Middle English Dictionary Entry
ibird n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ibird n. Also (early) gebird, ȝebird, (dat.) gebirde, ȝebirdum. |
| Etymology | OE gebyrd; for sense (c) also cp. OE gebyrdu. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The fact of being born, birth; ~ tide, time of birth, birthday; (b) good birth, rank; (c) state, condition, nature; on mannish ~, in human form.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)54/34 : Þreo arlease scylden we gehyrden, ungesælige mærsunge his [Herod's] gebyrdtide, & þa unstæððige hleapunge þæs mædenes, & þæs fæder dyrstigen aðsware.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)93/11 : Æðelre is seo gastlice gebyrd þone se flæsclice.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Nativ.Virg.(Bod 343)117/3-4 : Wurðie we nu on andweardnysse þa ȝebyrdtide þære eadiȝe femne sancte marie.
b
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)17/8 : Ne sy na fram abodesse hada toȝescead on mynstre ȝeheldan, þat is, ne sy nan fram hyre ȝewyrðod for ȝebirdum odðe for ylde odðe for æniȝum oþrum þingum, buten for Godes eȝe anum & for soðes wisdomes ȝesceade.
c
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)67/11 : He [the Devil] byð on mænnisscre gebyrde Antichristus genæmnod.