Middle English Dictionary Entry
prōcūren v.
Entry Info
Forms | prōcūren v. Also procure, procur(i, procour(e, procore, proker(on, prokir, prokoron, procurron, procre. Forms: pl. prōcireth; p. prōcūrede, etc. & prōcūrd, prōkert; ppl. i)prōcūred, etc. & prōcūrd, prōcǒurd, i)prōcred, iprōkered. |
Etymology | OF procurer & L prōcūrāre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To cause (sth.), bring (sth.) about; ~ pes, make peace; ~ quitter, cause pus to form; (b) to bring (sth.) upon (sb.); (c) to cause (sb. to do sth.); induce, persuade, urge; bribe; (d) ~ to ben famed, to cause (sb.) to be defamed; ~ to ben putte, cause (sth.) to be put; ~ him to sleien, cause him to be slain; ~ hit to breken, cause it to be broken; (e) with that- clause: to arrange, assure, instigate; (f) to connive, conspire; take measures or action; ptholome procuring, at the instigation of Ptolemy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1637 : Þou hast procourd fro fer Þe ded of Moyne, þe riȝt air.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)716 : Þou þis tresone procurd has.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.215 : Þe emperesse Eudoxia had i-procured [vr. y-prokered] þe out puttyng of Iohn.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.243 : Offa..sente Alcuinus..to Charles, kyng of Fraunce, for to procure pees.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.355 : Aluredus..ordeyned comyn scole at Oxenforde..and procrede [Higd.(2): causede to have] fredom and priveleges in many articles to þat citee.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.973 : The sixte circumstaunce is why that a man synneth, as by temptacioun, and if hym self procure thilke temptacioun.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2998 : The Clergie..oughte..to procure Oure pes toward the hevene above.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)73a/a : My seruant is meke and crafty to procre þe profite of his lord.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28536 : Haf i lettid right spusail..And was oft procurand..Dern spusail.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)2b/a : Rogeryne, Roland & 4 maistres..indifferently procured wt þair pultes saniem, i. quitour, to al woundes & apostemes.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)308 : Four vertues in the godhede..procure all gode doyng.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)117/12 : Aboue alle þinges he schal procure good digestioun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4597 : She dide hir besi cure Enmytes & myscheuys to procure Ageyn the kyng.
- (1441) Proc.Privy C.5.174 : He ne do noþer procure nor..suffer to be doo or procured..any bodely harme..to the said Sir William.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11555 : Sho prayet hym pourly..to..proker hir pes with his prise wordes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11614 : The traytor Antenor hade truly no cause For to procur his payne.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)212 : A grete bataile betwix Englischmen and Scottis..be the councelle of the Kyng of Frauns was procured.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)147a/a : Malancolious blood is drawen wiþ attractiuis vn to þe ers for to procuren þe emerowdis for to preseruen þe pacient fro woodnesse.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)99b : To procure: dicurare, procurare.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)60/23 : Þe people of Israell..for their contradiccions and murmur..procured the indignacion of God.
- a1500 Pryde ys hede (Hrl 1706)p.206 : To take vengeaunce ys alle hys wytte, To slee, to smyȝte, to procure woo.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1258 : A-morewe comen þis bischopes..To procuri seint thomas al þat vuel þat heo miȝten do.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)488 : Þis tresoun procured me þou has.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)48/1067 : He þe procurez..Al þe sschame þat he mai.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1738 : I praye the, Syr Tanker kynge, Procure [vr. prokir] me none evyll thynge!
c
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)989 : For he þat procured him to falle, Þei schul ben condempned alle.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.239 : Innocencius, þe pope, procurede þe chesers of þe empere forto chese many.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)7.517 : Canutus..procred the pope to relesche the pris.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)342 : Clement left his office and procuride oþir to helpe him.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)291 : Þe duc scho procured..Menuse her fadyr menȝe so large.
- ?a1425 Chaucer TC (Hrl 3943)3.117 : Pandare wepe..And procurid [vr. poked] euer his nece new & newe, For loue of god make of hym an ende.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)173a/b : Þe pacient wille procuren þe surgene to take aweie his emplaister anone.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)457 : Comun traytures..procyreþ to styke, to draw to ground..þe high maieste of god and of dignite of corowne.
- (1433) RParl.4.476a : The seid Town Clerk examen hem by here othes whether they..be procured to chese eny persone in especiall'.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)236/1 : Þei..procuryd hir man to forsakyn hir.
- (1444) RParl.5.105a : Maires have ben chosen..by multitude of voyces of divers persones..procurryd by divers menes to be ther..to geve thaire voices.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9226 : He shuld procour the prinse..To pas fro þat prouyns.
- (a1460) Let.Stubbe in Nrf.Archaeol.2354 : Ye seid John..yuld a procuryd other dyverce of hys neyghborys to a don ye same.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)444 : Freris procuren comynly boþe lordis & bischops to lette þis preching.
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)515/687 : This proctor of prophecye hasse procuryd mony on on his lawe for to leve.
d
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5826 : He þe gat & forþ þe broȝte; Thar-for ert þow mys-byþoȝte, To procury hym to slee.
- c1450 Form Excom.(3) (Dc 60)104/11 : We accorsen alle þo þat breken þe pes of holy chirch or storben hit or prokeron hit to breken or storben.
- c1450 Form Excom.(3) (Dc 60)104/18 : We accorsen..al þat vnrightfully defameth eny person or prokereth to be famed.
- (1469) Liber Albus Oxf.79 : To this my..laste will I put to my seale..And..the seale of the office of the Mayralte of the towne of Oxford to this my present testament have procured to be putt to.
e
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.174 : I haue do my cure With al my wit to helpen & procure Þat euery þing touching þe commovnte Perseuere myȝt in prosperite.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)68.12 : Sum procurd that i sould dye.
f
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)260/7 : Euermore þe Quene Isabel..miche procurede aȝeinz..hir sone, þe Kyng.
- a1425 WBible(1) (CC 145)2 Mac.6.8 : Þe dom wente out in to þe nexte cites of heþene men, ptholomeis prokurende [Dc 369(2): Tholomeys procurynge], þat lych maner þei shulden do aȝen Jewis.
- (1427) RParl.4.322b : The Archebisshopp of Canterbury..schulde have been and procured ayens the Libertees of the Courte of Rome in this lond.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7462 : Þis ys þe comune sawe..Þat yuel endyng on þe schal falle; þus þey þrete..& ful yuel þey procure & purchace.
- a1450 Form Excom.(1) (Cld A.2)61 : We denownce acursed..Alle þat leyne hand on preste or clerke..willynge in vyolens to do hym harme, & alle þat þere-to procurron, or ȝeuon helpe or counsayle.
- a1450 Form Excom.(1) (Cld A.2)62 : Also alle þat..warneth lewod men to selle hem [men of holy church] owthe..or to do hem oþur seruice, & alle þat þer-to prokoron or helpon.
- c1450 Form Excom.(3) (Dc 60)104/14 : They..withholdeth eny fredomes of holy chirch or bere awey..londes, houses, rentes, or fredomes, or prokeren, where-þorgh holy chirch is peyred.
2.
(a) To obtain (sb. or sth.); (b) to enlist the aid of (sb.), recruit; entice or lure away (a servant or customer); lead or entice (sb.); (c) to seek to obtain (sth.), plead for; with inf.: attempt (to do, be, or have sth.); ~ unto, try to obtain (sth.); ~ for pes, sue for peace; procured to god, well-intended; (d) to appear as a legal representative; make an appeal by means of a representative.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.405 : Some of the monkes..procurede [Higd.(2): purchasede] lettres of wiþclepinge of þe pope.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)73a/a : In multiplienge of his lordes catell, he procriþ his owne profite.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)7.527 : The womman..procured venym to the poysenyng and deth of Edward.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)75/19 : He þat haþ a benefice to his profit y-procured by symonye..is vnder þe apostels decre.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)201 : Þey procurede false wittnesse agayne hym.
- c1450 Dives & P.(Lchf 35)1.47 : What penawnce longeth..to hem þat procuren fals wytnesse.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)50/30 : He schuld neuyr procur no wyf to no man.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)77/28 : Lawde that is procured and disfigured by suche manere of deth is soone made derke and lightly goth away.
b
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11483 : To þe forest of dene sir Ion wende þo & turnde aȝe sir simond & procurede oþer mo.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3779 : Alle þese priueliche To Rokingham com..Wiþ al þat þai procoure miȝt, Boþe of baroun and of kniȝt.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.119 : Mald in Bristow lettres fast sendes Bi messengers trowe, forto procore frendes.
- (?1404) LRed Bk.Bristol2.183 : That none other maister of the seyd craftes ne ocwpye the seruaunt of anothere..ne of other servant slokke ne procury.
- (1409) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.125177 : That no man of the sayd crafte sall procure nor cherys no custumer fra ane other man of the same crafte.
- (1431) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.12064 : That no man occupyng as a mastre in the same craft shall hire ne procure an othere mannez servaunt of the said craft.
- (c1442) Paston2.10 : He hath hadde many excytours to proker hym rather to harme and frowardnesse.
- (1450) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.325 : No man occupying the said craft shall procure eny other mannes seruaunt oute of seruice.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)1019 : Þo bostful dedes..Schal ȝou procre to pryde, and to no profit ellus.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10914 : If þou smyte on þe man..And he bygynne to fighte also, Þe deuel procureþ ȝou, boþe two.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.495 : Suche delievrance [L liberatio] was i-procured and i-ordeyned, þat þe kyng schulde be restored aȝen to þe kyngdom and þe eorle to his lordschepe..but þe eorle wolde nouȝt assente.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)9224 : Whan that he in prison was..Lucas him goode spake and honoured And vnto his deliueraunce he procured.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)6/20 : Þe feende of helle..procuriþ..to lette men & wiþdrawe hem fro alle þese goode dedis.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)366 : Tale tende we non þat turneþ to harme, But hit be preched for prow and procred to goode.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11603 : This prokert full prestly with prayer before, The traytor Antenor to the tru kynges.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxvii : Crist fleed from secular lordschip & office; þei procuren fast to haue it.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)421 : Ȝif he procure not to be parsener of oþere mennus synnes bi consent.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)296 : It is goode þat I procour for pese, þat I may haue rest of him.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)122/27 : The seconde [petition] procureth remission of fautes passed.
d
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.383 : Many trewe men, boþe aprentis and avocatis, wolen no procure in a cause bifore þat þei heeren it.
- ?1536(1402) Jack Upland (Gough)201/346 : The wysest and gretest clerkes of you wende or sende or procure to the court of Rome, to be mad cardinales or bishoppes.
3.
(a) To guard (sth.), take care of; (b) to treat (a wound, a human body).
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)1b/b : Acturatus [read: Accuratus]: bisilich iprocured.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.38 : Wolde I A litel bet my lettres haue bestowen, And also procured hem so preuely Þat þerof noþyng schuld þe kyng haue knowen.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)2b/b : William de Saliceto &..Lamfranc..procured al wondes with vnguentz & with swete emplasteres.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)95a/a : Bynde it [a wound] & procure it with wyne and stoppes & pressures.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)151b/a : It is better þat alle manere bitinges be procured as it were þe bitynge of a wode hounde.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)171b/b : Þerfore moiste bodies moste ben procured with moiste medicines.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)10/18 : Knyȝtes of Saxoun and of men folowynge batailles..procuren or helen alle woundes wiþ coniurisouns and drynkes.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)155b/a : Þat þat is greet and superflue schal be..cauterizid wiþ gold hette & procurid wiþ fatnesse of a doke vnto þe escar falle.