Middle English Dictionary Entry
smert(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | smert(e n. Also smarte & (early SEM) smierte, (SWM) smirte, (SW) smeorte. |
| Etymology | ?OE: cp. cogn. MDu. smarte, smerte, MLG smerte, smarte, OHG smerza; also cp. ME smert adj. Some forms prob. show influence of smerten v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Physical pain; also, harm [quot. a1420]; also, a burn [quot. 1440]; don ~, to cause (an animal) pain, harm; (b) grief, sorrow, annoyance; also fig. of Jesus; also, contrition, remorse; (c) suffering, hardship; also, punishment.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)114 : Wa se seið þet he bo hal him solf wat best his smirte [Eg(2): smeorte; Trin-C: smierte].
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)198/4193 : For smertte Yuor in þat stounde Fel a knes vnto þe grounde.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)29/644 : Whan þe smert was al igon, To þat addre he sterte a non.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3796 : God..hym so soore smoot With invisible wounde..But from his purpos cursed..For al his smert he wolde hym nat restreyne.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)1155 : For vre woke þouȝtes he þolede smerte Þat me his syde þurlede riȝt to þe herte.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1788 : Þe lyoun swam bi-syde þe hert; Dude no beest to oþere smert.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1358 : He þonked Kyng Alisaundre þerof, certe, And starf alswiþe, wiþouten smerte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.443 : Ȝe schal ben..oure refuge to saue vs from al smert.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)460 : Smert: Vistio [Win: vstio].
- a1450 SChart.Chr.(Hrl 3775)p.457 : Kere [read: Kepe] I no more for all my smerte, But the love man of thyn herte.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)123a/a : If þe wounde be distemperid wiþ greet hete, smert, or akþe bi cause of brennynge or of scaldynge, þanne anoynte þe place wiþ popilion..& vnguentum citrinum.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)308 : But woll not he smyte aȝeyne whenne he feleth smerte?
- a1500 GRom.(Glo 42)754/18 : He..cut of his tayle; The hogge felt smarte & Cryede spituysly.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3964 : Ȝyf þou here preyse one for sum þyng..And felyst weyl yn þy herte Of a lytyl sorow or smerte Þat þou ne art preysed furþer þan he, Enuye hyt ys.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10817 : Aȝens þys..synne þo Þat to shryfte onely go with-oute any maner of smert Of felyng, of sorowe of hert.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.466 : Thynk nat on smert, and thow shalt fele non.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.3221 : The mooder..fill almost in a rage, Seyng hir child..Shal thus be ded..Litil wonder thouh she felte smerte.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)36.536 : Of hire hosbonde sche hadde gret smerte.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)6.188 : Whan she [Anna] hym sawe, fel on knees doun, Recomfortede of all her olde smerte.
- a1450 The Fader of Heuene (Sln 2593)16 : Lullay, lullay! lytil chyld, myn owyn dere smerte, how xalt þu sufferin þe scharp spere to þi herte?
- a1456 Heyle goddes moder (Ashm 59)12 : Þou sykest and qwakst with smert.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16179 : When thow Felyst dool or Smerte, Thankest god with alle thyn herte.
- a1500 Truth it (Cnt Add 68)p.72 : Thus he [Herod] spake wol serpentyne With gret sorrow and mekyl smerte, Fore he than hopyd to see the tyme That he shuld stryke the chyld to herte.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.712 : And yet for al my smerte and al my grief, For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief, I koude neuere leue it in no wise.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)33/281 : Þere he duelled in grete pouerte, In hunger, in þorst, & oþer smerte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2145 : Vlixes..was, after al his smert, Receyved pleinly.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1062 : Nay! be þou riche or poore, or seke or quert, God thank alway of thyn ese and þi smert.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)1050 : So take euery man aftur his deserte Either in cherisshinge or in smert.
- a1500 Trental St.Greg.(2) (Adv 19.3.1)96 : Me rewes, modur, of þi smarte.
- c1500 Castle Love(3) (Ashm 61)300 : Wold sche for hyr myld herte Bryng þis prisoner owte of smerte?
2.
A plant, either waterpepper (Polygonum hydropiper) or persicaria (Polygonum persicaria); ars ~, q.v.
Associated quotations
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)40b : Take..þe juis of smert.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)171/26 : Tak..þe jous of an herbe men clepe smert.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. smart.