauntyng sche schawneged hyr into an yraigne.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)74/9 : An ypocryte, a popholy man, is lyche an irane; for an eran, whan he hath longe trauayled & myche to makyn his web, þanne comyth a lytel wynd and blowth awey all to-gedere.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)297 : He held..that the Sacrament of the Auter is..a thing withoute soule, wers than a tode or a ereyne, whech have lyf.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)8470 : The Geaunt Golyas..Vp-on the wey lyth, hem tespye, As doth the hyrayne for the fflye.
- ?a1475 MS StJ-C.in EETS 75 (StJ-C G.21)116 fn. : His cordes er bot erayne thredes.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)14 : A-rayn or erayn: Aranea.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)38.15 : Thou did his lif to languys, and he seke thurgh meknes, all pride done doun, as aran.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)181/8 : And also þai syttyn talkyng, an adyrcope þat somme men callyn an vryn come of þe woch.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)98/10 : Thynne..as arayne webbys.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)55 : Yeff ye se at morowe a dewe vpon þe grounde that is callid webe off arayne hongynge vpon þe grasse..let not youre shepe ovt off þe fold tyll þat þe vnholsom dewe be clene gone off.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)706/6 : Hec arena, Hec aranea: a nerane.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)110 : Letates..is lyk in color to an attercop or an yrene or a spider.