Middle English Dictionary Entry
merren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | merren v. Also mer(re, mar(re(n, mare(n, (early) mæren, mearren. Forms: sg. 2 merres(t, marres(t; sg. 3 merreth, etc. & marreth, marres; pl. merreth, etc. & mars & (early) mearreð; ppl. marrande; p. merred(e, etc. & marred(e, marret, mared, mard(e, marit & (early) mærde, morde; ppl. merred, etc. & marred(e, marret, mared, mard, mart(e. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. A merran, WS mierran. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
To spurn (lust), interfere with (intention), obstruct (law), bar (the way), stop (troubles), gainsay (prophecy), hinder (a scheme).
Associated quotations
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) John Bapt.(Phys-E)p.38 : He mered hir flesly liking; Forthi scho wald to ded him bring.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2254 : Now we haue vs sped sa ferr Vr wil may he noght vs merr [Frf: merre; Göt: forbarr].
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)95/240 : And efter him þai had ful sone Anoþer Juge, Julianus hight, Þat Cristes law mered at his might.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)88 : Ryn we suld, whyls we haue day, Þat mirknes mare vs noght þe way.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)94/39 : He moued oure myscheues for to merr, For thus he prayed god for this thynge.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)132/178 : Þat fadirs has tald beforne Has noman myght to marre.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13239 : Þe worthy [Circe]..sped hir full specially..With wiles & wicchecraft my way for to hindur; But my-self of þat sciens somwhat I can, Well enformet of the feate, & hir fare marret.
1b.
(a) To interfere with or hinder (sb.); ~ to don, prevent (sb. from doing sth.); ~ to, act as a deterrent to (sb.); maken or ~, aid or hinder (sb.); (b) ~ of, to deprive (sb. of sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)36/23 : Þe rode merke merreð me ouer-al.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)176 : Þei dede hire in a dungon..Marred in Manicles þat made wer newe.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4679 : Lightly thou shulde escapen oute Of the prisoun that marreth [F empires] thee.
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)215 : Þus merrede he þe men þaire mysse for to mende.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn:Horstmann)307 : By-fore þat mane synnede, na lettynge hade he þat myghte marre hyme to do þe gude.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)47/60 : He biddis þou haste with al youre mayne Vnto hym, þat no þyng you marre.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)382/173 : Trowe þou þat þou marre hym maye To mustir myghtis what he has mente.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11978 : Þi manase may not marre to me; ffor all þi fayre I am not flayd.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)644 : I haue my ways for to weynde..As ȝe ar herdmen hinde, Ȝe marre notte me!
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)284 : Alway he wil entende To marre tho that wolde make or mende.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.142 : Purvey you to make hym or to marre hem in haste.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)863 : They wyth ynne wolde haue gone owte; Ther souereygn marred þem for dowte And made þem to kepe ther holde.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)27/129 : Look no man the mar..Thou must spend many a spar, this wark or thou wyn To end fully.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)204/19 : I [Pilate] am he that may make or mar a man.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)298/177 : Hopys thou that thou mar hym may to Muster the malyce that he has ment?
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)556 : Thedyr came Diana caryed in a carre..And so dyd Neptunus, that dothe bothe make & marre.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)463 : He was merred [Frf: merret; Trin-C: marred] of hys mint.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20814 : Sco [Mary] reuis þe wiþerwyn..He mai noght loke tilward hir light þat merres [Göt: meris] him of al his might.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Barlaam & J.(Hrl 4196)294 : All yf men made him myrth & play, He thoght euer how it solde oway With elde & euyll & sorows sere; Þat merrid him oft of mery chere.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Barlaam & J.(Hrl 4196)890 : Þow leues þe law þat turnes to lyght And merres me of mayn a myght.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn:Horstmann)301 : Foule thoghtes & ydill þat lettis vs to thynke one oure prayere, & sa merres vs of oure mede.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)10088 : A ryall ost sone he arayd kyng salamon of his myȝt to marre.
2.
(a) To damage (sth.); spoil, ruin, destroy; (b) to corrupt (man's nature); defile (chastity); impair (strength, power, manliness); lessen (reward); etc.; (c) to bring about corruption; (d) to deteriorate, become weaker.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)18 : He momeleþe & moccheþ ant marreþ is mawe.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)474 : Þen wakened þe wyȝe of his wil dremes, And blusched to his wod-bynde þat broþely watz marred.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)23 : O moul, þou marrez a myry iuele, My priuy perle wythouten spotte.
- c1440(?c1400) EToulouse (Thrn)1116 : They smote thorow helm and basenet And marryd many a mayl.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1100 : Þey..her stor mardyn [vrr. destroyed, wasted, dispendid].
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9532 : Mony mo [ships] were þere marred & mated with fire.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2062 : Yet more is to prouide, That if the boorys hed com in, a sharre Be made for him, his tuskys forto marre.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.51 : Ȝif þou cast salt þer to, iwys, Þou marres alle so have I blis.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)449 : As anentis þes newe ordris þat ben scaterid in lordis housis, it..helpiþ þe fend to marre þer housis.
- c1500(?a1475) St.Marg.(3) (Ashm 61)229 : Hyre eyȝen þat wer so bryȝht, They pute hem oute & merede hyre syȝt.
- ?a1500(?1458) Off alle Werkys (Inscr)p.41 : Kyng Herry the fyft..hathe i founde..a brige..For cartis with cariage may goo and come clere, That many Wynters afore were mareed in the Myre.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)10/115 : Adam & eue..merden ure cunde.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)38/641 : Son se þu telest te betere þen an oðer..þu merrest [vr. marres] þin meiðhad & brekest ti wedlac towart godd.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)10/4 : He hefde betere bi-þoht him o hwucche wise he walde merren [vr. merrin] hire meiðhad.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)28/3 : Þu..sleheste deouel of helle, þe ich o drake liche sende to forswolhe þe & merren wið his muchele mein þe mihte of þi meiðhad.
- ?c1335 Elde makiþ me (Hrl 913)p.171 : Ispend and marrit is mi main, And wold wil ȝuþe aȝayn.
- a1350 Heȝe louerd (Hrl 2253)11 : Nou is marred al my meyn; away is al my wunne.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1902 : Þe worþi Werld walkyth to werre For to clyuyn ȝone castel clene, Þo maydnys meyndys for to merre.
- a1450 When adam delf (Cmb Dd.5.64)2 : When adam delf & eue span..Whare was þan þe pride of man þat now merres his mede.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)108/183 : I wroght neuere in worde nor dede Thyng þat shulde marre thy maydenhede.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)188/87 : What euere ȝone brightnes be?..It marres my myght, I may not see.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)296/110 : Why, menys þou þat þat myghtyng schulde my myghtes marre?
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6128 : Wirk not vnwysly in þi wilde dedis, Þat þi manhod be marte thurgh þi mysrewle.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)4220 : Full preuely þei can persew to marre his maystry yf þei myȝt.
c
- a1350 Ich herdemen (Hrl 2253)32 : Þus wil walkeþ in lond..falsshipe fatteþ and marreþ wyþ myht.
d
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)12/170 : Þet ha [wits] ne merren ne ne mealten þurh licome lustest [read: lustes].
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)4/93 : My mighte and my mayne es all marrande.
3.
(a) To harm, destroy, or ruin (sb.); (b) to corrupt (sb.); (c) to injure or kill (an adversary); defeat, overcome; also ~ of; (d) to perish.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)17/176 : For eauer se ȝe nu her mearreð me mare, se mi crune schal beon brihttre ba & fehere.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)31/315 : Ne mei ich þolien þet ha þus mearren [Roy: merren] þe na mare.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1763 : Leaueð to leuen lengre on þes lease maumez, þet merreð ow ant alle þeo þet ham to luteð.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.142 : Ich shal..marre þe with myschef.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)21 : Þis mopp þat merres [vr. marres] oure men, kalles him god sun of heuyn.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)95/263 : Þai merrid hir noght, bod made hir clene.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3322 : I was merride one molde in my moste strenghethis.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)237/119 : The fende is wrothe with ȝou and me, And will ȝou marre if þat he may.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2940 : Soche Riot & Revell..Gers maidnes be mart, mariage for done.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4409 : Ȝoure giltis growis of ȝour gods..For many modirson þai marre, miȝt ellis haue bene safe.
- c1450(1415) Crowned King (Dc 95)91 : Yif they myght with here moustres to marre þe for euere With disceit of here derknesse, þe deuell hem adrenche!
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)14319 : Þe fend..mared hym [Job] sone with meselry.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)161/304 : Herowdys to þe devyl he tryste to marre ȝow in a myrke myste.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)388 : Marryde I was for colde, but now am I warme.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)600 : Trust no more on hym; he ys a marryde man!
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)279 : For þat þe maȝty on molde so marre þise oþer, Þat þe Wyȝe þat al wroȝt ful wroþly bygynnez.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1855 : All he grauntes to forgyue..Iff ye send hom þat semly þat I sew fore, That he may menske hur with mariage þat ye mart haue.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)66 : Þe foles foundeden hemself freres of the Pye..& marre þe puple.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1903 : Geomagog..brac him bi þon rugge feower of his ribben; vfele he hine mærde [Otho: a-morde].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22345 : Arðures men letten fleon vnimete flan and merden [Otho: morde] Irisc folc.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)29208 : Faste he heold Chirchestre..þat ne mihte Gurmund næuere mæren his ferde.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1171 : Heiȝh king of heuene..ne fauore nouȝt so my [fo], þat falsly me so marres.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2262 : With alle þe bur in his body, he ber hit on lofte, Munt as maȝtyly as marre hym he wolde.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1238 : Þise marchezmen..thus are myskaryede, And thus merrede amange.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2015 : He hade þe cete forsett..With gret multytude of men, to marre hym in þe wayes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5553 : Take hede on þe harmys & the hard lures! What mighty were marrit & martrid to dethe!
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6525 : He shouuyt þurgh his sheltrum, shent mony grekes, And mard of þo men..fele.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9009 : Hit is wonder to wete..þat any freike vpon feld of so fele yeres, So mightely with mayn shuld marre of his fos.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10072 : Troilus so toilus with his triet strenght, Marit of the Mirmydons meruell to wete.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10417 : King Menon to mare with Malys he þoght, And bounyt into batell with his buernes all.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13909 : He..Segh his men to be mart with a mad childe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2040 : Þe grekis he asailes..Marres of þe Messedons miȝtfull kniȝtis.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)16788 : Þan gart he grath men gang and sone sett vp a sperre Of L cublettes [read: cubbettes] lang Merdochius on to marre.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)235/3 : For to rescow me they have made a vowe, other ellys manfully on this molde to be marred all at onys.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)261 : I wyll gete me a man þat shall þe sone marre.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)71/237 : Yond is moyses..agans all egypt has beyn ay..now wyll he mar you if he may.
d
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)991 : Þe ledez of þat lyttel toun wern lopen out for drede Into þat malscrande mere, marred bylyve.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)172 : Lo, al synkes in his synne and for his sake marres.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)778 : More manschyp wer hit, ȝit mercy by-seche, Þan metles marr [vrr. maren, for to marre; deye], þer no myȝt helpys.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)103/93 : Poore men ar in the dyke and oft tyme mars.
4.
(a) To trouble, disturb, or perplex (sb. or someone's mind or mood); (b) ppl. merred, troubled, distressed, etc.; (c) to be vexed or bewildered; (d) ?to lament.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Wiþ longyng (Hrl 2253)3 : Wiþ longyng y am lad, on molde y waxe mad, a maide marreþ me.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.16 : Þat is Meede þe Mayden..þat haþ me marred [vrr. greuyd, noiȝede, anoyȝed] ofte.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.29 : Crist tolde hem..how he shoulde be slayn from hem; and alȝif þis word marride hem, for þei undirstooden it not wel, neþeles þei þouȝten on þingis þat myȝten come after þis.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.117 : Mystakyng of Cristis witt marriþ sum men in þis mater.
- c1440 Thos.Ercel.(Thrn)127 : Thou merrys [vrr. marrest, marris] me all þis longe daye; I praye the, Thomas, late me bee!
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.544 : To save þe fulsone I am at a-sent..to myrthe þe with melody, qwen myth hath þe merde.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)179/43 : He has fastid, þat marris his mode, Ther fourty dayes with-owten foode.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3546 : Madding marrid has þi mode & þi mynd changid.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)17321 : Þan forto marre hym more in myȝt, full flatt vnto þe grownd sho fell.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)346 : I marre hys myndys to þer wan, That whoo ys hym þat God hym began.
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)882 : Þar nay myscheffe merred hys mode.
b
- a1350 A wayle whyt (Hrl 2253)20 : Hou shal þat lefly syng þat þus is marred in mournyng?
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)438 : I mase, al marred for mournyng neiȝh hondes.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)884 : He ferd as a mased man an marred neiȝ honde.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)995 : He for me is so marred & has misfare long.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2297 : I am ney marred & mad þis morwe for a sweuene.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15725 : Ful merred [Göt: marrid] war þai in þair mode; ful merck it was þe night.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)532 : He wex ner wood..Euere musynge in his marryd mood How..He myht bereuyr [read: bereuyn] hyre hyr virginyte.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)321/30 : Thurgh youre manhede and myght bes he marred; No chyualrus chiftan may chere hym.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)325 : And ȝe be merryd neuer þe mare, bot mete him in sweuyn.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.381 : Ful soore a-stoyned were thei þanne bothe-too, The on for meruayle of hir hy bewte; The other was marred..That she a man soo sodeynly there gan see Be-fore hir knelynge.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.610 : Thanne was thys mayden sore marred in mende..She wot not hir-selue.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)806/30 : I dare undirtake he ys marred for ever.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Conf.(Dub 245)329 : Makers of þis lawe weren so marrid þat her lawe byndeþ noo persone, [etc.].
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)244 : Better to beld wyth bestys wyld Þan wyth merred men and vnmyld.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)3516 : Hauith not your hert so marred for wo.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)1041 : My mynde and my moode is marred too care.
c
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)110 : Bare was hir body..it stounnede..It marrede, it mournede, it moyssede for made.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)470/166 : Þat [drink] makis þer mynde to marre.
- c1475 O man thow (Hrl 2251)1 : O man, thow marrest in thy mynd To muse how God hath..althyng sette in his owne kynde.
d
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)359 : For, marre oþer madde, morne and myþe, Al lys in hym to dyȝt and deme.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)73/10 : Ne heo lofȝeorn ne sy…ne na myrre.
Note: New spelling for 2.(a).
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11747 : No murake [read: mirakle] suld marre to [read: þe] prophett spech to spyll.
Note: A new intrans. sense - perh. ='interfere' - see spillen v. 5.(a)--per REL