Middle English Dictionary Entry
lither(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | lither(e adj. Also lithre, lid(d)er, (error) liðe & luther(e, luthre, luither(e, luder, leother, leoðre, (early pl.) luðeres, luðeren & lether(e, lethre, leder. |
| Etymology | OE lȳþre adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons, animals, devils: wicked, treacherous, deceitful; (b) of a country: full of wicked people; (c) of actions, speech, conduct, life, habits, customs, etc.: wicked, sinful; (d) of heart, will, purpose, beliefs, desires, sins, vices, etc.: evil, wrong, wicked, false; (e) of laws, advice, counsel: leading to injustice, wickedness, or cruelty; perverted.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)5/27 : Æfre þu were luþer, þeo hwile þu lif hæfdest.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)241 : Iudas and þat leoðre folc hit repen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6833 : He iwarð him swuðe luðer & læh al his folke.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12905 : Þa lette his fader hit munekien þurh luðere monnene ræde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14923 : He nuste þene swikedom þe þohte þa luðere wimman.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)8/11,17 : Ne leaf þu me neuer nu i luðeres menne [Roy: i luðere monne] honde..Olibrius þe luðere, þa he þis iherde, changede his chere.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)42/21 : Ȝet him cweð Olibrius, reuene luðerest.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)10/12 : Riht al swa þe luðere deuel beres awei fram cakelinde ancres..al þe god þat ho haues istreoned.
- a1250 Lofsong Lefdi (Nero A.14)205 : Luðre men and deoflen, heo habbeð monie wunden on me ifestned.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)132/618 : So deit þe lusninde luþere mon.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)29/498 : Horn com biuore þe kinge Mid his twelf yfere; Sume hi were luþere.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.18 : A preost ther was, a lither man..That of manslaȝt was bicliped.
- c1300 SLeg.Marg.(Hrl 2277)143 : Þu liþere þing [Corp-C: luþer hond], beo stille.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)432 : Þe planetes ne doth non oþur bote ȝiuez in mannes wille To beon luþur [Hrl:Wright: lither] oþur guod ase heore uertue wole to tille.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)369 : And niðful neddre, loð an liðer, sal gliden on hise brest neðer.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1589 : Þe luþermen vr louerd to deþe broȝte.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1873 : A luþer [B: luiþer] emperour biuore..het maximian.
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)921 : William, the rede kyng..wes luther ant unwrest.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2169 : Hit was þe liþer treytour went awey in þat wise.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)275/10 : Soone þer com a luþur wiht To þat ladi..to defoule hire.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7618 : Oft sal be quit þam on þis wise Þat to liþer lauerd dos seruise.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.438 : For-þi lyue we forth with lither men.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.352 : Þow, Lucyfer, in lyknesse of a luther [vr. lither] addere, Getest by gyle þo that god loued.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Tit.1.12 : Men of Crete beþ efermore lyeres, lether bestes [L malæ bestiæ].
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1602 : He es ateyned for trayture, A fals and lither losenjoure.
- a1425 Body & S.(5) (Add 37787)146 : Carone vnkynde, what haste þu sayde, ffor euer ȝyt were þu leþur & lese!
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)303 : Lyder [Win: Ledyr], or wyly: Cautus, et alia infra in wyly.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)280/254 : Þei haue laughte a lorell Þat is lawles and liddir.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)324/120 : Tales for trewe can they telle Of this faytour þat false is and felle, And in legyng of lawes ful lithre.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)1100 : But lawe lereþ us and skile þat ȝe ben leþur alle.
- c1450(c1400) ?Clanvowe Cuckoo & N.(Frf 16)14 : For he can make of wise folke ful nyse, And in lyther folke dystroye vise.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)85/18 : The liddyr gides, that hym Sholde lede, slayne hym and al his men.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)52 : He was lythur [vr. wykked] in word and dede.
b
- ?c1335 Whose þenchiþ vp (Hrl 913)p.133 : Fals and liþer is þis lond..Þer in is boþe hate and onde.
c
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)5/29 : [Mid þine] luþere deden deredest cristene men.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2395 : Guendoleine him ilefede; luðere weren his craftes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)28991 : Hu heo mihten..Bruttes alle aquellen mid luðeren heore craften.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)11 : Þat is liðer custume..þat is, after clepenge and ascinge and uncunne and warienge.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)123 : Þat doð ech man..bute his liðere liflode his bede lette.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)51/12 : Dieuel..beuall þo haðene mid his leðre meneȝinges.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)51/14 : Sone se eauer eani feleð in to ei luðer speche þet falle toward ful luue sperreð þe þurl ananriht.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)160/17 : A mon þe were idemet for a luðer [Cai: luder] morðre to beo forbearnd al cwic.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)110/349 : Idilscipe..lerit ȝung wif leþere [Jes-O: vuele] þewes.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)114/390 : Þurch lesin[g] mon is loð, & þuruh luþere [Jes-O: luþre] wrenches vnwurþ.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)10 : Nou hem is wel leuere gon to þe nale, Vcchen out þe gurdel & rume þe wombe..Bote we hit bileuen, hit biþ a luþer game.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)25506 : Þis lond hii for-ferde þorh hire luþer craftes.
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)525/309 : Þemperour oueral sende his sonde, Simon Magus..to siche..& sle him..for his liþere dede.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)104 : By tytus and Vaspasyanus oure lord al þis sede, Þat al to nouȝt ham suþþe brouȝte ffor hare luþer dede.
- a1350 Heȝe louerd (Hrl 2253)52 : Mi lif wes luþer ant lees.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.208 : Þat shrewe..gan grete..For his liþer [vrr. lyder, leþer, ledur, luther; wikkede] lif.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.164 : Tyl þow come to a courte, kepe-wel-þi-tonge-Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)5.104 : He shal reste in stockes..for hus luther werkes.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.18 : Bisshopes yblessed..dredeþ nat..to distruye..Lecherie among lordes and hure luþer customes.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2250 : Than for-thout the burges sore..And dyde anoon a lyther brayed.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)773 : Þo ben ȝoure gostliche godos þat gon to do wreche Aftur ludene lif for hure luþur werkus.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12276 : And Vlixes..Gert the duke to be dede..And his lyf to be lost thurgh hor lethur dedis.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)133/18 : Þe firste inche is lyther bergaynyng.
- c1485(?a1400) Child Bristow (Hrl 2382)23 : Mykel good he gadred to-gedir, Alle with treson & dedis lither.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)53.4 : That thai take me not in thaire wickidnes & lithere eggynge.
d
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)145 : Summe men luuieð..galiche lectres and luðere lastes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3946 : Poreus hauede þe heorte swa luþer..þat swiken he him wolde.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)13 : Ðat oder is emliche drinke, naht for te quenchen his luðere wil..ac for to beten his þur[s]tes nede.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)199 : We hudeð liðere sinnen on us.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)213 : Þere beð..alle þe luðere lastes þe man hafeð þureh deules lore.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)10/7 : Þe wari..hehede hise heþene godes, as hit lomp & lei to his luðere bileue.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)36/7 : Ich..sparki in ham sparken of lustes se luðere, þet ha forberneð inwið.
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)18/152 : Ah leof me were þet tu þi luðere þonc lefdest.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)131/14 : He..is for þi umben..to unlimin ow..wið luðer [Cai: luder] onde.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)123 : Mid swuðe luðere lasten mi soule is þuruh bunden.
- ?c1335 Elde makiþ me (Hrl 913)p.170 : Yȝoket ich am of ȝore Wiþ last and luþer lore, And sunne me haþ biset.
- a1350 Heȝe louerd (Hrl 2253)8 : In luthere lastes y am layn.
- a1400 Ȝissinge and glosinge (Hrl 7322)2 : Luþer lustes ouer floten.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.253 : The lord, for hus lacchesse and hus luþer sleuthe, By-nom hym al þat he hadde.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)11.160 : Right so letteþ lecherie and oþer luther synnes.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)124/20 : Þe king Areth, thurgh liþer gile, And king Herod to-geder spak.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)272 : And al luþur bileve we loþen in herte.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2362 : Ȝit liȝt he law at þe last for all his lethire prid.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1459 : She wold wexe so ovirtwart & of so lither tach..She wold be shortyng of yeur lyf.
- a1500 Arth.& M.(Dc 236)328/973 : For alle þe feendes..þouȝten þat y schulde haue be of lether mood.
e
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.72 : He gan hem rede the lithere lawes [Ld: luþere lawene]..Tho the Pope and his Cardinals that seȝe him wepe so sore, And ihurde ek this lithere lawes, hi..wope also pitousliche.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)490 : Me þinchez it a luþur [Hrl: liþer] lawe, and noþur riȝhtful ne guod.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5692 : He vndude all þe luþer lawes, þat me huld biuore, & gode lawes broȝte vorþ.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)5240 : He..a-leide alle luþer lawes..& gart holde þe gode.
- c1400 Wit & W.(Cmb Res.b.162)G/6 : Wele mai we trow Ilk ane wey..þat wilnes be right..And leues on þar lefte hoende alle lither redes.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)32/14 : Bot lyder consaylle thay dydden þer-after, that turned ham to mych cruelte.
2.
(a) Fierce, cruel; (b) dangerous, deadly; (c) terrifying; ~ eie, terrible fear or fearsomeness; (d) painful, grievous; (e) harmful, injurious; ~ air, pestilential air; ~ dai (time), evil day (time); (f) ~ strengthe, brute force, violence.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6446 : Hit makede an hundred fæie and æft to þare sæ wende, þe wæld-scæðe luðere.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25656 : Þer wes icumen a scaðe liðe [Otho: luþer þing] of westward Spaine.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)14/32 : & tu grisliche gra, þu luðere liun..þi mihte schal unmuclin.
- a1250 SWard (Tit D.18)13/102 : Þe luðere hellewurmes, tadden, & froden..freten ham ut te ehnen.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)180 : Summe luþere deres habbeþ him todrawe.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (Hrl 2277:Wright)p.19 : Another fisch..encountrede this lithere fisch.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1535 : Þys frensche men buþ boþ lyther & fel wan þay hereþ oȝt of quede.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.98 : Þus I liue loueles lyk A luþer [vrr. lyþer, leþer, leother, lyder, ledur] dogge, Þat al my breste Bolleþ for bitter of my galle.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)256 : He is a liþer mayster, and his pley is riȝt fell.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)23 : They..Sloughe Lucyus þe lythyre, that lorde was of Rome.
b
- a1325 Prov.Hend.(Cmb Gg 1.1)st.43 : Þat ich telle a liþir lippe, Wo se lepit into þe scippe Wile þe winde is wode.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9310-2 : Þoru þe luþer weye, ywis, Þat ȝe come vnneþe hider þoru, non hope þer ne is Vor to fle, he is so luþer.
- a1350 SLeg.Cross (Ashm 43)7 : Of þe appeltre þat our uerste fader þen luþer appel nom.
c
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)38/649 : Ha..beoð sare of dret of godes luðere eie.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)25/234 : Nulle ich leauen his luue..ne for luue nowðer ne for luðer eie.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)558 : Ich mahte..habben aweld hire, ȝef ha nalde wið luue, wið luðer eie.
d
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)132/11 : He bledde o fif half..wið uten þe ilke reowfule garces of þe luðere scurgunge [Nero: skurgen; Tit: schurginges].
- a1350 Ich herdemen (Hrl 2253)13 : Luþer is to leosen þer-ase lutel ys, & haueþ monie hynen þat hopieþ þer-to.
- ?c1335 Loue hauiþ me (Hrl 913)1 : [L]oue hauiþ me broȝt in liþir þoȝt.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)942 : Sore he fel oppon þe grounde & hadde a fol luþer wonde.
- ?a1400 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Rwl C.750)p.125 : & lidir [Hrl 874: þere is made a grete wounde to men þat han þe merk of þe beest].
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)156 : Be monnes lode neuer so luþer, þe lyf is ay swete.
- a1500 As I walkyd vppon (Hnt HM 183)109 : Luxuria is a lither mormale.
e
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24911 : Idelnesse is luðer [Otho: doþ harm].
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)61 : Vor alle þe gode þat he heom dude, hi yolde him luþre mede.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)621,623 : A luþer [B: luiþere] beuerege to hare biofþe hii browe; Þe king miȝte segge..Þat in a luþer time he striuede wiþ his wiue.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)384 : Þou art y-tauȝt to a liþer [Cai: of wikked]scole.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)16.220 : Hus bulle myghte Letten þis luþer [vr. lyþere] eir and lechin þe syke.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Eph.6.13 : Wharfore take ȝe þe armer of God, þat ȝe mown aȝeyn-stonde in þe luther day [L in die malo].
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)5a : And that vnbyndiþ þe grete stoppyng of leþer wyndis in one is body.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)16b : Þat will defye a-way all liþer wyndis oute of þe stomake and of þe bowellis.
f
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1234 : He þet ouercom mon were akast þurh mon, wið meokelec & liste, nawt wið luðer strencðe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1517 : Ne mei hit liste ne luðer strengðe nowðer of na liuiende mon leowsin ne leoðien.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)138/19 : Betere is wis liste þen luðer strengðe.
- a1250-a1700(a1220) Giraldus Des.Kambriae in RS 21.6188 : Betere is red thene rap, and liste thene lither streingthe.
3.
(a) Poor, paltry, worthless, miserable; (b) feeble, sluggish; cowardly; (c) mid ~ wille, unwillingly.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)61/20 : Ha offreð ȝet ure lauerd þis luðere pitance, as duden þa þe giws.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1137 : Þi lif is eure luþer, qued; Þu nard noȝt bute ded.
- c1300 SLeg.MPChr.(LdMisc 108)539 : Ȝwane þe luþere schepherde isikth þene wolf, he wole fleo anon.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)1/5 : So hard and luþer was þe lond on wan it ssolde sprynge.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)2992 : So was is fader of proud mode Icomen of sum leþer blode.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)3109 : Her þow hauest liþer haunsel; A worse þe be-tide schel.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)45/21 : He offereþ þan oure lorde þis bitter drynk & liþer, as þe jewes duden.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)18013 : Whi art þou so ferde? Receyue ihesu, þou liþer hyne.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.342 : In lussheborwes is a lyther alay, and ȝet loketh he lyke a sterlynge.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)599 : He come to þat leþir sty, Þat him byhoved pass by.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6877 : These kynges two..layde on him as lyther hynes Many a strok.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)700 : Þou art a lethir swayne.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)109 : Þer schal com a lythyr ladde with a torne hod.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)276/148 : I schall..for his ledir lewdenes hym lerne to be lorne.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)868 : Þerefore no like no lud of his luþur fare.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)946 : Manie mirþus on molde þat oþur men usen Ȝe leven þorou ȝour luþur wit.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7957 : Þe clerkis þat were þare, leþir lowens, Þai hade þe name of chenouns.
b
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)37a/b : Lentus: slow, feble, or leþir.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2445 : Ne lat vs neuir be sa lethire at we like worthe To þam of Ateynes..For þai ware baist of his bost, bredid for noȝt.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3548 : I hope þou wenes at we be like to þire lethire Persyns.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)72a : Ledyr, vbi slawe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)31/289 : Now will I hy me and no thyng be leder, My wife and my meneye to bryng euen heder.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)121/147 : My knaue, thou art a ledyr hyne!
- a1500 Ihesu þt was borne (Adv)29 : For þer ar mony a lydur knave þat in þo fylde wolde feyntly fyȝth, But trwe mens gud ȝyt wolde þei have.
c
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)12393 : Mid luþer wille solde we ȝam helpe.
4.
?In surname.
Associated quotations
- (1331) Chart.R.PRO4.248 : Geoffrey Litherwyt.
5.
Error for eldre.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.77 : Phelip þe lyþere [vrr. elþere, elder; L senior] was i-slawe at Nerona, and Phelip þe ȝonger..at Rome.