Middle English Dictionary Entry
labō̆rǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | labō̆rǒus adj. Also labourous, laborus, laborose, labarous, laberous. |
| Etymology | OF laboros & L labōriōsus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Requiring hard work, onerous, burdensome; (b) difficult, irksome; (c) requiring great physical effort, strenuous, vigorous, toilsome; (d) painful, distressing.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1428 : My lord is hard to me and daungerous, And myn office is ful laborous [vr. laberous].
- (1418) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)122 : For as moche as it is laborowse to hem that bene Wardeynez..it is ordeynyd..that he that hathe bene onyce Wardeyne schalle nowt bene tylle vij ȝeres after.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)25/33 : In alle þese general laborus and goostly excercisis, satisfaccioun for peyne for synne is not maad.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)1068 : A king any Region to conquere Is..greuous, But to conserue a Roylme is..more laborous.
- a1500 Rolle Mend.L.(Wor F.172)56 : Contemplacioun is labourous, save it is swete and desiderable and delicious.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)120b/b : Olde squamose & callose þat corrodeþ þe herez is so mych laborose [*Ch.(2): laborouse] þat Rogerine luffeþ more for to leue it þan for to pursewe the cure.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)401/3 : Bicause obedyens is laborous to him, he wil not obeie.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)87a/a : It shal duelle quiete long tyme alonly þat it be eschewed fro water & fro dolorous site & fro laborous [*Ch.(2): laborouse; L laborioso] mouyng.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)143b/a, b/b : Scissure..made proprely of fallyng or smytyng or mouyng or laborous [*Ch.(2): strong] enforcyng, of strong crying..Afterward it descendeþ in osseo without laborose [*Ch.(2): trauaylous] mouyng.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)139/7 : Thys disporte and game of hawkyng is laborous and ryght noyous.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)141/10 : Huntyng, haukyng, and fowlyng be so laborous & greuous þat non of them may performe to enduce a man to a mery spryȝt.
d
- a1425 St.Anthony (Roy 17.C.7)136/12 : In quyete pese fro þis laborus lyf, þai passyn vnto god.
- c1475 Salue wyth all (Rwl C.48)13 : Ad te..Clamamus..Exules..carefull and dolorows, Ecce þerefor our lyfe labarows.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)34/4 : There shal one houre be more greuous in peyne þan an hundred ȝere here in most laborose penaunce.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)125/2 : Wheþer all laborose þinges be not to be suffrid for euerlasting lif?
2.
(a) Hard-working, diligent, active; (b) persevering, painstaking, assiduous.
Associated quotations
a
- (1442) Doc.Ireland in RS 69281 : Hyt be houyth þat he þat schold be your Lieutenant there be a miȝty, couragews, and laborows man, to kepe þe felde..a yeynst your enemys.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)591 : A Gardyner is right laborous To kepe his gardeyne clene from wedys seure.
b
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)857 : To repute hym trewe be right labourous, Whether he be lowe or in grete highnesse.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)990 : Be ye therin right laberous [L nitere], That folk slyde nat to wordes wykedly.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)1033 : Who that is..grete & splendiferous..It is impossible to be laborous To finde any grete defaulte odious.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)141/18 : All oþer maner of fyschyng is also ryght labours and grevous.
Note: New spelling