Middle English Dictionary Entry
rās(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | rās(e n. Also race. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI rās; cp. ME rēs n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A forward movement, course, progress; also, a sea current; also, a rush of water; (b) a course of life or conduct; a period of time; rennen the develes ~, rennen oute of god ~, to pursue an evil course; reuen ~, repent (one's) behavior; (c) a narrative, an account; with renninge ~, cursorily, with a slipshod account.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23588 : Sun and mon and water and stern..rinnes nu wit ras [Frf: wiþ-in ras; Trin-C: in cours] sa yern.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21014 : Ouer his armur þe blod tok race.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)774 : Wynde him blewe ful fayre and goode..over the salte flode And ouer the profounde rase.
- c1450 Inf.Chr.(Add 31042)845 : Twa stremys to Naufrike badde he rynne..That neuer-mare of rase [vr. renynge] salle blyne.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2798 : He knoweth euery rok and euery race..sonde & sholde, And where is deep ynough his foo to chace.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)36/429 : Noe: help, god, in this nede! As thou art stere-man good..Thou rewle vs in this rase.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)114/451 : It commys on a rase, yond sterne vs to.
b
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)17.274/122 : To toune I renne þe deueles ras.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7824 : Ypomodon and Pallidamas And Absolon, þat so fair was, Hij lyueden here a litel raas, Ac sone forȝeten vchon was.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1448 : I whilom þoghte Han ben a prest; now past am I þe raas.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)279/214 : Rugge hym in ropes, his rase till he rewe.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Mand.& Sultan (BodeMus 160)17 : Your prestes that suld tech vertus trace, They ryn rakyll out of gud race, Gyffe ylle ensampille and lyese in synne.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)110/8 : Þeah ðe godspellere þas haliȝe race mid lyt worde write, [etc.].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26732 : Qua will yeild a-cuntes right He agh it for-wit for to dight, Ne tell noght ouer-wit reuand [Frf: rynnande] ras.
2.
(a) A charge, an onslaught, attack; also, a sortie, sally; (b) swift running; a rush; also, speed; in (on, upon) a ~, in a hurry, quickly; on ~, in haste.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3990 : Wiþ gret ras King Ban þai hitten alle at ones.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7152 : Al þe oþer toforn hem go To Camalot..To keueren wiþ his meine, And he bihinde to ben bi cas, To susten þe paiems ras.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1428 : To-ward Hugoun he made a ras; Als a lyoun he heyed him fast Þat his prey wold haue on hast.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)4252 : Prothesaly the formast was Off alle the schippis In that ras.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.258 : Thus thanne Owt gonne they pase Owt Of that Cyte, A ful wilde Rase.
- c1450 Whanne marye was greet (Lamb 853)238 : Ordeyne we us wiþ al oure gere, For hidir he þinkiþ to make a race.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)17/11 : Come an hoste vp-on ham..as they woldyn in wode raas fersly ouersayle hame al.
b
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Knt.PW (Phys-E)p.141 : To the bischope in a ras He ran.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1167 : Of raas þaȝ I were rasch and ronk, Ȝet rapely þerinne I watz restayed.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1420 : Þurȝ playnez þay passe in space, Vn-coupled among þo þornez Rachez þat ran on race.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8938 : Assahelle..swa swyft was to ryn and ga Þat thurgh rase wald turne bath buk and ra.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)3607 : These Gregeis saylen vpon a ras Toward Troy.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)15552 : Here are manye at suche a red..to leue this place And take the see opoun a race, To wende hamward to here contre.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)112 : Vn-to þat grysely gaste Sir Gaweayne es gane; He raykede to it one a rase [vrr. at a res; rathely].
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)1475 : His fon kemon on a ras And maden til hym ful fel manas.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2588 : She..ryseth vp in a grete raas [vr. ynne haste].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1513 : Þan rynnes he furth in a rase & arais all þe cite.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)489 : Arise vp in aras [read: a ras]; We bene elles alle I-take.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1996 : And þaim [letters] redes on a rase he & rechez to þe sedes.
3.
A sweep of a sword or knife, a stroke.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2076 : Gawayn..went on his way with his wyȝe one Þat schulde teche hym to tourne to þat tene place Þer þe ruful race he shulde resayue.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)73 : I chese to the chawylls chefe to be-gynn, And ritte doun at a rase reghte to the tayle.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1349 : He raught a stroke to Ferumbras; On his helme it gan down glyde; It brast his hawberke at þat ras And carfe hym throughe-oute his syde.
4.
In surnames and place name.
Associated quotations
- (1193) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.328 : Rogerus Race.
- (1199) CRR(1) 1430 : Willielmus Ras.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 16139 : Beatr.Rase.
- (1400) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.24 : [16 pigs for pannage in] Rassewod.