Middle English Dictionary Entry
lepre adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | lepre adj. Also lēpre, leper, (error) leplere. |
| Etymology | From lepre n.(1) & (2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Afflicted with leprosy or some skin disease with symptoms similar to those of leprosy; ~ man, a leper.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1094 : Ȝet comen lodly to þat Lede, as lazares monye, Summe lepre, summe lome, and lomerande blynde.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)769 : She..sy The Emperoures brothir..Þat leepre was.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Lev.13.46 : In al tyme in which he is lepre and vnclene, he schal dwelle aloone.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)114a/a : Elephantes, i. men þat ben lepre..semen comunely like satires.
- (1429) Reg.Langley in Sur.Soc.169165 : Item, to the lepremen of Newcastell, xl s.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)297 : Lepyr, or lepre man, or woman, or beeste: Leprosus.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)39 marg. : For hym þat is leper. Take bare gres, [etc.].
- ?a1450 Add.Mir.Virg.(Add 39996)348/80 : Þine enemyes schul lepre be.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)39/29 : Amicus happend to wax lepre.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)117/3,4 : Sho had grete petie of seke folk, & speciallie of lepre men..He had lepre folk in so grete vgsomnes þat he myght not suffer to se þaim.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)118/4 : Hur husbond..evur afterward luffid God & leplere men better.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)97/22 : In that day Crist ete in the hows of Symon, the lepur man.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)68 : What eileth the, thou art lepre?
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)265 : As many as dronke þer of were ymaad lepremen.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.39vb (2.3) : But he hadde þe bettre helpe, his membre forfareþ and rotith awaie, or elles he is lepre.
Note: Additional quot. Editor's gloss: lepre, adj. 'afflicted with leprosy'.