Middle English Dictionary Entry
hungrī(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | hungrī(e adj. Also ungri, hungeri, houngrie, hongri & hungrẹ̄, hǒngrẹ̄ & hunger, honger & (early) hungrig, hungrigne, hungriȝ. |
| Etymology | OE hungrig |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Suffering from hunger, hungry; starving; having a great appetite, ravenous; (b) indicating hunger, caused by hunger; (c) greedy, avaricious; (d) fig. of the soul: having a strong desire, spiritually hungry; (e) producing hunger, conducive to a hearty appetite.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)29/128 : He wæs on mænniscen gecynde hungrig and þurstig.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)102.67/1 : Nim þanne þane oðerne ende & ȝewyrt to anes hundes swyran, ða þat þe hund hungri sy.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)39/17 : Næfre hy ne swycaþ, ac þanne hi hungrie beoþ.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)4/39 : Þe sculen nu waxen wurmes be siden [þeo] hungrie feond, þeo þe freten wulleþ.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6162 : Forr þe birrþ fedenn hunngriȝ mann.
- ?a1300(a1250) Harrow.H.(Dgb 86)77 : Adam þe houngrie com me to.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.542 : He was a feble, pouer body, Sely, messays, & hungri.
- (?c1375-a1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3625 : Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage..I am so hungry that I may nat slepe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 1.53 : He hath fillid hungry men with goode thingis.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.315 : Now comeþ hongry fliȝes and wil bite ful sore.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1998 : For riht as of an hungri Pie The storve bestes ben awaited.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5954 : Al þe pudre of his land Wex hungre flees.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22900 : An hungre [Frf: hungry; Trin-C: hongry] leon mete he son.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.32.6 : He schal make voide the soule of an hungry man.
- a1425 PPl.A(1) (UC 45:Skeat)5.206 : Þe hungriest hound of hertforde schire Ne durst lape of þat laueyne.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8777 : To scle the Gregais wold he not ses, As honger lyoun bestes varies.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)253 : Hungry: Famelicus, esuriens.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)163/7 : Þei lyve most parte in preson and hungre as a presoner.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12855 : I make tracys..And efft ageyn do my labour As an vngry wolff.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.749 : Lik a lyoun in his hungri rage, [Hector] Issed oute.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3225 : Þe bodies of þis ilke tweyne Conservid wern from þe hungri rage Of best and foule.
c
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)2.188 : Aren none hardur ne hongryour þan men of holy churche..wanne thei ben auaunsed.
d
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)215 : Þe hodede..swikeð of þat he sholde, þat is, þe sinfule wel tachen and..eche heȝe dai fede mid godes worde þe hungrie soule þe haueð to witen.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)106.9 : For he fulfild idel soule, and fulfild hunger soules [L esurientem] of godes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)142/21 : Me thynkyth þat my sowle is euyr a-lych hungry.
e
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)137/11 : He must draw hym to a place of sweyt eyr and hungre, & ete norysching metes & defyabul.
2.
(a) Characterized by a scarcity of food; ~ tide (time), a time of famine; (b) of the soil: unproductive, not fertile; (c) of the body or parts of it: hungry-looking, emaciated; (d) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.269].
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2136 : Ic rede ðe king..To maken laðes and gaderen coren, ðat ðin folc ne wurð vnder-numen Quan ðo hungri gere ben forð-cumen.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)5094 : For ȝeit haue we bi-fore to bide Fiue ȝere of þis hungery [Trin-C: hongry] tyde.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.206 : These eremytes..Heelden hungry hous and hadde muche defaute.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)16.189 : Thenne hadde pacience..in here poke vitailes..To comforty hym and conscience yf þei come in place Ther vnkyndnesse and couetyse ys, hongry contreis boþe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.93 : Whan it was in the sowre hungry tyme, ther was establissed or cryed grevous and unplitable coempcioun.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.61 : Se not the swerd al nakid, white, vnclene..Withouten moold admyxt, ner sondy lene, Nor hungry cley.
c
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.108 : So hungri and so holewe sire herui him loked.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4571 : Lene and hungre bath war þai.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.BC (Trin-C R.3.20)79 : Chychevache, þis is my name, Hungry, megre, sklendre, and lene; To shewe my body I haue gret shame.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxx : Crist fastid lene & hungry wiþouten mete & drynke.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)227/4 : Thay whych haue leen belies and hungri beene nesse.
d
- (1269) EPNSoc.29 (Der.)530 : Hungrybentele.
- (1431) EPNSoc.29 (Der.)530 : Hungre Bentley.
3.
As noun: one who needs food, a hungry person or persons; also, the poor.
Associated quotations
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)28/124 : Odre fedeð sumne hungrigne oððe þurstigne mid uterlicen mete oððe drænce.
- a1300 PMor.(McC 123)218 : Hi nolde helpe þar, of þe hungri ne þe chielde.
- a1300 Leuedi sainte (Add 27909)26 : Ȝieue þe hungrie mete & te nakede iwede.
- c1300 Assump.Virg.(1) (Cmb Gg.4.27)113/65 : Poure and hungrie wel faire he fedde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)167a/b : Þe oyle of olyue riseþ..in to refresshinge and fedynge of hungrye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)277a/a : Þe vse of geet & of scheep is nedeful to mankynde, for he feedeþ þe hungry wiþ mylk and wiþ fleisshe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20121 : Naked and hungri sco cled & fede.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.380 : I..yspilte þat myȝte be spared and spended on somme hungrie.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.196 : Þat was bake for bayarde, was bote for many hungry.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)7/173 : Þe hungre ȝif mete; þe þorste ȝif dryng.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)124 : Cloþe þe naked, and hungry fede.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)49/14 : Þer-fore as the hungorie Ioyeth of mete when it comyth to his mouth.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxviii : Þei sitten in castels & townes..& þe pore hungry shal sitt wiþ oute at þe ȝate.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)p.121 : Lytill wote þe full what þe hongre eylyth.
- a1500 Cmb.Precepts (Cmb Hh.3.13)297 : Fede þe hungury, Gyf drynke to þe thrysty.
- a1500 Ipotis (Ashm 750)215 : The hongry to cloþen and to fede.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxx : Crist fastid lene & hungry wiþouten mete & drynke; þei han many puruyours at many diuerse chepyngis to gete metes of þe best þat ouwhere may be founden well diȝt wiþ spicerie chaud & plusechaud wiþ sauces & syropis colour out of kynde.
Note: New collocation
Note: !Quot. already used under 2.(c) 'of the body or parts of it: hungry-looking, emaciated'--JL