Middle English Dictionary Entry
slēer(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | slēer(e n. Also slear(e, slaer(e, slaare, sloere, scleer, sclaer. |
| Etymology | From slēn v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. man-sleer(e n.
1.
A killer, murderer; also fig.; also, an officer [quot.: a1425(c1395)].
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Wisd.12.5 : Þou grisedest..þe sleeris [WB(2): slears; L necatores] of þer sones withoute mercy.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.12.6 : Judas..came aȝein slears [L interfectores] of bretheren.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2005 : The sleere [vrr. sloere, scleer] of hymself yet saugh I ther.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.373 : Whan þe kyng was i-slawe, þe sleere [L occisor] fliȝ.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)7 : Prelatis..ben theuis and sleeris of pore men.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)269b/b : If þe oon [adder] is y-slawe, þe other pursueþ..þe sleer and reseþ on him.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)1 Kings 19.20 : Saul sente sleeris [WB(1): catchepollis; L lictores] that thei schulden rauysche Dauid.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Tim.1.9 : To þe rightwise men is no lawe sette, But..to þe slears of fadyrs and modyres, to þe manslears [L patricidis et matricidis, homicidis].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)10b/a : Bouicida: an ox sleer.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)20a/a : Deicidia [Cnt: Deicida]: a sleare of goddes [Cnt: god].
- c1440(a1349) Rolle 10 Com.(Thrn)11/34 : Thay are slaers gastely þat will noghte feede þe pouer in nede.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)1655 : Sende forth þese to þe byschop..Hows-brenner & sleer of mon.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)967 : It gladis me..to ga þus to deth, To se my slaare..be sa sone ȝolden.
- c1450 NPass.(Add 31042)161/439* : Thow ne sall neuir make an Endynge Of þat howse..ffor þou arte slaere of mane.
- (1473) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.789 : Whare any Slathter has bene committed..the Slaar or the Slaars shall be takyn..be the Wardains.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.227 : Hispias..commaundede the sleer of his brother to be taken.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)54 : Scheperds..nouȝt schewing þe gospel..are..slears and traytors of þe schep.
- c1475 Ipotis (Brm)p.33 : Mannys sleere [Vrn: Monsleere] he w os I know Whan he hys owyne sowle slew.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)115a : A Slaer of þe modir: Matricida.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)115a : A Slaer of þe fadir: patricida, paricida.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)342 : A Sclaer: mactator, jnterfector, occisor.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.73va : The mayde repreuyd her, sayeng, 'we shal neuer see sone ne doughter of the on the erthe, thou slear of thy husbondes.'