Middle English Dictionary Entry
stressen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | stressen v. Also stres(se; p.pl. (N) strissed; ppl. stressid, (N) stresced. |
| Etymology | Shortened form of distressen v. & from OF estrecier, estrescer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. enstressen v., streinen v.(1) & (2).
1.
(a) To restrain (sb.); confine (sb. in prison or hell); (b) to force (sb. to do sth.), compel; (c) ~ fro to keep (sb.) from (sth.) [cp. streinen v.(1), sense 1.(c)].
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3726 : Ȝyf þou for yre bygynne wykkednes Þat no man may lette þe ne stres, [etc.].
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)3/14 : Whanne þe Lord God stressiþ a man in þe prisoun, þer mai noon oþir delyuer him.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8001 : Þe dampned bodyse..salle be stresced in helle als thralle.
b
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)27070 : Fle propre aerde..he vs stresses.
- ?a1425 SLeg.(CmbAdd 3039)89/423 : Þai..stryssed hym on ilk a syde þair goddez to honoure.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)972 : Thurgh payn sal God neuer stresse man to forsake his lawe.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)103 : I have grevid god so muche, for the whiche I am stressid to come heþere.
c
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.195v : Whenne þe sege hadde be so long that water fayled to hem that were byseged in the Mount, Henry sent messagers to Robert his brother to telle him the nede of his thurst and seide hit was vnmercyable and wikked thynges to stresse hem fro watur, suth hit is the comone liquor to alle dedliche thynges in erthe.
2.
Law To seize (someone's cattle) for nonpayment of rent, distrain.
Associated quotations
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Serv.& L.(Corp-C 296)234 : Ȝif here rente be not redily paied, here bestis ben stressid & þei pursued wiþouten mercy.
3.
To pass, go; of tears: pour (out of one's eyes), burst forth; ~ to deth, die.
Associated quotations
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6188 : His fader fel in a seknesse Þat to þe deþ hit made hym stresse.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2128 : When he sang his messe, Þe teres oute of his eyen stresse.