Middle English Dictionary Entry
purseuere n.
Entry Info
| Forms | purseuere n. Also pursuer(e, -suar, -suour, -suwer(e, perseuar. |
| Etymology | From purseuen v. & AF pursuer(e, pursueour. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who pursues with hostility, a pursuer; (b) one who persecutes, a persecutor; tormentor; enemy; (c) = pursevaunt n.; (d) a prosecutor; law one who brings a suit, a plaintiff, petitioner.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Esd.9.11 : Þe pursueres, forsoþe, of hem þou þrewe a-fer in to þe depnesse as a ston in stronge watris.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lam.4.19 : Swiftere weren oure pursueris þan eglis of heuene.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)87a : He þat is pursewere after hem þat voydeþ or fleeþ..sendiþ out..a fewe horsmen to folowe þe tayl.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)87b : He þat is pursuere makiþ his horsmen þat folowiþ þe tayl to make sodeinliche asawte.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.9.2 : Þer ben gedered bi alle citees, burȝ-townes, & placis þat þei shulden strecchen out hond aȝen enemys & þer pursueres.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.1.13 : I first was a blasfeme or dispiser of God, and pursuwer [vr. pursuer; L persecutor] and ful of wrongis.
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)1164 : Þat beo þe steppes of deþ is deþes pursuwere I-maad þe ȝiuere of blis.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)66/28 : Do ȝe wel to hem þat haten ȝou & preie ȝe for ȝoure purswars & ȝoure sclaunderars.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)316/3 : I schewide þee also how myche þe offence displeside me þat pursueris doon to holy chirche.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)184 : He wolde..suffre the malice of his pursueres in to the vttereste ende.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)15 : Þre condicouns mak martirdom faire..riȝtwisnes of þe cause, charitable pacience of þe martir, an vnriȝtwisnes of þe persewar.
- a1500 St.Jerome (Lamb 432)342/22 : Thus, dere Austyne, we be tawght not to drede the pursuers of oure ffeythe.
c
- (1384-5) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103594 : 1 sergaunt de armes 6 s. 8 d.; 1 pursuer de armes, 2 s.
d
- [ 1419(?1334) Liber Albus Lond.in RS 12.1424 : Un procurere, promotere, et pursuere..lour procureur, attourne, promoteur, et pursuer. ]
- (1430) Doc.Merchant York in Sur.Soc.12934 : Burneley..is a trewe and a diligent and a kunnyng pursuer, to whom the lordes gaf ryght gode favour.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.173v : Atte laste the pursuwer of synne was putte oute of his see in the dukes yong yeres.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1534 : Many swyche pursuours þere ben, Þat for vs take, & ȝeue vs nat a myte..I seye nat, al lordes men þus do Þat sue vnto oure court, but many..Han þus don ofte.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.292 : Florence, therle of Holand, & his compeers, That claimed then the croune of Scotland..as pursuers Came to kyng Edward..Requeryng hym..To trye the right and sette theim in accorde.