Middle English Dictionary Entry
rai n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | rai n.(1) |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A beam of light; (b) astrol. ?a beam of light emanating from a planet; (c) a jet or streak of blood; of blod ~, ?blood-streaked; (d) a horizontal side-rail of a cart.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)160 : I seȝ..A crystal clyffe ful relusaunt; Mony ryal ray con fro hit rere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3093 : Þe rowes and þe raies rede Estward to vs ful erly gonne sprede.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.89 : Holde þis stone aȝens þe sonne, & owte of þe ston schall springe oute rayes aȝens þe soon.
b
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)63/18 : Lette the moone be in Libra or Scorpion, with-out aspect or raies of the noyous planetes.
c
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)16880 : Al her harneis was of blod ray; Al on blod was her harneis.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)170/33 : Doth rowncys rennyn with rakynge raftys tyl rybbys be to-rent with a reed ray.
d
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.168 : Checune charette ke meyne bles Deyt aver redeles [glossed:] rayes [vr. ronges] au coustes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)394/342 : Lienteria is þe squit or þe reye when it schet fra an as a bolt.
Note: New form: Also reie.
Note: New combination: the ~, explosive fluid diarrhea.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section (including supplement form): Also reie; pl. raies.--notes per MLL