Middle English Dictionary Entry
ō̆ver adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | ō̆ver adj. Also overe, offere, hover, nover & (early) ufer(r)e, uver(e, ofer & (error) ufe. |
| Etymology | OE ufer(r)a. Most forms show anal. with ME ō̆ver adv. & prep. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Upper, higher, top; ~ ende, the upper end, top; also, tip of a leaf or a pole; ~ face, surface; ~ side, upper side of something, top part; also, surface [quot.: *Trev.Barth. 152a/a]; ~ ston, top layer of stone; also, upper millstone [quot.: c1230]; on the ~ half the arke, on the upper, or upstream, side of the Ark when it is in the middle of the Jordan; (b) anat. ~ bile, the part of a bird's beak above the mouth; ~ bon (bouels), upper bone (bowels); ~ breu, eyebrow; ~ chaft (joue), upper jaw; ~ cheke bone (mandible), upper jawbone; ~ (eie)lid, upper eyelid; ~ hed, ?top of the head; ~ her of eie-lid, upper eyelashes; ~ linkes, upper vertebrae; ~ lippe (teth), upper lip (teeth); (c) of a written text: above-written, preceding; in the ~ wombe, in the preceding section on the belly; (d) as noun: that which is higher, the upper thing.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)21/5 : Þa ufe wæte of þan heafod fylþ uppan þa teþ, and hy þane þurhþreaþþ [read: þurhþreawþ] and deþ, þæt hy rotiȝeþ and toþinddaþ.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)170/2 : Te twa grindelstanes ne schulde namon twinnin..Þe vuere [Cai: upere] stan bitacneð hope þe eorneð & stureð hire igode werkes eauer wið trust of muche mede.
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.155 : Hail seint Dominik with þi lang staffe! Hit is at þe ouir end crokid as a gaffe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Tob.3.10 : At þys vois she wente in to þe oouere [WB(2): hiȝere; L superius] bedplace of hir hous.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.20.2 : Fassur smot Jeremye prophete & putte hym in to þe stockis þat was in þe oouer [WB(2): hiȝere; L superiori] ȝate of beniamyn in þe hous of þe lord.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)152a/a : Watir hatte aqua as were equa, euen, for he resteþ nede of meuyng til þe ouere [L superficies] syde þer of be euen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)163a/b : The hiȝe place is aboue and þe lowe byneþe, and þe ouer [L eleuata] place is noȝt so hote as þe neþer.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)212a/b : Leues beeþ grete & large in þe neþer ende, smal and scharpe in þe ouer ende.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)330a/b : In þe furste day god made seuene manere þinges: matiere and forme, light oþer fier, þe ouer heuenes, water, eorþe, and aire.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)53b/b : In þe..vlna oþer adiutorium þat is to seien þat partie þat is atwixe þe schulder and þe Elbowe, þer is one bone allonelie fulle off marye, and it is rounde on boþe endes; þe ouer [*Ch.(1): vppermore; L superior] rotundite oþer roundenes..enterþe the boxe oþer þe hole of þe schulder and maken þe ioynte off þe schulder.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)61b/b : Duodenum..he is þe neþer wyket off þe stomake, as mery is þe ouer wyket.
- (1432) Rec.Norwich 2390 : The seyd kaye xal halden in brede in the ground upon the plankyng v quarters..and..in brede under the ouereston iiij quarters.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick359b : Ther is custome in your qwere that nunnes in the ouere stalles shalle stande the while thoe in the nether stalles sytte.
- (1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 28 : All the sparres shall conteyne in brede at the netherend squar vij inch and at the overend vi inches and in thiknesse on the other part..at the over end v inches.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)104a : A rollyng tour..haþ many stages..In þe ouerstage he haþ scheteres, casteres, slyngeres & alle manere diffence þe whiche, for þei ben ouer þe hedes of hem þat ben on þe walles..sleeþ or beteþ awey fro þe walles alle þat stondeþ vnder hem.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)3/16 : Þi soule muste haue a laddere to styin vp by, out of þi depe welle in-to heuen..þe nethyr stake is dreed of þe doom, þe ouyr stake is hope of blysse.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)214/33 : A relygious man seyȝ in his spiryte in helle syttynge on þe ouer-ende of a laddere þat erle.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)239/16 : This ground of lownes is viij fote depe; þe ouer-fote is homly & lowly to þe pore.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)151/8 : Than arme ȝowur crop at þe ovir ende down to the frete with a lyn of vj herys.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)36 : Pare þy brede and kerue in two Tho ouer crust þo nether fro.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)29b/a : The schuldre is þat part of þe bodi þat strecchiþ from þe necke on boþe sidis to eiþir arme vpon þe ouer side of þe brest.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)91 : Wene we not þe gospel to be in wordis of writingis, but in wit; not in ouer face, but in þe merowe; not in þe leuis of wordis, but in rot of resoun.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)4/8 : The goode men yede to the ouer place of helle i-clepyd Limbus.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)600 : The standarde was of whyte yvore, A dragon of golde ordeygned þerfore That on the ouyrende stode.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.49 : And the folk with thaire bestaille drye fote alle ouer it ȝode, ffor on the overhalf the Arche [L in superiori parte arcae] the watere no ferthere ranne, Bot like ane hogest mountaigne it gadred to gidere thanne And on the lawere partie the watere ranne to the see.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10043 : Helle is a stede of peyne and woo, And ȝit ben þere helles two, Þe nether and þe ouer helle.
b
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)404/96 : Some..stondeþ in to heere knee, Some to heere middil þei, And some to heere ouere [vr. vuere] brei.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.146 : La bas levere et la levere suseyne [glossed:] the overe lippe ant the nethere.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)28 : Leuere susane et messelers, Ouer-lippe and wangtethe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.189 : Prusy, kyng of Bithynia, hade a sone þat hadde a bone in his mouþ instede of his ouer teeþ, oon bone al hool.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.133 : Hir ouer lippe wyped she so clene That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene Of grece whan she dronken hadde hir draughte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.376 : Above his hed also ther hongeth A fruyt..And that fruit toucheth evere in on His overlippe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)42b/a : The browis ben I-clepid supercilia, þe ouerliddes, for þey ben I sette aboue þe yȝe liddes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)151a/b : Þe vulture..when he holdeþ, his ouer bylle waxeþ long and croked ouer þe neþire.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)142/11 : Þe ouer [vr. ouyre] lippe & þe nose were kutt al awey.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)156/13 : Þe arm from þe elbowe dounward haþ ij bonys; & þe ouer [vr. offere] boon, þe which þat arecchiþ fro þe þombe to þe boon þat is clepid adiutorium, is þe smallere boon.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)72a : Take saveyn..And hony and do hit a medicyne for the hede ake: for to seþe hit in watir and washe the ovyr hede with þe water, and of the erbe make a plaster and lay hit to the tempills and the forhede.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)192/23 : Whan þei eten þei meven the ouer-jowe & nought the nether iowe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)41b/a : Þe grustille mowe fulfille þe office of þe bone susteynynge summe brawnes þat meuen summe maner members as in þe ouer yȝe lidde.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)45a/a : Þer cumme to hem veines & arteris þoruȝ þe holes of þe lower bones & fro wiþ-outen also þoruȝ þe comissures of þe ouer [*Ch.(1): upper] bones.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)100/10 : In anoþer ile er foule men þat hase þe ouer lippe [Man.(1): lippe aboue the mouth; F lieuere dessour] so grete þat, when þai slepe in þe sonne, þai couer all þe visage with þat lippe.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)117a/b : Þe tokens þat þe ouer chafte is dislocate ben þes: þe pacient maie open his mouþ in no maner, & he maie chewe no mete, & his teeþ cleuen togidere.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)78/16 : Þe lower bowellez avoided of þair superfluitez, þe ouer bowellez may more liȝtly putte out fro þam þair superfluitez to þe lawer bowellez.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)344/13 : If þere come noyeng to þe nuke and to þe synowes þat comen þerof, þai lede to þe pallesye of þe handes if it be of þe ouer lynkes, of þe feete if it be of þe nether lynkes.
- ?a1440 Hortus (Brist-U)266 : Cilium..the ouer her of the eye lede.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.176v : Thay seide the most parte of his hoste were prestes, ffor hure berdes and hure lippes bothe were shaue, ffor Englysshe men shaued not hure ouerlyppes, the which was the maner of the olde Brutonus as Julius Cesar witnesseth.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)20a/b : He ys clepid þe ouer mandible, for in him ben fastened alle þe ouer teeþ.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)28a/a-b : Þe ouer chekeboon spryngiþ out of þe boon lauda..þer ben tweyne ouer chekebonys.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)111a/a : Þis maner of ffestre is..incurable..if þat he perce in to þe ouere cheke boonys for þe nyȝenesse of þe brayn.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)225/2 : The chyderis bene wonyd to haue the ouer-lippe grete and lollynge ouer the emyste Lyppe.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.198 : She cut hir nose of and her ouer lippe, To make hir lothe that she might from hym slipe.
c
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)65/22 : Of þe conteynynge parties, as to myrac and syphac and zirbus, it was saide inoghe in þe ouer wombe [*Ch.(1): wombe above; *Ch.(3): ouer partie off þe wombe].
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)29a/a : Hete..bringeþ and lediþ þe neþir þinges to þe ouere..he dissolueþ & turneþ what is erþy & turneþ in to watery, And watery in to aiery, and aiery in to fury, And so he bringiþ þe neþir and þe middel in to þe ouere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)37b/a : Þise membres serueþ iche oþir..for þe ouer ȝeueþ influens & gouernaunce to þe neþire, and þe neþire holdeþ vp þe ouere.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.11.29 : A cokedril..is a beest of foure feete, hauynge the nether cheke lap vnmeuable, and meuynge the ouere.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)133/17 : Iff the nedyr lyppe stond owte be-ffore the ouyr, yt sygnyfyith onclennes off lyuyng.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)44b/b : Þis membre..is holowe & haþ two holis, oon þat þe pisse passiþ by, and it is þe ouer, and anoþir þat þe sperme passiþ by, & it is þe lowere.
2.
(a) Higher in rank, prestige, or authority; greater in power; ~ aungeles, angels of higher rank in the celestial hierarchy; ~ commaunder, master, high commander; ~ pouer, higher power; (b) very great, tremendous.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)14b/a : Þe ouer ordres [of angels] wiþoute mene fongiþ purgacioun þat þey beþ clene..þe ouer angels purgiþ, illumineþ & makeþ parfite þe neþir aungels.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)13/15 : For þe apostle Poule ad Titum seiþ: 'Euereche soule schal be suget to þe ouer power.'
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)278 : Oure fredom forto reule vs silf bi oure owne resoun and wil..wiþoute an oþer man to be ouer comaunder or constreyner, ben meenys wherbi þou maist be preisid and þankid.
b
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)783 : Turnus had loued hure longe ar hee, & hadde grauntise his wif to be; He bed his body, his ouer myght, Wyþ Eneas al-one to fyght.
3.
(a) Outer, outermost; ~ cercle, the outermost sphere in a model of the universe; (b) further away, distant; of time: later, future; ~ side, far side; on ~ daie, at a later time.
Associated quotations
a
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)33/17 : Tak þe ȝonge syons þat growes by þe erthe of þe ellere tree & schafe of þe ouer barke & schafe of þe grene barke.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)521 : In the este ende off this tempyl, this spere apperyd alofft Fyue cubytys fro the ground, alwey meuyng..And the ouer cerkyl in-cludying alle this huge werk Afftyr astrologerys descripcion applanos hyght.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)48/111 : For brennynge or schaldynge: Take the rynde of a tre that men callen Wich ethir elme, schaue of the ouer rynd aboue & kest it away & take þe jnner rynd & seith it in watter & wasshe the sore þerwith.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12994 : Þa nolde Arður on slepen na wiht hine areppen, leste he an uferre daȝe up-bræid iherde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13873 : Þe kaisere wende Walwain to scende þat he miht an uuere daȝe [Otho: þar-after] ȝelpen uor þere deden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14937 : Al þat lond sele into Sæuernerne from þan ufere ende þat wendeð in-to þare sæi.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)463 : Þe sonne schyne bityme Al In þe ouere side of þe Mone and hider-ward nowiȝt.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.127 : Cedar is a londe yn þe ouerside of Palestina.
- (1435) Doc.in Rec.B.Nottingham 2360 : A porche yat standes on ye comon graund at ye west end of ye Tymber Rawe on ye corner of ye houer end of Qwelwright Gate.
4.
As a geographical designation, with various senses: higher in elevation; ~ Egipte, Upper Egypt; ~ Galilea, Upper Galilee; ~ Inde, Upper India.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.125 : Galilea is a londe bytwene Iudea and Palestina, and is double, þe ouer [Higd.(2): superior; L superior] Galilea and þe neþer Galilea, and ioyneþ to gidres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)309a/a : Þe matiere of þis colour..dyeþ and coloureþ and makeþ rede al þat hit toucheþ so þat þe see of þe ouer egypt [L superioris egypti] takeþ rednesse þerof.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)5.198 (v.1:p.80) : Aftir this he [St. Thomas] went into Ovir Ynde, where he wrought myraclis withoute nombre.
5.
Quasi-adv. in phrase ben ~: (a) overhead, directly above; (b) across, on the other side; (c) left over, remaining, prolonged; (d) finished, at an end; he is ~, he is dead.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)110a/b : Isidir telliþ anoþir tale and seiþ þat, whanne Castor is ouer [L preest] and reuliþ neþir þingis, þanne pollux is ouer & rewliþ neþir þingis & aȝenward.
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.219 : In to þe watere he straied, & passed wele þat flode; Whan Edward was ouere graciously and wele, He hoped haf recouere at Wigemore castele.
c
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)4/2 : Life tyd hym ofer byð, & þeah hit micel adle sy, raðe heo aweȝ ȝewyteþ.
d
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)123/2 : Hwen hit is al ouer, spit & schakeð þet heaued feð on forte niuelin & makien grim chere.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.282 : A prophecie sais he salle die, & whan he is ouere, After þat day Scotlond may haf gode recouere.
6.
In place names and surnames [see Smith, PNElem. 26.54].
Associated quotations
- (1232) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)358 : Uuer Cudincton.
- (1275) Select Pleas Manor.in Seld.Soc.228 : Radulfus tenet Vuercolkescroft.
- (1278-9) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)178 : Overehorspath'.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 164 : Robertum del Overend.
- (1298) Rec.Norwich 1258 : In vico de Ouer Conesford.
- (1310) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 1823 : Johanne Overestrete.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames145 : Will. atte Noverton.
- (1348) EPNSoc.47 (Ches.)192 : Ouer-Pull.
- (1378) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.51 : [The site of the manor called] le Overhalle.
- (1393) Doc.Thaxted in Ess.ROP 3339 : [On the west side of] le Ouerhewt.
- (1395) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.38 : [The said covert called] les overelles.
- (1428) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)358 : Over Cudynton.
- (1445) Case Law Merchant in Seld.Soc.46109 : Johannes Wylock de Hover Holond.
- (1451) Deed Norris in LCRS 93203 : [In] le Ouercrakkefeld.
- (1465) Will Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.4333 : Except my tenements of oversherewodes & nethersherewodes.
- a1500(1452) Cart.Boarstall in OHS 88193 : De villata de Overhorspath.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.7vb (1.3) : On of hem [mesaraics] is knyte to þe ouer mouþe of þe stomac, s. to þe ouer ende of þe stomac, anoþer faste by þat ouer ende of þe stomac, & þe þrid of hem is festenede to þe botume of þe stomac.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(a).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. over cheek bone.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. over eyelid.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. over lid.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. over links (pl.).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. over lip.