Middle English Dictionary Entry

lā̆bǒuren v.
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Entry Info

Forms lā̆bǒuren v. Also labour(e, labourne, labor(e(n, labori(e, labir, labur, labrun, labre & lobor & laubor.
Etymology OF laborer

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) To perform manual or physical work, work hard, toil; also copulate; ~ on, have sexual union with (sb.); (b) to do farm work, cultivate land; ~ with lond; ~ abouten, work at (tilling), cultivate (vines); labouring man, a farm laborer; labouring beste, a work animal; (c) to work hard, keep busy, be active or occupied; write with difficulty; negotiate (for a loan); (d) of suppressed emotion: to seek expression, seethe.
Show 53 Quotations
2.
(a) To take pains, take trouble, struggle; be zealous (to do sth., that sth. be done); be concerned, strive, endeavor; (b) to press a request; take legal action (to do sth., against sb.); ~ to (unto), make suit to (a court), request (sb.), importune.
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3.
(a) To endure pain, suffer; ~ of child, be in labor; (b) to journey painfully or with difficulty; also fig.; ~ outward, stir abroad.
Show 9 Quotations
4.
(a) To urge (sb.), woo, advise; (b) to oppress (sb.), afflict, vex, harass; (c) to make (sb., an animal) work, force (sb.) to hurry; exercise (a horse); have intercourse with (a woman); refl. busy oneself.
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5.
(a) To work at (sth., a task), urge (a request), press (a legal process); ~ al menes, work in every way, use all means; ~ office, perform the duties of an office; (b) to give careful thought to (sth.), discuss, ponder; pore over (books); compose carefully (a book, a letter), elucubrate; preach (sermons); (c) to do work on (sth.), till (land), care for (hair), mix (ingredients); (d) to publicize (a reputation).
Show 25 Quotations
6.
To achieve (sth.) by work, perform, do; ~ nedes, gain a livelihood by working.
Show 6 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1475(c1450) ?Scrope Mirror World (Bod 283) 5546 : God commanded that men sholde not bynde the mosel of the oxe the whiche laboreth the cornes.
    • Note: Ed.: laboreth = 'treads'. Cf. Deuteronomy 25.4 ('terentis') and its NT citations, 1 Cor. 9.9 and 1 Tim 5.18 (both 'trituranti'). New sense or modify gloss 5.(c)?
  • 1534(?a1500) Cov.Pl.ST (Croo:Craig)672 : Youre pase-porte for a c deyis Here schall you haue of clere cummand; Owre reme to labur any weyis Here schall you haue be spesschall grante.
    • Note: The sense here appears to be 'to travel in (a realm), with 'owre reme' as the direct object and 'any weyis' as adverbial ('by any roads'). Whence this meaning derives, if correct, is not entirely clear, though the 'travail/travel' developments of that word offer a parallel. 'To work (the country), do business in' (with 'owre reme' again as object, and 'any weyis' perhaps as adverbial in the transferred sense of 'by any means, in any way') might be an alternative, but likely anachronistic, interpretation.
Note: In the example from Bokenham taken under 5.(b), 'labourid' is clearly an error, at some stage, for 'abhorrid'; however it is not clear whether the error occurred in the English or in the Latin (laboravit for abhorruit), or whether the English scribe may not have meant to write 'labourid' and assumed some relevant sense for it, perhaps (speculatively) 'ponder (sth.)' as here interpreted; or even 'physically poke at (sth.).'

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