Middle English Dictionary Entry
serch(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | serch(e n. Also serge, cerche, sherch, sarche. |
| Etymology | OF cerche, cherche, serche, sarche investigation. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An examination of records, wills, etc.; a search through an area or a place; a scrutiny of someone's disposition; (b) a check of an inventory, etc.; wacche of ~, a check on sentries; (c) an intellectual discussion of a topic; also, experimental research.
Associated quotations
a
- (1432) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3161 : Whenne they have maad here serch among here munimentys..leyth us have trewe..declaration of here agrement of the summe wych ys due.
- a1700(1454) Grant Arms in Hrl.Soc.762 : I, the said Clarensewe, king of Armes..have made herein due serche and founde the right armes of the seid John.
- (1455) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1287 : Hyt was ordeynyt that the constabelys..make serch..in whate plas the sayd Oltaghys and begerys may be fownd.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1331 : Of the contrey men a serch secre Himself he make, and lerne in veritee Of hem, that on her lyf wil vndirtake, That thus it is, and vnder warde hem make.
- (1464) Paston2.303 : We woll and streitly charge yow that ye make due serche in all oure recordes restyng before vs.
- (1465) Paston (EETS)1.322 : Master John Salatt hathe made a serge in the regestre this monethe aftre the wylles and testementys.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)273/60 : Thurwe all galyle A serge to make yf jhesu be enteryd ȝour pepyl A-mong.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)524 : The woman..shewid forth hir ernd..In sauyng hir-seluen and serche of his wille.
b
- (1453) LRed Bk.Bristol2.203 : The vicarie..and the parishons..shall make due serch of the saide Juelx, ornamentis, and goodis.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1562 : A wacch of serch also ther was tattende That wel the tyme of wacchinge were spende.
c
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)142 : This serche wich we nowe haue made..hath be a digression ffrom the mater in wich we labour.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)277 : Many doctours of grete auctorite with many serchis haue this science soughte, yet al theire labours haue tornyde in-to noghte.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1754 : The principal agent to know at euery seson Requirith grete serch made bi subtile reson.
2.
(a) The right to investigate illegal activity, esp. the right to check weights, products, etc. of members of a guild; also, such an official investigation or inspection; ~ and assai; haven ~ (and correccioun; (b) examination of a ship's cargo by customs officers.
Associated quotations
a
- (1415) Rec.Norwich 1102 : Ye Meir shal haue serche and correccion of alle oþer vitaille wit inne ye Cite savynge ye profit to ye shreves.
- (1418) Grocer Lond.in Bk.Lond.E.198/112 : The Maystres..goon and asseyen weyghtys, powdrez, confescions, plasters, Oynementz, And all othyr thynges that longyth to the same Craft..ther labour of the forseyd serch, iiij d.
- (1440) in Black Leathersellers25 : Grete myscheves and harmes..fallen in the sale of..fellys..for lak of due serche and assay of the seyd fellys.
- (1441) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)262 : To the porteris of Bokelerisbury for Beryng of the wythtis be ij yeris at the serche, iiij s.
- (1447-8) Shillingford91 : The..Maier and Bailliffs..wolde to go aboute the cite to make serche of mysgovernance of vitaill.
- (1449) Rec.Norwich 2279 : Wardeyns..shall..be sworn to haue serche and correction of all and singuler defautes that arn..in the crafte.
- (1449) Rec.Norwich 2294 : Wardeynes shall haue power to make the serge in their crafte.
- (1451) in Black Leathersellers30 : Many and diverse persones..wol not obeye the serche of the Wardeins of the forsaid Craft of Glovers.
- (1452-3) Doc.in Welch Hist.Pewterers Lond.18 : Item, paide to a Clerk..for his reward in laboryng..for a charter for þe Craft to haue serche thurgh England, v s.
- (1455) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2.p.51 : Hit shall be lawfull to the..Chamburleynes to Putte the..seales to Ferme..Reserving..all maner Fines..Founden..by due serche.
- (1463-4) RParl.5.506b : That the Maire of the seid Cite..have auctorite to assigne..men..to make due serche..of all thinges had or doon contrarie to the premissez.
- c1490(1462) LRed Bk.Bristol2.128 : Hit is aggreed..that..yf by due cerche made by the Maisters..[it] be..proved that any suche person..bith so occupieng..suche Straungiers and Allions in Weuers Crafte..he..pay..for euery suche defaute vj s. viij d.
b
- (1442) Proc.Privy C.5.219 : It is impossible..to bringe in þe iijde part in bullion seyng þe forbedynges þat þe Duc of Bourgoigne hath maad and þe serches þat he hath maad.
- (1442) RParl.5.54b : Wherfore please it to youre Highnesse..to ordein..that no..Countrollours or Surveyours of Serches..have any Shippes of here owne.
- (1449) RParl.5.155b : Merchauntes..daily in divers Portes..brynghth..Marchaundise and Vitaille..in defaute of dewe sarche hadde of Custumers, Countrollers, and Sarcheours.
- (1450) RParl.5.200a : Countrollers of the serche..extortionously chargeth and taketh nowe daiely by duresse..uppon the Shippes..Goodes and Merchandises.
- (1462) Paston2.282 : The seyd Chapman is of no reputacion..and be coloure of hise office of supervisor of the serche shal gretly hurte the port.
3.
(a) One who supervises the behavior of nuns in a convent and sometimes punishes misconduct; (b) a surgical probe.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.249 : If any serche haue wherof to proclame any of hem so stondyng afore the president, he schall..tofore that the president enjoyne any penaunce to hym.
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.263 : Sche schal openly confesse..and..two serches schal ȝeve her disciplyne.
- 1530(c1450) Mirror Our Lady (Fawkes)154 : The parsone that hathe wyttyngly offended a nother..muste aske forgyuenesse afterwarde and the souerayne and serches that haue cure of the relygyon oughte to se that she be sadly correcte.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)48b/b : After in persyng & ledyng þe taile of þe probe or sherch [Ch.(2): probe, i. serchoure; L probe] vn to þe place of þe water þay drawe it out.
4.
Error for scurf n.(b) or for scar(re n.(1)(b) [cp. escarth, var. of escāre n.].
Associated quotations
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)67/22 : Þe blod of þe Veyne..wyl gon out whanne þat þe serche [?read: serthe; Ashm: schorf; L cortice] of þylke caustyke medycine ys remywed awey.