Middle English Dictionary Entry
parren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | parren v. Also par(r)e. |
| Etymology | *OE pearrian; cp. *pearr(e 'enclosure' in Smith PNElem. 2.60. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To confine (sb. or sth.); hem in; shut up; ~ in, confine (sb., sheep) in (a city, hole, painful condition, sheepfold, etc.).
Associated quotations
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2439 : He bunden him ful swiþe faste..Þat he rorede als a bole, Þat he wore parred in an hole, With dogges forto bite and beite.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3228 : Yn al þis was Sir Ywayn Ful straitly parred with mekil payn.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.25 : Þin enemyes schulen..parre þee in Jerusalem as sheep ben parrid in a foold.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4047 : I sall..euer pursue the payganys þat my pople distroyede, Qwylls I may pare them and pynne, in place þare me likes.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)88/18 : Ȝe may noȝte passe forthe of ȝour cuntree, but..are parred in and na ferrere may passe.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)321/34 : In pynyng payne bees he parred.