Middle English Dictionary Entry
reward n.
Entry Info
Forms | reward n. Also rewarde, rewuard(e, reuward, rawarde. |
Etymology | AF reward, NF rouwart (vars. of OF regart) & ML rewardum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. regard(e n.
1.
(a) Something awarded in recognition of merit, virtue, etc.; a reward, prize; (b) a payment for services, remuneration; a fee, bonus; also fig.; (c) what one deserves, just deserts; retribution, retaliation, punishment; also, requital [quot.: WBible(2)]; (d) compensation; a return for a favor; something given in exchange; (e) a gift, bribe; a payment; a payment for incidental expenses; (f) hunt. certain parts of the slain quarry given to hawks or hounds, esp. a preparation of the entrails of a hart or boar given to hounds at the end of a hunt; (g) a fresh supply of food, esp. bread, brought to the table to replace what has run out; a dessert; a meal provided for entertainers; (h) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)98/582 : I wole schewe..what punyschynge shal be do to hem þat ben..wickid and what reward schal be ȝeue to hem þat ben..goode and trewe.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1804 : Ȝe haf deserued..More rewarde bi resoun þen I reche myȝt.
- a1400 MPPsalter (Dub 69)18.12 : Muchel reward [L retributio] is in hem [Lord's commandments] to be kepid.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)124/19 : Perseueraunce is a vertu þat..resceyueþ ioye and a coroun of a special reward.
- (c1440) Doc.Bridg.Corp.in Som.RS 5744 : Be to hem soche frend..that we may have cause to thanke yow wt reward after yowre deserve.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)34 : Þou hast behote hem for reward of victory greet kyngly ȝyftes.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)22/659 : Y wolde haue passyng fayne The reward which to trewe loue shuld habounde.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)209/15 : Þe prince þat giveþe..to hem þat..have deserved gifft or rewarde, he is large to him-self.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)407/27 : Yf God gyff me grace to spede..ye shall gyff me a rewarde.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)124 : Ambassatours..at thair departynge..most nedis haue grete giftes and rewardes.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)115/8 : Honour, laude, and glorie of this worlde is not a sufficiant rewarde for vertuous levyng and vertuous dedis.
- a1500 15c.Serm.Cycle(Hrl 2247:Powell)97/158 : Riȝtfull men shall lyve withoute ende and afore God is þeire rewarde.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)98/9 : Þey mowen bi þe forseyde avowe..reioyse perpetualli þe rewarde of blisse, whoche ys ordeynid for here rewarde.
b
- (1371) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.3510 : In putura, reward, et aliis necessariis pro le clok, 4 s. 4 d.
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)66/94 : As he lyuede here wiþoutyn trauayle, so he shal þere lacke þe reward [vr. rewuard] of þe peny, þat is þe endeles ioye of heuene.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)73a/a : A good seruaunt..hopiþ certeinlich to haue mede and reward [L remunerationem] for good acountis.
- (1400) Will York in Sur.Soc.4519 : In reward diversorum cocorum et aliorum servientium.
- (1405) MSS PRO in App.Bk.Lond.E.284 : Vp this be-heste and reward of wages, there drowh to Glendore..somday lx..men.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4640 : Thou servest a full noble lord, That maketh thee thrall for thi reward.
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)101/22 : Þis askyng cometh laste as a reward comeþ after werk.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)112 : Days rawarde or hyre, or oþer lyke: Diarium.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)389 : If this word meede or reward be take in his..propir maner of signifiyng..he bitokeneth a thing which is to be ȝouun or paid for a werk bifore doon.
- (1452-3) Doc.in Welch Hist.Pewterers Lond.18 : Item, paide to a Clerk of the Chauncery..for his reward in labouryng to serche for statuts..v s.
- (1466) Paston (Gairdner)4.227 : To the Priors boteler for bred, ii s. x d..To the boteler for hys reward, xx d.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)57b/b : To þe pore be gracious by þi power, but of þe riche þou myȝt feiþfully take good reward.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)48 : Mynstrelles..to take theyre wages of houshold after iiii d.ob. a day..Besides eche of them anothyr reward yerely.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)323/553 : Loke ye say thus in euery land, And therto on this couande x ml. li. haue in youre hande To youre rewarde.
c
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)27.6 : Ȝeue to hem efter her werkes and efter þe wickednesse of her fyndynges..ȝelde her rewarde [L retributionem] to hem.
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)68/116 : Euery man shal take reward [vr. reuward], good oþer euyl, aftir he haþ trauayled here.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1055 : Nou schalt thou take thi reward Of dedly peine hierafterward In helle.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)604 : In Godez ryche..is vch mon payed inlyche, Wheþer lyttel oþer much be hys rewarde.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)221/12 : A, sire traitoure..now shal ȝe haue þe reward þat longetyme ȝe haue diserued.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jas.1.17 : Ech good ȝifte..cometh doun fro the fadir of liȝtis, anentis whom is noon other chaungyng, ne ouerschadewyng of reward [L vicissitudinis].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)64a/b : Talio: rewarde, vindicta simil.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)101/33 : Or euere þat þei come to helle, here þei haue take it for her hyre and reward.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)75/9 : Thin yvil mysdede foryete þou noughte..For þe reward he wil wel kepe for þe.
- c1475(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Hrl 661)p.302 : The rewarde of synne is shame and sorowe.
- a1500(a1400) Cleges (Adv 19.1.11)449 : He sowȝt after the prowȝd styward, For to yeve hym hys reward, Becavse he grevyd hym sore.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)287a/b : Þe emptes gaderen gretter burþenes þan here owne bodyes ben, and so he recouereþ reward of [L recuperant] litelnesse of body..in mochilnes of vertu.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)208 : Þe falce fende..watz..Of alle þyse aþel aungelez attled þe fayrest, And he unkyndely as a karle kydde a reward.
- (1414) RParl.4.59b : That it lyke to the Kyng to graunte the forseide Maner..to us..in reward of the grete hyndryng that we have had thise x ȝer and more.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)16a/b : Compenso: to ȝel [?read: ȝeld] rewarde.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)277/23 : Þou seest..how þei ȝeelde me aȝein for þe good deede þat I haue do to hem; Her reward..is..þat euery day þei pursuen me in riȝt manye dyuerse cursid synnes.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.514 : Yf my brothir..refuse & denye to have this seid tenement..in exchaunge and reward for ye maner of Mekilfeld, [etc.].
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)72/13 : Mede..sette hir herte uppon Jason and yaf him worschip, bodi, and goodes; for þe which aftirward he yaf hir a ful yvil reward.
- (1469) Doc.Brewer in Nrf.Archaeol.5324 : Berme, otherwise clepid goddis good, withoute tyme of mynde hath frely be goven or delyvered for brede, whete, malte, egges, or other honest rewarde.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)103b : A Rewarde: Compensacio.
e
- (1423-4) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.182/1298 : William Crowmer, Mair of london..dede no desese to þe seide craffte, ne he wolde nought receyve no ȝifftes ne rewardes of þe same craffte.
- (1449) RParl.5.149a : Untrue Officers, as Sercheours and Surveiours..take no fee, but prive rewardes for doyng the Kyng wrange.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)390 : This word meede or reward is takun vnpropirli..forto speke of..mynystring of costis and expensis..into that a certeyn deede be doon.
- (1455) Lin.DDoc.78/13 : I charge the said lord lovell and Chaunceler that thei, in namyng..and admittyng the said ij prestis, put aparte all maner of affectuouse percialite, favour, seruice, or reward.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)131/31 : Þer is non pryce, reward, ner tresour þat may bye ayen goode fame if it be fully lost.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)193/29 : If..ony of þi masengeris be bysi to take rewardys [L peccunie] to hys profite..sett hym asyde.
f
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)101 : Þe maister of þe game shuld pulle away þe hede, and anoon oþer shuld..pulle away þe skynn and lat þe houndes come to þe reward, and þan shuld..alle þe hunters stonde a rome al about þe reward.
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)154 : Whan the boor is i-take..ye shal ȝif your houndys the bowellis boyled with breed, and it is callyd reward.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking in Studia Neoph.16 (Hrl 2340)10 : Yeue her to reward þe brayn, the eyen, and the flesh aboute þe neck.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf e 111/a : Yowre houndys..shall haue the bowyllis boyle with the brede, Cast vppon the grownde ther the boore was slayne, And that is calde a Rewarde.
g
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)431 : Rewarde, at mete, whan fode fallythe of the seruyce: Auctorium.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)431 : Rewarde, yn þe ende of mete, of frutys: Impomentum.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)431 : Rewarde, for syngarys and mynst[r]allys: Siparium.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)421 : When brede faylys at borde aboute, The marshalle gares sett with-outen doute More brede, þat calde is a rewarde.
h
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10163 : Rico Reward.
2.
(a) The act of looking, sight, perception, view; as to mi ~, as far as I could see; taken god ~, to take a good look; (b) respect, esteem, regard; (c) consideration, judgment; bi ~ of, by consideration of (sth.); (d) the inspection of a forest; (e) the influence of the stars under whose aspect one is born.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.41.25 : Shame ȝee..fro reward [WB(2): biholdyng; L respectu] of a fornycarie womman.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5344 : Lik a theeff he made hem [cattle] go bakward, That no man sholde the tracis off hem knowe, Nor off ther passage haue no reward.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)36.177 : Thus beheld sche In hym..And ypocras of hire good Reward took tho.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)23455 : As to my reward, hir hed was turned ek bakward.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)23b/a : Diuers men holden diuers opiniouns of þe anothamye of þe yȝen..but neþeles alle þei acorden to oon conclusioun after diuers rewardis.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Wisd.14.11 : To þe mawmetis of naciouns shal not ben reward, for þe creatures of god in to hate ben maad.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.194 : He sent to kyng R. a stede for curteisie, On of þe best reward þat was in paemie.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.4.5 : Þanne schal be reward or preysyng [L laus] to ylke man of god.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)207/12 : Þe wynd of prosperite norischiþ pryde..wiþ magnifiinge ofhymsilf and litil reward of his neiȝbore.
c
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)129/29 : Y neuer him bitraede ne sloughe; and þerof y put me [in] rewarde of ȝour cou[r]t.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)21 : Crist makeþ vs siker to dye for his lawe bi reward of þe blisse of heuene.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)456 : Vp þe wuch trete was I profred..to ffor sake all hure dedys and onlych stond to þe reward of þis seyd Nicholas Bysshop dedes.
d
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)671/16 : Kyng henry..yaf..to the holy mynchons..all that parte of wode..quyte fro wast and rewarde.
e
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)216/29 : Euery man, of the begynnynge of his berth, by the vertu of the Sterris wych than haue rewarde to hym, Is disposid dyuersly to vertues and to vices.
3.
In phrases: (a) haven ~, to take note; be concerned (about sth.); take into account (that sth. is so); haven ~ of (at, til, unto), take heed of (sth.), have consideration for, be concerned about; (b) haven ~ to, to pay attention to (sb. or sth.), take into account, consider; havinge ~ in comparisoun to, in comparison with (sth.); (c) as to ~ of, in respect to (sth.); in ~, ?by contrast, on the other hand; in ~ of, in comparison with (sb. or sth.), with regard to, in relation to; in ~ that, compared with what (is the case); to ~ of, in comparison with (sth.); (d) taken ~, to take heed, make discrimination; taken ~ to (at, of, til), take account of (sb. or sth.), pay attention to, consider; have regard for (sb.); taken in-to ~ of, consider (sth.) as (tithes); taken no (non, but litel) ~, have no care (that sth. is so); make no attempt (to do sth.); also, have no scruple (to do sth.); (e) withouten ~, as a metrical filler: indeed, without doubt.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.169 : Blissed he is..þat haþ part of þe first resureccioun; þai ne hane no reward [vrr. warde, ward; F garde] of þe secounde deþ.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)241 : Reward had & consideracioun Vn-to the dignitees of tho persones, Thow art of a scars reputacioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.135 : He nouþer haþ manhod nor prowes, Force, knyȝthod, nouþer hardines, And, at a point, for to haue rewarde, In doring do preved a coward.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)76/13 : Godd, hafand reward til his grete pacience and his mekeness, sent him agayne mare ricches.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1622 : That ye han..of my wo Any reward..I wot wel that..my labour May nat disserve it.
- (1435) Wars France in RS 22.2577 : The king..shulde susteyne his righte..not havyng nor taking rewarde unto the clamour of the peple.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)52/23 : Hafand reward and compassion of oure disesse, we be-seke ȝow, þat ȝe..helpe for to succour vs.
- (c1447) Let.Midylton in Lin.NQ 16199 : Folkyngam had never leyser sythe I departyd to wryte me nother bille nor letter wheche had not be comyn hym amys, having reward that a ys myn officer.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)375 : Tirauntz of Lumbardye..han no reward but at tyrannye.
- c1450 *Bk.Marchalsi (Hrl 6398)14a : Of þe bere ne of þe lyon ne haue he non reward, for þer ne is non of hem þat dar abydyn þe stroke of an hors.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)26 : The wylde swyn..eteth the mast in his busch and hath no reward whennes it cometh him.
- a1500(1413) ?Hoccl.Poems PS (Eg 615)p.liii/63 : O charite..helpe myn hunger to abate, Havyng reward vnto my pouer astate.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3339 : Haueþ reward to ȝour riȝt, & redli chul ȝe spede.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.345 : It sit every man to have Reward to love and to his miht.
- (1399) RParl.3.451b : Some prayed the Kyng and the Lordes for to have rewarde to tendresse of her age.
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8)23/121 : Þou ne hadde no reward to no mannys drede.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1734 : Worthy kyngges..Wyn, and wymmen ben ek set a-syde..havyng reward in comparisoun To trouthes myght.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1133 : To myn estat have more reward, I preye, Than to his lust!
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)103/19 : I haue..toold þee of hem..hauynge no reward but oonli to hemsilf, þat is to seie, louynge hemsilf.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)133 : In takynge of medecyne, man hath no reward to..swetnes or bitternesse, bot only as it is most conuenient..to hele the soore or the siknesse.
- (?1449) Paston (Gairdner)2.115 : The sayde Fastolf wyl deliver..certayn londe, havynge rewarde to the somme that the sayde Fauconer wil gyf.
- ?a1450 Mem.Cred.(Tan 201)124/6 : Strengh is affeccion to god þurgh þe which a man naþ no reward to anguys ne to myschefys of þe world.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.77.54a : He..haþ ..non reward to non oþer þing bute to meknes and charite.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)21a/b : Þis ventricle ys seid to be hoot and drie hauynge reward to þe oþere two ventriclis.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)6500 : Bodily delite þer is also Þat no time haþ reward to.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3087 : Parys..Beheld hir full hertely, hade no rewarde To prayer ne pepull.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)74/4 : Al þet eure þoleden þe holy martires..ne ys bote a beþ ine chald weter to þe reward of þe fornayse.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.147 : Þe develes..kest on hym..most brennynge flamme, in rewarde of [Higd.(2): in respecte of; L respectu] whiche flamme oure fire is but lewk.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3254 : Of Daunger cometh no blame, In reward of my doughter Shame.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)156a/a : Drynke forsoþ be encresed in reward of mete, Nouȝt in reward of custome.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)251 : In the bigynnyng of the chirche..writingis dressing men into holynes weren scant and fewe in reward that thei han ben sithen.
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)16/221 : Cherubin..ben..in reward of erþelich þinges, simple in composiciun.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)48/6 : A-noþer digit..settethe a-way alle that is ouer his hede as to rewarde of the doublede.
- c1450 Trin-C.Accedence (Trin-C O.5.4)42/492 : A coniunccion..wole joyne..twey verbes in reward of a nominatyf case.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)163/8 : Ye schall..angle..yn a stondyng watur yn euery place..But in rewarde ye schall angle euery place wher it is depe and clere by þe grounde.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)2/14 : Oure qui[n]ta essencia is nouȝt so incorruptible as is heuene of oure lord god, but it is incorruptible in reward of composicioun maad of þe 4 elementis.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)65/4 :
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)2.7.34b : Alle this erthely fire is but as thing depoynted in reward of þat other.
d
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3499 : Of Richardis skyles þay toke reward, & alle þanne assentede..þat Richard scholde wende.
- c1390(1377) Death Edw.III (Vrn)105 : Gode sires, takeþ reward Of ȝor douhti kyng.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2449 : Men take moore reward [vr. hede] to the nombre than to the sapience of persones.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2561 : They ne wollen take but litel reward to venge thy deeth.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.265 : Diues deyed dampned..Vch a riche, I rede, rewarde at hym take.
- c1400 *Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)1157 : He takþ no reward of al þis.
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)46/11 : Þei toke no rewarde how sore it greued þee þat piteuouse stripynge, when many a pece of þi tendir skyn folowede.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1871 : Þe dede til na man tas rewarde; Ne riche ne pover he spars.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)300 : He schulde ay Holde him for a coward And neuere-more of him take reward.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)417 : God takes no rewarde, For riches þat no man be sparde, Ne non put doun for pouerte.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)15500 : All myn entent tell þe sall I; take gud reward to my reson.
- c1450 *Bk.Marchalsi (Hrl 6398)5b : Take non reuward to mak hym fat.
- (a1452) Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)363 : Straungers take but litell reward to bye oure Inglisshe clothe, but make hit theym selff.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2326 : These devillis of this town takith but litill reward To sclee my body to have my good.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1000 : The wasshyng mad out-ward Ys but tookene, who taketh Reward, Off al clennesse forth with-Inne.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)369/21 : The abbot and Couent..were I-woned to take the tythis of sheves into rewarde of ther tythys.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.210 : Þei dauncyd forth..And toke no reward to God nor to man.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)602 : Thei toke no rewarde to sle the pore saisnes, but turned..thider as thei saugh the richeste apparence.
e
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.31 : Take persoley and sage and grynde hit wele With þe brothe of pigges with owtene rewarde, And ȝolkes of eggus þat soþun ar harde.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1670 : Fooles, when they haue doon All that they can, than be they fayne Yeue vp her mater to oblyuyon; Without rewarde they haue no more brayne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: ?Etymology addition / revision: (Anglo-Norman Dict.) [From ANreward(e, vars. of regard n.].--per MLL