Middle English Dictionary Entry
recǒmforten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | recǒmforten v. Also recomfort(e, recomford, recoumforte, reconfort(e(n, recounfort(e; p. recomforted, etc. & recomfort(e, recomforthed, recoumforde, recounforte. |
| Etymology | OF: cp. CF reconforter, recomforter, AF recunforter. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To comfort (sb., the heart), console; ~ chere, brighten (someone's) appearance; ~ of, relieve (sb.) of (sorrow); ~ from, ease (someone's heart) of (misery or distress); ppl. recomforted, relieved (of one's grief); (b) refl. to take comfort, be consoled; (c) to entertain (sb.); refl. amuse oneself, engage in recreation; (d) to reassure (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2168 : Thanne shal man doon his diligence with amyable wordes hire to reconforte [vrr. recomford, recomforte].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.287 : Thanne..þat shrewe..walde haue hanged him-self, Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather reconforted hym.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.14 : Appollo with his bemys clere Hath recounforted hir [Aurora's] oppressid chere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2223 : No wiȝt ne can Hym recounforte of his hevynesse.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1672 : Eleyne..gan hire arm right over his shulder leye, And hym with al hire wit to reconforte [vr. reconfort].
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)101/6 : He may not verily recomfort þe hevy persoone which cordith him not wiþ his hevynes.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)8 : Lucifer..Ayen the morowe our orysont hath take..hertys heuy for to reconforte From dreryhed of heuy nyghtis sorowe.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)6.188 : This Anna..fel on knees doun, Recomfortede of all her olde smerte.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1493 : To the courte now wende ye thre And recoumforte my lady bryghte.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)1313 : All the lordys..Recowmforde hym full kyndely.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2852 : Yet seyde he muchel moore To this effect ful wysly to enhorte The peple that they sholde hem reconforte.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1166/21 : Recomforte yourselff, whatsomever com of me.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1051 : Wher is honour þat schulde also enbrace A lordis hert whiche..Schulde straungeris refresche and reconforte?
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1822 : It was Ioye..To sen þe maner..of hir entre To whom hir fader bad to take hir see Be-syde Iason, hym for to disporte..and to recomforte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2404 : I and my feris..Cast vs..In þe forest to pley vs..And pleasauntly vs to recomfort.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)1125 : It longith also to a kyng, With Instrumentys of hevenly Armonye..with divers menstralcye, To Recounfoorte and glade his Regallye.
d
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)2/5 : Þe aungel reconforted hym and seide þat þe bisechyng þat he had beden..was herd tofore God.
2.
(a) To encourage (sb.), urge, inspire; exhort (fighting men); spur (hounds) on; (b) refl. to be encouraged, take heart.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2850 : He reconforted [vrr. recomforted, recomfort, recomforte, reconfortyth] his litel compaignye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2761 : Recounforted only with þise two, And with good hope..Sche gan anoon to casten..Whanne þat þe mone on heuen wolde aryse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7259 : He..his Grekis so manly recounforte Þat..he made hem [enemies] to resorte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1672 : Whan þei him sen, [they] Ful inwardly recomforted ben.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)43 : Thay recomforthed þaire kenettis.
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2188 : By our commyng and arriveng al your cite was gretly recomforted.
- (1461) Collect.Anglo-Premonst.in RHS ser.3.1045 : Your saide Prisoner, & I his sympull Procurator, bene righte vyrelye exhorted, desyred, & recomforted be my profest Bredyrs.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)216/10 : The sowdan..recomforted his peple.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)82/14 : We haue wel vndirstonden youre cumfortable wurdis, which haue recumfortid us.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)181 : To my labour now I woll me spede, Prayng ech reder, me to reconforte, Benignely my rudenesse to supporte.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)39/18 : On thyng recomforteth me and geueth me hardynesse.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)233 : Thei recounforted moche the kynge Tradilyuant, for moche thei hym sustened.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3509 : Grekis..her hertis resumynge, Be-gan hem silf for to recounforte.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)64 : The Romayns..recomforting hem, foughten..vigorouslie.
3.
(a) To minister to (sb.), succor; help (sb.) in battle, aid; (b) to refresh (sb.), invigorate (the heart); (c) to strengthen (sb.), revive; (d) to strengthen (sb.) spiritually; make strong (spiritual or moral weakness); (e) to provide relief from (a task).
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2119 : Kyng Agamenoun..sawe his Grekis gonne faille And wexe feble..For lak of stuf þat shulde hem recounforte.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.679 : Zephirus..Most plesantly in þe eyr gan smyte..with his brethe hem to recomfort.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5739 : Naxyens don her besynesse To serue Bachus..Whos licour is moste precious and fyn To recomfort hertis and to glade.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)355 : Ther were..Lymons..And the pome-cedre corageous to recomfort.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)101/3 : The good spirit sholde not be harde to graunte there where it seeth necessite, but recomfort þe nedi.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)135/22 : It is a noble vertu..to Recomforte and uisite all suche as by Iugement and [read: are] pore..or in any other infirmite.
- ?c1450 Trivet Constance (Harv Eng.938)230 : She was well strengthed and recomforted with good metes and drynkes.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5086 : Lusty ver, with his ȝonge grene, Is recounforted by þe sonne schene.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)358/25 : Sir Gareth recomforted hir in suche wyse that she recovirde.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.IVMass (Trin-C R.3.21)546 : Masse..Recomforteth the seke in hys langour.
d
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Letab.(Hrl 2255)202 : The hih Cedre his braunchis lyst enclyne To Recounforte our Infirmyte.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.282 : Thei were of this hooly mayde Thus recomforted.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)6778 : So doth ffeyth..Yt maketh pylgrymes glad & lyht..And..Gretly doth hem Reconforte.
e
- a1550(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Sln 1873)2770 : They most have some good disporte Theire grete labours to recomforte.
4.
To light up (the sky), brighten (a place); also fig.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2736 : Esperus, with hir stremes glade,..Gan recounforte al our emesperie.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1028 : And for most chefe al dirkenes to confounde, Was a charbocle..To recounfort & gladyn al þe halle.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2966 : Þe bewte of hir goodly face Recounforted..al þe place.