Middle English Dictionary Entry
souē̆r(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | souē̆r(e n. Also (error) sere. |
| Etymology | From OE sāwere & ME souen v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who scatters seed on the ground for growth; also fig.; (b) one who causes strife; also, a creator; ~ of discorde(s; ~ of wordes, a babbler; (c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)155 : Godes word is þat sed and crist seluen þe sowere.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.192 : Iesu Crist..Sowere [vr. Sewere] of chaast conseil..The fruyt of thilke seed of chastitee That thow hast sowe in Cecile, taak to thee.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.55.10 : What maner comeþ doun weder & snow fro heuene & þider no mor is turned aȝeen, but drunkneþ þe erþe..& ȝyueþ seed to þe sowere & bred to þe etere, so shal ben my woord.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)125a/b : Þis moneþ [October] is I-peynt in þe liknes of a sowere þat sowiþ his seed.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28839,28843 : Þe pouer men es like þe fild þat corn plente is wont to yild..almus dede An hundreth-fald man yeildes mede; To feild þe sede man most it bere, Bot þis feild self cums to sere [Glb: sawere]..þe tan feild failes and oft is spilt, þe toþer bot thoru sauer gilt.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.103 : Tyliers..tolden here maystres By þe seed þat þei sewe what þei shoulde notye..Now failleþ..sowers..Noþer þei knoweþ ne conneþ o cours by a-noþer.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.227 : A man with-oute a make myghte nat welle of kynde Multeplie, ne more-ouer with-oute a make louye Ne with-oute a sowere [vr. soware] be suche seede.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Cor.9.10 : He that mynystrith seed to the sowere schal ȝyue also breed to ete.
- a1425 Mannyng HS (Dlw 24)2460 : Soweris [Hrl: Okyr ys also..to bye a þyng byfore, halfe vn-to þe sellers lore].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)58a/a : Sator: a sowere or a plonter.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)108a : A Sawer: Sator.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 17.18 : What wole this sowere of wordis [L seminiverbius] seie?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.9.1 : Thow, Fadir, soowere [vr. sovereigne; L sator] and creatour of hevene and of erthes..governest this world by perdurable resoun.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Ecclus.(Cld E.2)28.11 : A synful man, that is, a sowere of discordis [WB(2): a synful man schal disturble frendis, and he schal sende in enemyte in the myddis of men hauynge pees].
- (?c1436) Duke Burgundy (Rome 1306)3 : O thou Phelippe, fonder of new falshede, Distourber of pees..Sower of discorde [vr. Sower and distrouber], Repref of al knyghthode..of al burgoigne..Thou clepist thiself duc.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)47/734 : Bakbyters and sowers of fals lesynggys þat bryngge men at debat and owt of charite arn wykkyd men-sleers.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)469 : The myrroure of ypocrites, the sawer of discorde..maister Iohn Wiclif, was taken with a palisy horribly thro alle his body.
c
- (1281) Pat.R.Edw.I467 : Philip le Sower..Hudard le Sowere.
- (1332) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms37 : Cetil Sower.
- (1375) Close R.Edw.III221 : Thomas Sowere.
- (1376) Pat.R.Edw.III412 : William Sower.