Middle English Dictionary Entry
quert(e n.
Entry Info
Forms | quert(e n. Also kirt & (N) wharte, whert & (error) what. |
Etymology | From quert(e adj.; for kirt, ON: cp. OI kyrt adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Health; good health, physical well-being; safety, freedom from harm; also fig.; (b) in (with) ~, in health; safe, unharmed; out of ~, ill, lacking good health; holden in ~, to keep (sth.) safe; stonden to ~, continue in good health; and him ~ stonde, if he continues in health or unharmed; (c) spiritual health or well-being; also fig.; maken in ~, to impart spiritual well-being to (sb.); turnen to ~, of a soul: derive benefit from (spiritual instruction); (d) ease, peace, consolation, joy; (e) that which imparts health or consolation.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6980 : Seynt Ihon wyst wele hys herte, Hys sykenes, and alle hys querte.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15172 : Þe fleche was dutand for to dei, þat kindli wald ha quert [Göt: quarte].
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1488 : My leman swete, My life, my hele and al my hert, My joy, my comforth, and my quert.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)29/17 : Sall we noȝte gete horsez ynowe, and we lyffe & hafe qwert, and if we dye we sall hafe na nede of horse.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)9990 : Ouer al was wo, & no whar quert.
- c1450 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 853)235 : I Woot weel, lord..I haue so doon me ouȝte to drede; With bewte & with bodily qwart, To serue þee y took noon hede.
- c1450 ?Suffolk Myn hertes Ioy (Frf 16)8 : And yf ye lyst haue knowlech of my qwert I am in hele, god thankyd mot he be.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)101a : Qwartt: Calamitas [?read: Columitas], valitudo.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)1159 : To morowe thou goos yf þou haue quarte.
- a1500(?c1400) Gowther (Adv 19.3.1)224 : Have done, yf þou lufe þi qwart!
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)97/7 : How standys it with you, dame, of qwart?
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)325 : God help þe..þat þou mote ouercome our fo & come aȝeyn in querte.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1803 : Þof þat noe was in quert He was noght al at es in hert.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.123 : He turned his bridelle wiþ querte; he wend away haf gone; þe dede him smote to þe herte.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)970 : When þai herd sertaynly þat Iosep was in quert, þai thankid god forþi.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1614 : My lady wend he had hir hert Ay forto kepe and hald in quert.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)168/300 : When þe fire was brint oway, Hale in quert ilkone war þai.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)552 : Be þe quartere of þis ȝere, and hym quarte staunde, He wylle wyghtlye in a qwhyle on his wayes hye.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)41/50 : I am full olde and oute of qwarte.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)15622 : I sall bryng þi sun ydder and sayue hym sownd in qwerte, To he com agayn hydder.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)471/5 : He went to bed inwharte & heall, & on þe morn he was fon dead.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)3958 : Bischop Edbart Wex full seke and oute of whart.
- (1453) *Indent.Wood (ShropRRC Deed 2172) : Ye said Adam shall make ye biggyns with in ye space of iij yere and a halfe..and yf he shall fayle and..be in quart, he shall pay un to ye said Willm or to his execut' other v marc' of leall mone.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)67a : In what [Monson: In quarte], vbi alle [Monson: hale].
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)171/177 : Bot stand I to quart, I tell you my hart, I shall gar thaym start.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.in JHMAS 23 (Lnsd 793)p.172 : Thus is al the body Kepte in quarte and in hele.
- ?a1500 Wake man (LdMisc 733)4 : Com to churche, & serve thy maker with dredefull hart, lest that thou repent the when thou art owte of quart.
c
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)87/165 : Not only Jhesu..Bodiliche him byheold in fas, Bote wiþ-inne-forþ bi þe miht Of his Godhede..he saiȝ þe sympelnes and þe quert þat was in þat monnes hert, þe heiȝnes of his soule also.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19030 : Petre paind him ful gern In crist lai þat folk to lern; And þai þat tok his word til hert, þair sauls turnd it to quert.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)259/92 : Þe sinful man þat wil ha quert, þir aght him do ha reuth in hert.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28049 : Be clene in bodi and in hert; Þan sal þou saue þi saul quart.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)88.26 : Mi fadre þou erte, Mi god, and keper of mi querte.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Ihesu god sone (Cmb Dd.5.64)48 : Gyf al þi hert til Crist, þi qwert, and lufe hym evermare.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Cmb Dd.5.64)15 : Luf us comfortes and mase in qwart and lyftes tyl heven ryke.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle þi ioy (Cmb Dd.5.64)11 : Syn synkes as lede, And fer downe fals fra qwert.
- c1500(a1450) ALacrim.(Hrl 2274)p.293 : Thus must thou kepe thi soule in querte.
d
- c1350 Cum maker (Bod 425)3 : Of heiest hape fulfild [read: fulfill] in quert Þe brestes þat þou make gert.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24246 : Mi suet moder, tender of hert, Nu comforth þe, þou sal ha quert, And werp awai þi wepe.
e
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21354 : Þe rode..a bonte es ur baner; Bath on bodi and in hert, Gains al ur care it es ur quert.
2.
(a) General well-being, good fortune, prosperity; (b) haven in ~, to possess (sb. or sth.) to good advantage, possess in fortunate circumstances; stonden in ~, of things: continue to be of benefit.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Þe siker soþe (Auch)21 : Þis world..Wiþ bale..ous bites: Now kirt, now care, Now min, now mare.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)326 : Þai er swa wilde when þai haf quert, Þat na drede þai can hald in hert.
- 1425(a1400) Spec.Chr.(1) (Lnsd 344)61/9 : I am ful sori in myn herte for oþir mennis welfare & querte [vr. whert].
b
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)8554 : If þou him serue wiþ hool herte Of þre þou shal haue oon in querte.
- 1425(a1400) Spec.Chr.(1) (Lnsd 344)157/9 : Þe wyse man for sothe wil noȝt sette his herte on þing þat may not longe stande in querte [vrr. quarte, whert].
- c1475(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Hrl 661)p.133 : Querte [Grafton: My knightes al, which I had in quere, Thus sodenly fro me..passe awaye].