Middle English Dictionary Entry
strong(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | strong(e adv. Also strang(e. |
| Etymology | OE strange, stronge. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) With physical force, energetically; vigorously; (b) loudly, lustily; (c) sturdily, solidly; (d) tightly, firmly; securely; closely.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)2447 : Queinte beestis..ben shape lich moch a bere..Vppon sixe leggis he goth ful stronge.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)52a/a : He haþ greet pous, strong betynge & swift, neische & ful of blood.
b
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)972 : Þu ȝelpst of þine songe Þat þu canst ȝolle wroþe & stronge.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5995 : He..besely gan to..praye..And to þe god crie & calle stronge.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)221/36 : Kokkes whyche bene..more corageous, syngyth heyghere and more strongyr.
c
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)231 : Upon pilers greete of jasper longe I saw a temple of bras ifounded stronge.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.516 : Toward the sowth thi stabul..thou sette..And planke hit stronge ynough Vnder thin hors.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5115 : Þer ys no castel so strong idight Þat honger ne wynneþ wyþouten fight.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)197 : This hous that is so strange dyȝt, The rofe hys sonkon to nyght.
d
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1275 : Þe gywes Ihesus nome and bounde him wel stronge.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)397 : Thanne seyde Gamelyn þat stood ybounde stronge, [etc.].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3133 : We schal her with-Inne Kepe hir strong.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3431 : In þe hauene..Þei cast hanker & bond her schippis strong.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)419/288 : The herte off Fremund to god so strang was knet.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4305 : How mochil monye In your strong bounden chist is?
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)167a/b : Siche maner of woundis schulen be..strongere and þickere sewid.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1483 : Gwylyon..armed hym wel..The helm to lace that was bounde strong.
2.
With spiritual strength.
Associated quotations
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)124/1 : Se deofol..færð onbuten swa swa grymetende leo..wiðstandeð þan strange [OE vr. him stranglice] on geleafe.
3.
Valiantly, bravely; fiercely; enarmed ~, heavily armed; -- used fig. of the devil.
Associated quotations
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)85/12 : Belucað fæste þa ændelease gaten..& him strange wiðstandeð.
- a1300 Ancr.(Cai 234/120)65/33 : Men þat fehte swa stronge, þe ilke þat halded ham faste to gederes, ne muhen beon descomfit.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)5175 : Sir Wawain þai asailed strong.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)1353 : Þe fend..was enarmed ful stronge.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1610 : Þe fotemen and þai on hors Trauaileden stronge her cors Wiþ launceynge and wiþ ridyng.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)365 : With wightynesse & wepon most he caste To fighte stronge.
4.
Powerfully.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2799 : Ic [God] sal werken ferlike strong And maken min folc frelike ut-gong.
5.
(a) Turbulently; intensely; ~ renninge, of water: fast-flowing; (b) offensively, overpoweringly; ~ smellinge, pungent in smell.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 SLeg.Brendan (Corp-C 145)513 : So stronge barnde þis montaine þat noþing hi ne seie..bote fur and leie.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)474 : The water ther is so vigerous And so stronge rennynge in his cours.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)174/36 : The course of the ryuer So stronge and So styfe rane that the knyght and his hors rauyshith.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)56/9 : Þer leien ofte licomes irotet buuen eorðe & stunken swiðe stronge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)303a/b : Þe worme..toucheþ nouȝt þynges þat beþ y-bawmede wiþ bitter þinges and stronge smellynge.
6.
(a) Exceedingly, greatly; very; fervently; (b) sharply; (c) decidedly, incontrovertibly; (d) ?immediately; ?speedily.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)254 : Þos hule..was of toned suþe stronge.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)19/303 : Wel longe Ihc habbe þe luued stronge.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)1757 : King Grander was agremed strong.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)165/1 : If þese signys ben but litil & not strong greuous, þanne ȝeue him metis & drynkis.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)175/25 : If þere be woundis in ony of alle þese placis, þei ben stronge [L valde] perilous.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)546 : It forþoghte him swiþe stronge.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)1455 : If tweie to-gidre loued haue stronge, And after ben a-sondre longe, [etc.].
b
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)247 : Iwreyed was wel stronge þe kinges botiler.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)100/14 : Crist..walde þæt his godcundlice miht wære ȝyt þam deofle bihud, þæh heo wære him æft ful stronge iopenod.
- c1450 Chaucer CT.Mel.(Stnh B.23)B.2421 : Strong [Heng: Euery conseil þat is affermed so strongly þat it may nat be chaunged..I seye that thilke conseil is wikked].
d
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)5191 : Childer..go we stronge.
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8:Kingsf.)299 : The kynge..wold fro thens to Caleis so stronge thorough the londe.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)963 : Right so it is, for these men to chese A Decurioun..armed wil his hors so sone ascende..and course hym stronge anende.
7.
Villainously, sinfully.
Associated quotations
- c1275 LSSerm.(Clg A.9)186/24 : To deþ he ȝef him for us alle Þo we weren so stronge at-falle.
- c1400 Wycl.Reg.(Dc 273)18 : Þo fende moveþ rewmes to take his part stronge to emprisoun in religioun iche þat mayntenyd Cristis part.
8.
(a) Excruciatingly, painfully; gravely; (b) with sorrow or anguish, distressingly; in a manner hard to endure.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5681 : Þat vuel hine heold stronge.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4962 : Þai þrewen on him anon Stones & kniues..And wounded him swiþe strong.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)138/6 : When he saw þat he was so stronge sike, he..assignede al Normandy vnto..his sone.
- ?a1425 Const.Masonry(1) (Roy 17.A.1)p.262 : Sekenes hath hym so stronge That he may not come hem amonge.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)110a/a : Þe yȝe liddes ben reuersed & strongest akkeþ.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)636 : Harde schourys þenne took here stronge, Boþe in bak and eke in wombe.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)52 : I will..feyne me stronge sike.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1117 : Þeos þeode þurh þis ylce þurh manigfealde gyld wearð strange geswenct.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)136/10 : Hwen we swa beoð bisteaðet, swa stronge bistonden þet we mid alle na read ne cunnen bi us seoluen, [etc.].
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)825 : Meliors..mornede so stronge.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24100 : On mi soru mai be nan end, It stikes me sua strang.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)88/6 : Holy men & wymmen of alle fondynges weren strongest yfonded.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3693 : I, forpeyned wonder stronge, Though[t] that I aboode right longe Aftir the kis in peyne and woo.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)97/17 : Followe now the herty knyght that so stronge is by-ladde.
- a1500 Ihesu mercy mercy (Chet 6690)4 : Þe werld, my flesch, þe fend..me be-sette boþe strong & styf.