pert and perte - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

pē̆rt(e adj.

Forms	pē̆rt(e adj. Also pirt.
Etymology	Shortened form of apert, from which it is indistinguishable when preceded by the indefinite article.

Apparent to the eye; obvious, manifest; public; of a purse: open; of a brother: acknowledged.

a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3292 : Ðor-quiles he weren in ðe desert, God tagte hem weie, wis and pert; A fair piler son hem on o nigt And a skie euere on daiges ligt.
a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4930 : Þer come menskful messageres..from hire broþer partendo, þat was hire pert broþer.
c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.98 : Dauid, in his dayes, he Dubbede knihtes; Dude hem swere on heor swerd to serue treuþe euere; þat is þe perte profession þat a-pendeþ to knihtes.
a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498:Pahlsson)77/12 : He þat nys nouȝth abidande doþe a pert folie.
?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.216 : He did a perte folie.
(c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)15/151 : Apon his perte pautener, vche mon ys apayd.
a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)43/12 : It fel not for hem to hyde..Godis werkys and his marakelis and his grace but puppliche it in a pert forme for to exite men to more deuocioun.
a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.543 : Al hir pert pouste in payne hit was pilde.
c1475 ?Ros Belle Dame (Hrl 372)174 : Or perte [Cmb: In hir fayled no thyng..pryue nor apert].
1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)115/163 : Thorow pert necessite, al thing comming is comming.

Attractive, comely; distinguished; dapper; as noun: an attractive woman.

c1330 Degare (Auch)504 : Al þat in þe felde beȝ..Seide þat hi neuer ȝit iseȝe So pert a man wiȝ here egȝe As was þis gentil Degarre.
c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)542 : I haue pittye of your person & your pert face.
c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1462 : This Lamydon, þat was lord, hade a lefe son, A pert man þat was prinse, & priam he hight.
c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1500 : The last of þos lefe children was a lysse faire, Polexena the pert, prise of all other.
c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13725 : Pirrus of þat pert was pristly enamurt.
c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)123 : Þe dwerke was clodeþ yn ynde, Be-fore and ek be-hynde: Stout he was and pert [Lamb: pertte].
c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)294 : Sche was as whyt as lylye yn May..He seygh neuere non so pert.
a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)171 : She is pert & wise & clene for to do my desyre.

(a) Eager; bold; valiant or skilled in combat; (b) saucy, forward; (c) apt, clever; cunning; of words: subtle.

c1390 KTars (Vrn)33/18 : Hire to seo was gret preyere Of princes pert in play.
c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2752 : The kyng comaund to come..Polidamos, prist, a full pert knight.
c1450 Page SRouen (BodeMus 124)p.60 : At every parcelle of them wolde be A ten thousand..Fulle ryally arayde at the beste, And therto perte and wonder preste.

(c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.3950 : She was proud and peert as is a pye.
c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)140/4183 : Thou makist me to nyse and pert, So oft for thi mercy to cal.
?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)18/25 : Y saide y wolde not of her, for she was so pert and so light of maners that caused me to be discoraged from her.
c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)504 : They wold nat reste tyll he were conqueryd..that was so malapert; They seyde he shuld be taught for to be so pert.

c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)113 : This Pelleus pert, prudest in armys, Hade a broþer of birthe born or hym seluyn.
c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)977 : Ho prayet hym priuely all with pert wordes, To bow to hir bede boldly at euyn.
c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12044 : Emperour Agamynon..Couet Cassandra..Priams pure dughter, pertist of wit.

In surnames.