Middle English Dictionary Entry
norisher(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | norisher(e n. Also noresher, noreshoure, norreishere, norshere, norcher(e, noriser & nurshere, nurser. |
| Etymology | OF norrissëor, -ere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who brings up (a child); a guardian, foster-parent; also, a teacher, tutor; (b) one who tends or raises (animals), master; (c) of God, the Holy Ghost, a religious superior: provider of spiritual nourishment, spiritual comforter, nurturer; (d) one who encourages somebody or something, an advocate, a supporter; also, that which promotes or nurtures a vice, virtue, etc.; of the Church: nourisher of faith; (e) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.49.23 : Kingis shul ben þi nursheris [Dc 369(1): nursheres; WB(2): nurseris; L nutricii] & queenys þi nursis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Esth.2.7 : Mardoche was the nurschere of Edissa, the douȝter of his brothir, which douȝtir was clepid Hester bi anothir name.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)358 : Noryschare, and forthe bryngar fro ȝouthe to age: Nutricius, nutricia.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.14 : O Crystes modyre, dowȝtter to Sente Anne..O norreyschere to Cryst.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.77 : Benedictus Biscop, abbot, and the norischer of Beda the preste..refusede places and cosynnes for the luffe of Criste.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.37 : The camelle..perceyvynge and seynge Machometus his norischer, come anoon to hym and likkede his hondes.
c
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)4090 : Mi noble fadere, norischere of us alle..wolde God I coude endyte Sum goodly þing.
- c1450 O Lord allmyghty (Hat 73)14 : Allthyng worldle, My lord, y haue louyd more than the, My redemptour, my noryssher, and my conseruatour.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)54/29 : All þoo heremites whech lyued in desert, to whom he was first fader and norcher, wer cleped at þat tyme munkis.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.26.104b : Myght is appropred to the Fadir as to the begynner, wisdam to the Sone as to kendely werkers, and good will to the Holy Gost as to the norissher and keper.
d
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)173/19 : Mekenesse is norescher of charite.
- (1439) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)230 : Many diverse persones..ben comyn norischers, promotours, and provocours of the same synnys in displesance of almyghti God.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3863 : Ful of grace he was..a good skolere, Formere and norchere of holy religioun.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4141 : Go hens fro me, of syn norsshere And contraryous to euere good entent.
- a1450 Proper Will (Cmb Dd.5.55)174 : Na thynge bot propyr wyl is noriser of pride.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)60 : Alle þe cherchis of cristendam schuld obeye þat cherch as for a principal moder and norcher of oure feith.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.820 : Hir noble presens Was norysshere of vertu and quenchere of vice.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)189/25 : Almes-dede is noryschere & makere redy þe weye to god.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)240 : John Wiclef, the orgon of the devel, the enmy of the Cherch..the norcher [alt. to: norischer] of scisme..was smet with a horibil paralsie.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)225/5 : I am ȝour lord lucifer..I am Norsshere of synne.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.383 : Ranulphus reioycede moche, somme tyme chapeleyne of William Conqueroure, noryscher [L fomes] of covetyse.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)463 : Pope Urban sende to Henricus Despenser, bischop of Norwiche, that he scholde doe persecucion unto the seide cursede pope and his norischers.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)18 : Domus Regis Hardeknoute may be called a fader noreshoure of familiaritie, whiche vsed for his own table never to be served with ony like metes of one meale in another.
- a1500 As I walkyd vppon (Hnt HM 183)37 : This wownd is noryssher off wowndis sevyn: Superbia he is the principall.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)47/17 : Thabundaunce of richesse that restith in the clergie..be norischars of ambicione and envye.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)142/13 : Lorde..þy grace..is maistresse of trouþe..taker awey of drede, norissher [L nutrix] of deuocion.
e
- (1363-64) Freeman R.in KRec.18213 : Alexander Norsere, corveyser.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 GLeg.Suppl.Michael (Lamb 72)279/155 : The sonne that is the norsher of al thynges yn this [worlde] sendith downe his hete ynto the erthe.
Note: Editor's note: "norsher: provider of nourishment, MED norishere does not record this sense."
Note: Cf. OED nourisher, n., sense 1. 'A person who or thing which nourishes, nurses, or fosters something.'
Note: ?New sense: all current senses in MED seem highly specific.