Middle English Dictionary Entry
asker(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | asker(e n. Also axer(e. |
| Etymology | From asken . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who asks a question;questioner; (b) one who queries (a doctrine, etc.); inquirer, critic; (c) one who beseeches, prays, or begs.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)5/34 : And þus ansuereþ to þe askers and seiþ þat ȝe ben blake.
b
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)93/28 : Be not þise apostataas..worþi to be clepid deuelis?..Þei ben greet questioners & askars of þe lawe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.14.10 : Bi the wickidnesse of the axere [L interrogantis], so the wickidnesse of the profete schal be.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)15 : Asker: Petitor, postulator.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)7 : Bi hem may be ȝouen to alle askers sufficient answere..except questiouns and doutis perteynyng to mannys lawe.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)235 : The chirche wolde and ouȝte seie to suche askers of riȝt feith: Bileve ȝe to me.
c
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6674 : Many a man..Wolde of the asker delyvered be.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.5/29 : The asker..schall resceyue, the seker shall fynde.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)222 : God schulde be lijk redi forto ȝeue his gracis to askers and sechers euerywhere.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)35 : Þer may no grace be denyed to þe asker [vr. axer].
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)54/30 : The goodnesse..of women..is so wel knowen..that desyre to a good asker by no waye conne they warne.
2.
(a) One who exacts (toll), collector (of revenue); (b) one who makes unjust demands; exactor, extortioner; unjust ~.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.97 : Þe askers of þe toll [L exactores vectigalium].
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 3.18 : Thei herden not the vois of the askere with strif [WB(2): wrongful axere; L exactoris].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.3.12 : Wo to the vnpytous man..My puple his pleteres or wrong axers [WB(2): wrongful axeris; L exactores] spoileden.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Zech.9.8 : The exactoure, or the vniust axer, shal namore passe vpon hem.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)25b/a : Exactor: wrongful asker.
3.
Law (a) Plaintiff, accusor; (b) prosecutor; judge.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.88 : Þe axere and þe defendaunt.
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.90 : Of plee of dette is þus vp-on þe heued answere, Ȝif þat þe axkere bryngeþ skore oþer wryt.
- (?1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.1 : God knowith I ly in seint warye at grete costs, and amongs right unresonable askers.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)507/4 : The sentence of this plee..bitwene the religious women..of Godestowe, axers..and Andrew Culuard..and Alice his wyf, tenauntis and holders.
b
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)21/13 : Ihesu..is þe trewist domesman & þe asker of acompte of dispending of tyme.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)29 : To come to the next court of portmennysmoote to answeren to the axere of the plee of the lond.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)66/11 : It was a consuetud[e] & a custom amonge the Iewys..that a woman schuld mynestryn vnto her askers [L preceptoribus suis] mete & drynk & clothynge of her substaunce.
Note: Ed.: "askers mistranslates preceptoribus (teachers). 'Her askers' is presumably intended here in the sense of 'those who beseech or beg from her'; see MED asker(e n. 1c."
Note: ?New sense.