Middle English Dictionary Entry
sharpe adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | sharpe adv. Also sserp. |
| Etymology | From OE: cp. WS scearpe, A scerpe & ME sharp adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Sharply, keenly; also, piercingly; (b) loudly, shrilly; (c) fiercely; intensely; also, vigorously, eagerly [quot.: ?a1450]; ~ lokinge; (d) swiftly; with pun on sense (a) [2nd quot.]; ~ renninge; (e) her. with a serrated design or edge.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4227 : Þe swerd of vengaunce schal ful scharp bite.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6109 : For no þing may a quarel so avaunce As hasty swt; it wil þe scharper bite -- Þe Iren hoot, tyme is for to smyte.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2222 : Hyr rosys fel on me so scharpe Þat myn hed hangyth as an harpe.
b
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)141 : He song so lude and so scharpe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.39 : Al her courte on hym cryde 'crucifige' sharpe.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)877 : Þat lote..schowted scharpe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.729 : Pandarus..cryde 'Awake!' ful wonderlich and sharpe [vr. charpe].
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)774 : Whan a pipe is blowen sharpe, The air ys twyst with violence.
c
- a1325 SLeg.Patr.(Corp-C 145)234 : A softe wind þer was þat he hurde vnneþe, Ac so sserp and cold he bleu þat it broȝte him nei to deþe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)296b/a : Eueriche lows þe lenere sche is, the scharpere sche byteþ and greueþ.
- ?a1400 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Roy 17.A.26)p.95 : Sharper [vr. sharplier; Hrl 874: he assaileþ hem þe harder & þe egrelicher for þat he is agreued].
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)141b/a : Þe place is rede and scharpe akkeþ.
- ?a1450 Poem Hawking (Yale 163)549 : Yf thei be-sette sharpe, And yf the foule ryse vp an hye, Þough she smyte her doun, her beke, her fete ar nat sharpe To fede hyr all fully or a man come to nye.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)150/14 : We yeve þe fende strength..to..asayle vs þe ofter and þe more scharper.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)233/22 : Who so hath eyen..sharpe lokynge, he is a dysceioure.
d
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)248 : The water..was clier and sharp rennynge.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)3524 : Þanne slakeþ the roope..And þanne he falleþ sharpe i-nowh.
e
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)her.leaf d vii/a : In theys armys ij coloris paly ar put togethir, oon in to an othir crokytly and sharpe.