Middle English Dictionary Entry
rāthe adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | rāthe adj. Also rath, (error) vanth. |
| Etymology | OE: cp. WS hræð adj. & Nhb. hraðe adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Eager, prompt; also, rash; (b) aroused, provoked; ?angry; (c) early, soon; to ~, too early; (d) important, prominent, principal; sup. rathest, of first quality, best; (e) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)10448 : Achilles was al to rathe, Armed wel & redi dight.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)438 : I rede the, þou rathe mane þou riste the alle þe nyghte.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)98 : Was noȝte þe Rede Knyghte so rathe For to wayte hym with skathe.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)40 : Hit is a sothe-sigger þat seilde is y-seye To be cherisshid of chief in chambre or in halle, But for his rathe reasons is rebukid ofte.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)84/2492 : Hoo thenkith hit a vanth [alt. to rath] brayne.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6442 : To reule þaim wele he was full rathe.
b
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2550 : Redely theis rathe mene rusches owtte swerdez.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)52/16 : Me zeneȝeþ ine to raþe arizinge uor to ethene.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)299 : Alle the day, bothe late and rathe, Thei thoght on gyle.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.247 : Tilyng..Is not to rathe [L cito] yf dayis thryis fyue Hit be preuent.
d
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)80a/b : Spicez forsoþ of vlcerez..take her most rathe [Ch.(2): myȝtieste; L potissimas] differencez of 3 þingez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)138a/a : In it, biside diete, life, & purgacioun, ar 3 speciale & moste raþe entensionz.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.753 : Thyn assis donge is rathest forto dight A gardyn with [L primum est maxime hortis].
e
- (1290-91) Cart.St.John in OHS 68312 : Iohanna, filia Roberti le Rath.
- (1317-27) Nickname in LuSE 55149 : Rob. Rathebayn.