Middle English Dictionary Entry
martir(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | martir(e n. Also martirie, marter(i)e, martrẹ̄. |
| Etymology | OF martire, martirie & ML martyrium. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Martyrdom, death as a martyr; (b) suffering, torment, anguish; ~ of deth, mortal suffering, suffering of death; (c) slaughter, killing; don to ~, to kill (people), put to the sword; maken ~, carry out slaughter, create carnage; maken ~ of, slaughter (people), kill.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)271/908 : Euer til Ihu wolde hem bye, Called hem to hym wiþ Marterie.
b
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.158 : Quen we for his luf fast and wak..than pin we our bodye With torfir and with martyrye.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.818 : Which yaf hym verray signal of martire Of deth, which that hire herte gan desire.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2547 : Thanne thou shalt brenne in gret martir, For thou shalt brenne as ony fir.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3173 : My body utterly Was yeve to peyne and to martire.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4486 : Wikked-Tunge..Of whiche the sharpe and cruel ire Full ofte me putte in gret martire.
- ?a1430 ?Hoccl.Poems PS Compl.Virg.(Hnt HM 111)55 : The wownde of deeth ne may I nat asterte; Ther may no martirdom me make smerte So sore as this martree smertith me.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)125/3748 : But what with hope endewre y the sesoun..That to gladnes retorne wolle my martere.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)17 : Dame, make yow redy, for ye moste suffir this martire [F cest martire] of deth.
c
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)341 : Whan him was levere his oghne deth desire, Than do the yonge children to martire.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)15382 : Ouer mykel was þeir ire Of so fele to make martire.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)26735 : The flawme..Signefieth gret martyr of peple & occisioun.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)193 : It was merveile to se the martire that Gawein made [F le martire que gauaines faisoit], for a-gein his strokys ne myght not endure..no mannys body.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)250 : Thei slough and made soche martire [F font tel ochision] of the saisnes that the river..be-com all reade of the blode.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)534 : He made a-monge hem soche martire that it was wonder to wite.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)19549 : Ful gret merter [F mestier] þere-offe they hadde, For douteles they weren sore bestadde.
Note: Additional quote(s)