Middle English Dictionary Entry
profre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | profre n. Also profer(e, proferre, propfer, propher, proffer, profur(e. |
| Etymology | AF profre (cp. CF porofre) & ML profrum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An act of offering or presenting a gift; an offer of a gift, money, reward, help, etc.; (b) an offer of battle, a challenge; a peace offer or proposal, an offer to surrender; fig. the Devil's challenge in spiritual struggles; ~ of pes; maken ~, to make peace; maken ~ to, challenge (sb.) to battle; (c) an offer of love; (d) an offering or a sacrifice; ?also, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3854 : Y þank ȝow of ȝour profre.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1989 : The Duc and tho that weren wise Thei profren hem to his servise; And he hem thonketh of here profre.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4745 : I yaf hir nevere noght, Ne therto dorste a profre make.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)1250 : Þe Jewes wer all greued of þat propfer.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1632 : Tydeus..thanked the kyng Touchyng his profre of so high a thyng.
- (1423-4) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.182/1300 : He dede thanke þe Maistres of þe Craffte..of her Goode profre þat þey made to hym.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)123/15 : Þai behete þaim þat er enseged so faire proffers þat it es wonder.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2079 : Adryane in this manere Answerde hym to his profre [vr. profer].
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)92/13 : She..thorugh her large proferes, ouercame her husbonde with wyne and flatering langage.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)84.35 (v.2:p.98) : Thei forsoken al his yiftes and his profres, and counceilid hir to constaunce and stedfastnesse in hir hooly entent.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3911 : Yeur profir is feir & grete.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)478 : The kyng..gan hym to enbrace..With grete proffres..Of gold, of tresour, and of gret rychesse.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)26 : Twenti pownd and merchaundyse mor He proferyd for þe Holy Sacrament..hys profer was of so lityll valewe.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1776 : Profre of pes myȝt haue no fauour To be admytted.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3997 : Grekys vttrely despyse His profre made be fals collusioun.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1257 : The lordez of the lande..Prayes the..þat þow will profyre make To þat perilous prynce.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2857 : We sall blenke theire boste for all theire bolde profire.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1134 : Titus..profreþ pes for pyte þat he hadde..Bot Jon..An oþer Symond..forsoke þe profre.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11484 : Priam..comaundit All the buernes of the burght, bacheler & other, To appere in his presens the profer to make.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)146/7 : Þe fende in his profre is more aferd of hem þan þei of him.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)2575 : With strength thou getest this profre neuere.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)82 : Yef the kynges profer myght not agre the lady, and also hir frendes, thei hadde saf condite to returne to Tintagel.
c
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4203 : In no wyse Hir fyrst sposys profyrs she nold despyse.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)1060 : I þanke ȝow of ȝoure profir.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)1218 : This profre might be to youre liking.
d
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)414 : Profur: Oblacio.
2.
(a) The act of petitioning or making a request; of his ouen ~, on his own initiative; (b) a petition, request; a suggestion, proposal; also, an idea, a thought [quot.: c1450].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.154 : But ther as ye han profred me to day To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse That choys and pray yow of that profre [vrr. proferre, profere, profure, propher] cesse.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)6/7 : Y..schal eche of þilke conclusions sette forþ bi wey of profre and of forþ purposyng to þe siȝt of ech reder.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.246 : He schulde nout sweryn it of his owyn profere whan hym nedith nout to sweryn.
- a1525(?1426) Cov.Leet Bk.105 : Nicholas Assheburn frely & of his own profre afore Ric. Joy..Joh. Braunston & Joh. Coton bayllifs..preyed that he myght be sworne to yif true enformacion of a mater.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4413 : Of þe quenes profer þe puple hadde reuþe.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5044 : Faire þe falle for alle wymman For þy gode profre.
- (1417) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)9.428 : The which I..thenketh..a grete and resonable Profre.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6701 : Þei..han wilfully refusid Oure iust proferes made to hem.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.34.18 : Þe profre [WB(2): profryng; L oblatio] of hem pleside to Emor and to Sichem.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)208 : The deen..Swech maner profir to him..mad he, To synge þe masse conuentual..Thus ded þay to Norbert, whan he was come..And he obeyid..here custome; Sang þe masse.
- (1448) Shillingford62 : My lord Chaunceller..wrotte unto my lord Bysshop..how that the Mayer and comynes offred ham self to alle maner resonable entrety..and the gentelnesse..and proffers that was on the part of the Mayer and the comynes.
- c1450(c1400) Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)55/22 : Than hadde I a profyr in my resone..I[t] sayde to me, 'Luke vppe to heven to his fadere.'
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)420/9 : The quene was so glad of his profyr that suddaynly..she graunte all his askynge.
3.
A threatened or simulated blow; an attempt or effort.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)8819 : Þat tre..was to short greet quantite..for no profur þat þei dude, Hit wolde not þere stonde in stude.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Hatfield (Hatfield 281)513 : Thise..persones..weren..hanged..and..letten down on live and dispoyled of ther clothes, and made profres to their nekkes and thanne weren yeven grace of their lyves by the King.
4.
The act of presenting oneself in a place, appearance.
Associated quotations
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)210/198 : 'Set on hym buffettys sad..And teche ye sich a lad to profer hym in sich a place.' 'Sir, my profer may both pleas and pay to all the lordys in this present.'
5.
Law A payment of estimated revenue due to the king or queen made by a sheriff, bailiff, or any other officer at the Exchequer at appointed times of the year.
Associated quotations
- (1450) RParl.5.175b : If Shirreffs, Eschetours, or eny other persones that shall make their profres..and..shall paie eny sommes of money therof att Kynges receite, [etc.].