Middle English Dictionary Entry
avēr n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | avēr n.(2) Also aveir, avoir, avour & haver, -ire, -oir, -our, -eur, -eour, -yo(u)r, hower. |
| Etymology | AF ave(i)r, CF avoir (infin. as noun, from L habēre); later ME substitutes suff. -ǒur, etc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Things owned; possessions, property, wealth; -- coll. or pl.
Associated quotations
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.28 : Ȝif ani cleimez commun þoru special feffement ore graunt to certein numbre of aueres.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.124 : Þe maistir of þer pedaile..In suilk felonie gadred grete auere [OF aver].
- (1418) Grocer Lond.in Bk.Lond.E.196 : And than to hem deliuered..all the monye, all the auoyr, and the paper, and all that langith to the fornseyd Fraternite.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)130/6 : Þei sette no prys be non aveer [OF auoir] ne ricchess, but only of a precyous ston þat is amonges hem.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)131 : He..hath lafte all worldly richesses as in auere with outeforth.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)110 : Thei ben bounden into a sufficient amendis to his worldli hauour, if thei take ther of eny thing vntreuli fro him.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2516 : Agayn hym Come xij Somers, Charged wyth golde and ryche auerys.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4668 : Aboundance of Auoure ȝow all has englaymed.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)30 : Neuere king mihte haue noon swich, neither for siluer ne oother avoir.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.60vb : In this comandement is defended rauayne, usure, robberye and deceyte and begyling other for to haue theyr hauoyr or good.
- c1480(1460) Let.Q.Marg.to City (Add 48031)142 : The prince .. hath throwen among you .. divers untrewe and feyned materes and surmises, and in especiall that wee .. shulde .. drawe toward you with an unsen power of straungeres disposed to robbe and to despoile you of your goodes and haveurs.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)132/5 : That thow take not gladly the goodis of thy subiectis nethyr hare aueres.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)167 : Thei leved after in grete honour with the auer that was departed, that made hem after riche.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)173 : We haue loste grete auoir, where-with we myght wele haue mayntened oure werres.
2.
(a) The state of being rich; opulence, wealth; in ~, rich; of gret ~, very wealthy; of the ~ of, having property valued at; (b) ownership, possessing, possession; also, one's interest or equity in real estate.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)100/2071 : Marchaunt he was of gret auoir [Arun: hauour; 7 Sages(2): auere], And had a wif was queint and fair.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.32 : Me wilned þat men wende ich were in aueyr [vr. auoir], Riche, and resonable and ryghtful of lyuynge.
- (c1425) *Oath Bk.King's Lynn5a : Ȝe shal..spare no man..but do euery man yliche trouþe aftir his hauour.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)298 : Sire Burgeys, what do ȝe lenger tarie For al ȝowre aver [vrr. haver, haueur, avoyre] & ȝowre grete richesse?
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)293 : If he be aboute to bere hym so hiȝe as aftir trouþe of hauour in þe seid godis he myȝte hym bere, he schal not scape greet perel.
- (1446) Proc.Privy C.6.50 : Men of litell haveour & valeur.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)141 : A more defamed lemman miht he not haue for al his auoir.
- (1460) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3236 : Ye shall truly set..due issues of them..after there estate or theire havour.
- (1463) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)31 : Conciteseyns of like haveour or power.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.47b : The same Richard is not of power ne havour to doo..good service.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)84 : And every citesyn of havyour and degre to reserve only but v mil. pens of brasse money.
- c1475 3 Consid.(UC 85)188 : Yf the Prince…be…riche and large in havire and in yiving, he shall be halden a good Prince.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)267/17 : Forto serue God and all his seyntys, yche man and woman..aftyr hys conyng and hys hauere.
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.413 : That ye also do warne..alle maner of persones..of the haueur of C li. and aboue in movable goodes.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4720 : It is kunnyng withoute science..Wit withoute discrecioun, Havoir withoute possessioun.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)231 : Havure [vrr. havour, havre, hauyre], or havynge of catel or oþer goodys: Averium.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)281 : Tho xlviij citees..weren not ȝouun into the propre hauour and lordschip of the preestis..but into her vce oonli.
- a1450 Rich.(Cai 175/96:Weber)1714 : Thou art comme with gret power, Me to bereve my landes hower.
- (1450) RParl.5.173b : That severall Commissions be direct..to take examination of all persones..of the value of theire havoyre of the premisses.
- a1500 Hilton ML (Roy 17.C.18)26/2 : Som temperall men..han soueraynte with michell haver [Vrn: hauyng] of worldely goodis.