Middle English Dictionary Entry
hurten v.
Entry Info
Forms | hurten v. Also hurt(e, hirt(e(n, herte(n, herthen. Forms: sg. 2 urtist; sg. 3 hurteth, hortes, etc. & hort, hert; p. hurt(e, horte, hirt(e, hert(e & hurted(e, hirted(e, hurtdet, hordid; ppl. i)hurt, hort, i)hirt, hird, i)hert & hurted. |
Etymology | ?OF hurter, from Gmc. (cp. OI hrūtr a ram). The earliest instances in English are roughly contemporary with the earliest in French. The ME forms could be reflexes of an OE *hȳrtan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To injure (sb., a part of the body), wound, hurt; afflict (sb.) with disease [quot.: WB(1), Pecock]; of hunger: to pain (sb.); ben hurt, be wounded or injured; -- also intr.; (b) to receive an injury in (one's hand, foot, neck), hurt (one's hand, etc.); refl. injure oneself; (c) ppl. hurting, injurious; p.ppl. hurt, as adj.: wounded, injured; as noun: wounded men.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)53/1 : Hwa haueð ihurt mi deore.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)362/16 : He is hond hele wolde þat i-hurt [Corp-C: ipriȝt] was so strongue.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3962 : Ðis asse is eft of weige stired, So ðat balames for is hird, And he wurð ðo for anger wroð.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5833 : Þe flor to brac vnder hom..& hii velle & to brusede some anon to deþe, & some ymaymed & some yhurt.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7272 : Now telleþ þis romaunce, cert, Oriens was sore yhert.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)452 : Some þourgh þe bodi he girt; Ech is maimed oþer ihirt.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)461 : And þei þat he me herte sore, No man wot wer ich was bore.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2399 : Schete durst þei nouȝt for drede þe child to hurte.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)706 : He had ihert him sore.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.12.23 : He schal not suffer þe smyter go inne to ȝoure housez & hurten [WB(2): hirte; L lædere].
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2709 : Al were they sore yhurt and namely oon, That with a spere was thirled his brest boon.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.115 : Þe kyng was sore i-hert [Higd.(2): yhurte] and wente homwarde.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.459 : The white lamb that hurt [vrr. hirte, wonded] was with a spere.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)23/10 : In þe fleisch he [gristle] haþ sixe helpingis..þe ij þat þe harde schulde not hirte þe neische.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5835 : Þat folk grete assauȝt hym ȝaue -- Wiþ swerdes, axes, stones, and staue, Woundeden, felden, and sore hym hirten [rime: smerten].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.184 : Ac who is herte [C: hurt] in þe hande euene in þe myddes, He may receyue riȝt nouȝte.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1195 : Þe hote hunger wythinne hert hem wel sarre Þen any dunt of þat douthe þat dowelled þeroute.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)18/26 : He mai moost greuousli hirten hem.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.285 : And of nature wood and furious, To hurte and sleen euere of o desyre.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)1273 : There we him bete and him hyrte Wiþ long scourges fele and smerte.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1353 : Yit thus she seyde Or she was hurt, byforen or she deyde.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1772 : Throwghe golet and gorgere he hurtez hym ewyne.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)227 : The feend spake in the ymage, and..he hurtid hem.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)15a : Þan goost þou cloos..and urtist þy body enemy or þat he se it.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)20.258 : They benethen schotten ful sore & Manie of hem horten thore.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4743 : Summe off þe Crystene þey herte [vr. hurte]; For drede archeres a bak þane sterte.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)142/17 : Ȝef swalwe bryddes ben hyrte [vr. y-hurt], þe damme of hem fechyth þis herbe and helyth hem.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)159/14 : Ȝef it be stamped and leyd to an hounde þat is hort with wounde.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)91/26 : They ran vpon hym and toke frome hym all that he hade and hurted hym.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)159b/a : Smyte..aftir on his heed þat is hurt or brusid.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)138 : Eche yede to his ostell to resten..for many were ther hurte.
b
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)82/34 : A child, ȝif hit spurneð o summe þinge, oþer hurteð him [Recl.: hirteþ it].
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)1358 : In his bosom he held is hond; He seid he hordid [vrr. hurt, hurtede] him with a bronde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.117 : And thus myn hand ayein the pricke I hurte and have do many day.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.637 : She with hir beek hadde hurt [vr. hert] hir selue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)81a/b : Þe medicines of hem [mad men] is þat he be I-bounde þat þey hurte not hemsilf & oþir men.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)36.25 : When rightwise falles, hortes [vr. hurtes] na lime, For lauerd has set his hand on hime.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)226/18 : Ȝe hirtyd but late ȝowr foote, & ȝe ar not ȝet al hool.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.41.25a : He may herten his feet bi some fantasies ore þan he come hom.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)166/19 : He founde the Iue falle doune of the mule, that brake his thegh and his neke hurtdet.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1370 : Nys dogge for the bowe That kan an hurt deer from an hool knowe.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)55a : Also for hirte fete with frotinge, take þe juis of oynon and mell hit with caponys grece, and hit helith.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)54b/a : It is made wiþ a bende of one heued or of many endez or armez in biginnyng vpon þe placez yhurt [*Ch.(2): þe hurte place].
- c1425 MS Sln.277 in EETS 102 (Sln 277)313 : Putte in þe hole of þe nose on þe hurt syde a softe rownd sticke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)253 : Hurt, or hurtyd: Lesus.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7166 : All the Troiens..Helit þere hurt men þurgh helpis of leches.
- c1450 Siege Troy(1) (ArmsAr 22)1508 : On eyder half trewes [þay] gan take..ffor to coueren þe herte & Bury þe dede.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)42/21 : He perceyuyþ it as þing plesaunt..or as a þing displesaunt and discording or hurtyng to him.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)278/21 : As hit had bene in the feaute of an hurte deer.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)495/1 : Than he sente a squyer unto the hurte knyght.
2.
(a) To do harm other than bodily injury to (sb.); make trouble for (sb.), injure (sb.) in reputation, hurt (sb.) financially; (b) to grieve (sb.), hurt the feelings of, humiliate; ~ eres, shock or offend (one's) ears; ~ herte, grieve (one's) heart, hurt (one's) feelings; wound (sb.) with love, make (sb.) lovesick; -- also intr.; (c) to hurt (sb.) spiritually; injure (the soul).
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)9/134 : Ac mani wenez oþer to hirte, And on hem selue fallez at [read: al] þe smerte.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)110/323 : Onde hys a senne of herte And bouute scheweþ hy To harmy and to herte Wanne hy deþ bacbyty.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.26.29 : We touchiden not ony thing of thine, nethir diden that that hirtide thee.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)102b : We han hirt no man, we Han apeyrid noman, secounde pistle to cor. seuenþe cap.
- (1450) RParl.5.190b : Provided also, that this present Acte..extende not, nor be prejudiciall in eny wyse, unto William Myners..nor to Bartylmewe Halley..ne that they ne eny of theym be hurt or prejudiced therby.
- (?1456) Paston (Gairdner)3.82 : I wil not, by Goddis grace be hurted by hym, nor geve hym cause by my wil.
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.300 : Ther shal no thyng hurte hym but youre streytnesse of mony to hym.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.26a : Your seid Suppliaunt myght..be gretely hurted.
- (1472-5) RParl.6.155b : The Kyng is gretely deceyved and hurted of his dueties theryn.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)45/29 : So that for the harmys be made amendes by the dyscresion of Neyburs to hem that be hurtyd by occasyon of suche reparacion.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)135/95 : As tyme hurteth, right so ayenward tyme heleth and rewardeth.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)9/20 : As ofte as ȝe þrefter breken eni of ham, hit walde to swiðe hurten ower heorte.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)176/19 : Wið fule wordes þet fulðe efter þet hit is tuki al towundre, swa þet ha drede þet ha hurte [Recl.: þat ȝe hyrt] his earen þet hercneð hire sunnen.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)221/17 : Ȝef þer is eani word iseid þet mahte hurten heorte, ne beo hit nawt iboren ut ne ibroht to oþer ancre þet is eð hurte.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1096 : But I was hurt [vrr. hort, hirt] right now thurghout myn eye.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1114 : And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2745 : Cupido..may hurte and hele In loves cause.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1777 : Almoost he swelte..So sore hath Venus hurt hym with hir brond.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28197 : Wit flitt, wit brixil, striue, and strut, Myn euen-cristen haue i hurt, And oft vn-saght o him i said.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4850 : Wommen kan holde a man ful narwe Whan he is hurt with Cupides arwe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.350 : And, for they kan a tyme of sorwe endure, As tyme hem hurt [vrr. hert, hirt], a tyme doth hem cure.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3785 : Now he hurteth, and now he cureth; For selde in oo poynt Love endureth.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)138/5 : For schrewyd wordys to suffyr for þi lofe, it hirte me ryth nowt.
c
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)18/286 : Þet ha neren nawt ihurt..ant hwet se ha þrin hurten ham wið ealmes deden healden.
- c1390 ?Hilton Qui Habitat (Vrn)13/10 : Þei may parchaunce touche þe & hurte þe sumwhat, but þei schal not wounde þe dedlyche.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.315 : For here is many a man herte [C: hurt; vr.I-hert] þorwypocrisie.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6524 : Al be it that they hurten bothe, For richesse and mendicitees Ben clepid two extremytees.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)94 : He hirte hym not as a man by pride.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)79 : Godes creature is not exavced when he requiryth a thyng..that shuld hurte the sowle yf it were exauuced.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1282 : Ane Abbot..Aw besily for to be-gyn To hele þam þat er hurt with syn.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)22 : Jerome..schewiþ þat vnleful curse hirtiþ not him þat is notid þer wiþ.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)36.25 : God settis his help til him, that he be not hurt in dedly syn.
3.
(a) To damage (sth.); (b) ppl. hurt, as noun: damaged land or fertility; (c) to impair (a mental faculty or bodily function); spoil (good intentions); impair (a will, legal gift, the execution of justice).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.9.31 : Þe flax þann & barlich was hurt [L læsum est], for þi þat þe barlich was green & þe flax now borgounde coddis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.9.4 : Thei shulden not hirte [L ne læderunt] hay of the erthe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1132 : For of oure eldres may we no thyng clayme But temporel thyng that man may hurte [vr. hirte] and mayme.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Esd.9.21 : Her clothis wexiden not elde, and her feet weren not hirt [L attriti].
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)160a : Hirte not wyn, apoc. sixte cap.
- (1429) J.Boys in Nrf.Archaeol.15152 : Ye wedenysday xij d. [in ca]riage, no more werke by cause our carte was hurte.
- (1449) Ordin.Tailors Lynn78 : Yf any persone compleyne of any man of the seid crafte þat he hath hurte be mysse-cuttyng or mysse-shapyng, or any part of his clothe taken otherwyse than in trewe forme.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)19/29 : This cyte also was gretly brosyd & hurte by the kynge of Norþe-hunbirlonde, Helfrede.
- a1475 Prk.Weather & Moon in NM 58 (Brog 2.1)174 : At somtyme it [lightning] smyttythe a swerde to pouder and hort nat the scaberde.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.287 : Vnhusbondynge vndoth fertilite..The seurer is to treste in thingis sure; The hole is saaf, the hurte is forto cure.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)45/22 : He hert his gode wille and hie tobrecþ mid þelliche wordes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)81a/b : For mania principalich þe ymaginacioun is I-hurt.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)43b/b : Þe whiche hurteþ more þe breþinge þan þe swolowynge.
- (1446) Will York in Sur.Soc.30124 : None of thame schall make relesse..be ye whilk relesse..my will mowe be letted or hurt.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)30/6 : They..decreyd the sentens of cursynge to all hem that..maliciously take a-wey, or lesse make, hurte, or in-to worsse chaunge, eny of the seyd yftys.
- a1525(?1472) Cov.Leet Bk.374 : Wherby the due order & cours of our lawes or ministracion & execucion of Justice in any wyse may be deferred, hurted, or letted.
4.
(a) To stumble; ~ at (on, upon, to), stumble over or against (sth.), bump into; (b) to charge against (sb.); beat or dash against; ~ to, rush to (a place); ~ unto, crash into (sth.); (c) ~ to, to touch upon (subject matter), come to (a division of a book).
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)97/18 : Child ȝef hit spurneð o sum þing oðer hurteð, me beat þet hit hurte on [Recl.: hirteþ opon].
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)130 : F. veugle a pareie ahurt; Blynde woman hurtith to wal.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 11.9-10 : If ony man schal wandre in the day, he hirtith [L offendit] not, for he seeth the liȝt of this world..if he schal wandre in the nyȝt, he hirtith [WB(2): stomblith].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.13.16 : Ȝyue ȝe glorie to ȝoure Lord God, bifore that it wexe derk, and bifor that ȝoure feet hirte at derk hillis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Tob.11.10 : And his blynde fadir roos vp, and bigan to renne, hirtynge [WB(1): stumblende; L offendens] in the feet.
b
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1462 : Þen, brayn-wod for bate, on burnez he rasez, Hurtez hem ful heterly þer he forth hyȝez.
- ?a1425 Chaucer Bo.(Cmb Ii.1.38:Robinson)5.m.4.57 : Hurteth [Robinson: Ryght so as voys or soun hurteleth to the eres and commoeveth hem to herkne].
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4625 : Þer myght men se, þat stod on brynke, Schipes in-to þe water synke, þat on vn-to þe toþer hurte.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)192 : To hurte:..illidere.
c
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)91/13 : Nv we hurteð [Tit: hurten; Cleo: hitteð], leoue sustren, to þe feorðe dale, þet ich seide schulde beon of feole fondunges.
5.
(a) To thrust or shove (sb. or sth.); knock (sb.) down; ~ of, thrust away (dogs), drive off; ~ adoun, overthrow (sb.); ppl. hurt, those who are cast down, the fallen; (b) to run (a ship) aground; (c) to knock (things) together; of wrestlers: knock (heads); ~ togeder; ~ on (upo), knock (sth.) against (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 9.17 : An vnclene spirit..wher euere he schal take hym, hirtith [L allidit] him.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)144.15 : Lauerd raises alle þat doune falle, And þe hurte he vprers alle.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1452 : He hurtez of þe houndez, & þay Ful ȝomerly ȝaule & ȝelle.
- c1405 Chaucer CT.Kn.(Heng)A.2616 : He hym hurteth with his hors adoun.
- c1450 WBible(2) (Bod 277)Num.35.20 : Hirtith [Roy: If bi haterede a man hurtlith ethir schoufith a man].
b
- a1400 WBible(1) (NYPubLib 67)Deeds 27.41 : Hurten [Dc 369(2): Thei hurtliden the schipp].
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11978 : Swa þatt he nohht ne shollde hiss fot Uppo þe staness hirrtenn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1878 : Þa scalkas weoren stronge; heo hurten heora hafden.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)12968 : He shal þe sende Aungels..To kepe þe..Wiþouten hurte of foot or to, Nouþer to hurte [Vsp: spurn] on tre nor stone.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)3b/a : Allido: to hurte.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)15b/a : Collido: hurte togedre.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)66a : To hurte: Allidere, Collidere.
- a1500 PParv.(Add 37789)253 : Herthyn: [Impingo, collido].