Middle English Dictionary Entry
refrēt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | refrēt(e n. Also refreit(e, refrait(e, refreid(e, refraide, refrid. |
| Etymology | OF: cp. CF refrait, refret, AF refreit. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The refrain of a song or poem; also, a song; (b) a repeated phrase; ?also, liturg. a repeated response; (c) a debate.
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3567 : With ther goddis thei maden hym egall..And sang refreites to comende his merites.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Friend AN (Ashm 59)p.755 : Here begynneþe a Polletyke Balade..with þe gode Refrayde, To fynde a freonde at neode.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.PPeace (Hrl 2255)80 : The seuen douhtren of the Hooly Goost..Song Laudes Deo..And of ther song the refreit was of pees.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)14 : I herde a Nightingale..Whos hertely refreyde was euer 'ocy, ocy.'
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4103,4109 : Þis was þe refret of þat caroulle..'Bono rodde be þe wode so grene..Heyȝe we now fast & go we henne.' Þis was þe refryd of þe caroulle.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)57/1687 : I writen haue within myn hert..This refrayt..Teys yow to whom y loue am and no mo.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)39/29 : He made ther a song, of the whiche the refrete was this melodie: Of byrdes and wordly ioy is to me noo disporte.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)87.85-89 (v.2:p.104) : Whan our lady had sungen these two vers as for the refret of the songe, the two maidens goyng next .. bigunne to syngen other two vers .., which sungen, our lady bigan ageyn the refreit.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.TWoe (Hrl 2255)186 : I the refreyd tooke Of..Chaucier..this world is a thurghfare ful of woo.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)310 : Thei seiden in refreite of hir songe, 'Vraiement comencent amours en ioye, et fynissent en dolours.'
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)615 : He harped a lay of Breteigne..and the refraite of his laye salewed the kynge Arthur.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)427 : Refreyt, of a respowne: Antistropha.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1200 : Vnneth she myȝte speke but..Wordis of discomfort..'alas & woo þe tyme þat she weddit was!' Was evir more þe refreit.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)105/156 : Ever sobbinges and complayntes be redy refrete in his meditacions.
c
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)p.1 head. : Here begynnes a tretys and god schorte refreyte by-twixe wynnere and wastoure.