Middle English Dictionary Entry
spōren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | spōren v. Also spor(e, spur(en & (early SWM) sporie, spurie; p. spored(e, etc. & spurde; pl. spurred, spureden & (error) sporered; ppl. spored, spurd, spurret. |
| Etymology | From spōre n.(2); cp. MDu. sporen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To urge a horse to gallop; strike (a horse, mule) with spurs; ?also, error for spurnen v. 1.(a) [quot. c1425]; (b) to incite (sb. to sth. or to do sth.), urge; (c) ppl. spored, arrayed with or wearing spurs; (d) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10655 : He igrap his spere longe, his hors gon spurie [Otho: sporie].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13216 : Þe eorles gunnen riden & spureden heore steden.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3970 : Ðes asse..fel ðor dun..Balaam it spureð and smit ðor-on.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)5374 : His spere tok Perdicas, His mule sporeþ Ennidis.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)p.375 : Rychard..vor brec þere hys necke atuo As he rod an honteþ & perauntre hys hors spurde [Clg: spurnde; rime: turnde].
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1453 : Thouȝ ȝe þe asse spore or ellis bete, His slaw paas can he not forȝete.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12719 : He sporede his hors, forþ faste gan schake.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)101/29 : Euerych theyr speres raysed redye and began to spur and to iuste..with the Bretanes.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)50/3 : So they spurred theire horsis and come togydir with all theire myghtes.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)282 : Thei sporered [?read: sporred] theire horse ouer the brigge at a brunt.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)4214 : His spere Faste he shoke, his coursere spored.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)14/177 : Þe ilke sari wrecches..beoð þe deofles eaueres, þet rit ham & spureð ham to don al þet he wule.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)51/559 : Heo as þe deouel spurede ham to donne duden hit unsperliche.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)276 : Shame wil refreyne hem not to fle; Laude & honour, hem sporynge on victory, To make fame eternal in memory.
c
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)227/12 : Þe same Andrew was..ledde vnto þe barr in maner of an Erl..with a suorde gert aboute him, and hosede and spored.
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)561/22 : Þe Duyk of Burgeyn..was..slayne..and after, put in-to a pitte, botit and spurret.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)232/147 : What, nawder bowted ne spurd, and a lord of name!
d
- (1327) Nickname in SAU 63184 : Galfr. Sporehard.
- (1377) Nickname in SAU 63184 : Joh. Sporard junior.