Middle English Dictionary Entry
sturdī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | sturdī adj. Also sturdie, stourdi(e, stourdẹ̄, stordi, (in surname) sterdi & (error) sturdyng. |
| Etymology | OF estordi, estourdi, AF esturdi, p.ppl. of OF estordir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Bold, valiant; strong in fight, mighty; bellicose; also, as noun: a brave or mighty man [quot. a1500(?c1400)].
Associated quotations
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)48/893 : We neuere ne hente Of man so harde dunte, Bute of þe king Mory, Þat was so swyþe stordy.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)76/1377 : He slowen þe kyng mory, Hornes fader so stordy [Cmb: hendy; vr. hardy].
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4330 : Þe brutons..defended hom þe wule hii miȝte wiþ wel stourdy mode.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7936 : Þe heyemen of engelond..mid gret ost wende uorþ & mid stourdi [vr. stourde] mode Toward þe castel of roucestre.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8528 : Quarre he was & wel ymad vor to be strong, Þeruore is fader in a time isey is stourdi dede.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)187/1569 : If in þe left half sumdel toward þe ryght half, it sall be a male feminyn, id est..feynt-hartyd man; if þe party of þe matrice sumdell toward þe ryght half, a bald woman, a sturdy woman.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)367 : Ther is noon so sturdi Champioun, Thowgh he be myȝti, a-nother is as stronge.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Horns (LdMisc 683)36 : Hornes wer yove to bestys ffor dyffence -- A thyng contrarie to ffemynyte, to be maad sturdy of resystence.
- a1500(?c1400) Gowther (Adv 19.3.1)472 : When boþe batels wer areyd..Syr Gwother rode betwene; Mony a sturdy gard he stombull, Toppe over teyle hor horssus to tombull.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)117/3 : Wyth-in viije dayes he gaddrid..an hoste of x Ml. men bolde to fyght..For in this lond, as in al othyr, the nordryn men ben sturdier [Dub: stordyer] and smyrtyr to fyght than othyr.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)119/32 : He was So covetouse of fyght, and So bernynge when he..come to fyght, that he hym neuer wolde holde as ledere, but with the fryste wolde smyte..And thegh he were in wepyn vnmetly sturdy and Sterne, Out of wepyn natheles he was meke and sobyr.
2.
(a) Fierce, cruel, violent, furious; of a battle: fierce, violent, great; (b) menacing, reflecting hostility or fierceness, a ~ pase, at a furious pace, furiously; (c) of waves: tempestuous, turbulent, violent; also, of a river: raging; also in fig. context; (d) ?characterized by change; ?error for stormi adj.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)1497 : A token þe rode with stordi wille A leiden it on þe herthe stille; A token Iesu..And leiden him..on þe rod.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3842 : He was ney uor wraþþe wod; He adrou sire calibourne, is suerd..& anowarde þe helm, mid wel stourdy mod, Þen oþer he smot.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6355 : Þe Grekis..Spoile & robbe & take what þei fynde, Tresour & good, and left nat bi-hinde, Be myȝti hond & sturdi violence.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.2.12 : The lyouns of the contre of Pene beren the fayre chaynes..and dreden hir stourdy [L trucem] maistres of whiche thei ben wont to suffre betynges.
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.541 : Þan stode he a-stonyd, sturdy & stowte; he stranglyd hym selue, so he strof almost in dede, And for his qwene schortly schamed not his schowte; he schope hir to schrynk qwen sche schuld blood schede.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.782 : That schowr was..scharpe..For there many Mo weren on Tholomes part Thanne On the Stewardis Serly; Therfore was that stour ful Stordy.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2162 : He grynt with his teeth so was he wrooth; A stordy paas doun to the court he gooth..This frere cam as he were in a rage.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3134 : With that sterte oute anoon daungere..His malice in his chere was kidde; Full grete he was and blak of hewe, Sturdy and hidous, who so hym knewe.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4466 : Þe see gan swelle with many sturdy wawe Þat ryse on hiȝte, large as any mount, And fille doun & swappid in þe frount Evene of þe schip.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)55/19 : Þe rage of haboundant flode..haþe rawȝt his stordi wawes to þe hieste.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)56/27 : He aprochid þe rage flode and þe sturdy Ryvere callyd of lucan Rubicanis.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)19175 : Off his o whynge he makith a ssayle, Amonge the sturdy wawys alle To kepe hym silffe, that he not ffalle.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16671 : In the myd see off this Troublyd worlde..ffordryven with many sturdy wawes off adversyte..whan the lytyl pore vessel off myn herte ys..ffordryven with many ffroward wyndes off affliction, Thanne have I no Comfort..but only to lefften vp the Eye off myn herte vn-to the.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)2490 : Thei cam to a gret Ryveer Whos sturdy wawis wold nat suffre hem passe.
d
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)79/13 : I, gretely gladynd in songe þe whilk I toke of heuyn, venemus swetnes of vnworþi lufe I suld not feyll, þe qwhilk þame þink ful sweit þat in fleschly bewte florysches, nor at þis stordy [L turbulenta] erthlynes me suld not hald.
3.
(a) Stern, severe, harsh; surly; ill-humored, sullen; (b) of wine: harsh to the taste.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3287 : After mete he nom is wif mid stourdi mod ynou, & wiþoute leue of þe kinge toward is contreye drou.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1480 : Charlis saide to hym þan wyþ a stordy chere, [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.403 : The king declareth him the cas With sturne lok and sturdi chiere.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.698 : What koude a sturdy housbond moore deuyse To preue hir wifhod and hir stedfastnesse, And he contynuynge euere in sturdynesse?
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1049 : This sturdy [vr. sturdyng] markys gan his herte dresse To rewen vpon hir wifly stedfastnesse.
- c1430 Chaucer CT.Cl.(Cmb Gg.4.27)E.465 : He cam alone a nyȝt þere as sche lay With sterne face & with ful sturdy [Heng: trouble] chere.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.214 : He was..Stable off herte and benygne off cheer, Froward nor sturdi to no maner man.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)4663 : To me he ys plesaunt and lowly, And to my men dyspitous and sturdy.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)248/36 : He..made grete sorowynge and gnastynge with his teþ, and with a stourdie chere he turnyd hym to the image of Seynt Nicholas..And..he toke a staf and smote þe swete ymage as faste as he myȝte.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.390 : A man may, in oon dayes while, So trete a stordy wyn that hit shal smyle, And of a rough drynker be cleer and best [L Vinum vero eadem die ex austero lympidum atque optimum fieri].
4.
(a) Disobedient, rebellious, refractory; obstinate; willful, aggressive; (b) crafty, cunning.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)131/69 : A balled reson makeþ þanne & plaidinge þerto, And resons haþ þerto inowe wiþ wel stordi mod, Ac of plaidynge of wisdom ne can he noȝt a uerþing worþ god.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.612 : Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse, And Mars yaf me my sturdy [vr. sturdye] hardynesse.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1330 : A cite in þe est..nylleþ don Philippes hest; Þider he wendeþ wiþ grete preesse, Þe sturdy cite to a-dresse.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)16/22 : Woo to hem þat han perischide in þe aȝenseiyng of Chore; þise ben proude sturdi maynteners.
- a1456(a1426) Lydg.Mum.Hertford (Trin-C R.3.20)94 : Berthilmewe for al his broode knyff Yit durst he neuer with his sturdy wyff In no mater holde chaumpartye.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)120/37 : Þou art prowd & sturdy, & þa wer lawly & meek.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4747 : For as it longeth to men to be sturdy And sumwhat froward as off ther nature, Riht so can women suffre paciently And alle wrongis humbli endure.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)481 : Sturdy, vnbuxum: Rebellis, contumax, inobediens.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)296/22 : Synnes of levyng goodnes vn-do arn þise: as noȝt to thynken on god..& neglygence of obedyens, nouȝt to don þin offyis, to breke a vowe, to be sturdy to fadyr & modyr.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7862 : Thys swerd..techeth A manhys body wel Not to be stordy nor rebel A-geyn the Spyryt.
- a1500 Counsels Isidor (Hrl 1706)373 : Be obedyente to goddys ordynaunce..Dyspose alle þinges not wiþ a sturdy wylle but wiþ an esye herte.
b
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)6/7 : Riȝt as..Crist..chase pore, symple, & ydiotis to his prechyng, so aȝenwarde anticrist is for to chese sturdi [L astutos] & duble men & hauyng þe wisedom of þis world.
5.
(a) Of a person: strong, strongly built; of a part of the body: appearing to be strong, massive; of a beggar: able-bodied; of begging: done by one who is able-bodied; of a minstrel: ?vigorous or active in carrying on his craft [last quot.]; of physical strength: vigorous, robust; of ~ port, appearing to be strong; (b) of a tree, bow, wall, fetters: strong, sturdy, stout; (c) of a wind: strong; of a noise: loud; (d) of water: turbid, thick.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1754 : A sturdy harlot wente hem ay bihynde, That was hir hostes man, and baar a sak, And what men yaf hem, leyde it on his bak.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4610 : Worþi Diomede, Ful wel compact & growe wel on lenþe, Of sturdy port and famus eke of strenþe.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)6.104 : Now Mago seith is good castracioun Of litel veles..with a knyf they cutte her thinges, But sumdel on the strynges heed they leue; This stauncheth blood and al wol not bireue Her stordy myght.
- c1450 Upland R.(Dgb 41)112/338 : As suche bolde beggeres in bodily hele Begged neuer Crist..For Crist, þat is truþe, may in no wise Contrarie him self, ne God þat is his fadir, For in many places þai damnen suche sturdy beggyng.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)415 : Guy..Fleih with his ax, smet of the sturdy heed Of the Geaunt, and hadde of hym vyctorye.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.2225 : Thow art a boolde begger and a sturdie; Thow may laboure for thy lieuyng and gete somme hire.
- c1500(a1449) Lydg.Aesop (Trin-C R.3.19)119 : He yaue ensample..To auoyde slouþe by dylygent trauayle, By honest labour hys lyuelood to procure..For idylnes & froward negligence Makeþ sturdy beggars for lak of þeyr dyspence.
- c1500 Libeaus (Ashm 61)283/1877 : So sturdy [Lamb: The mynstales weryn in pees That were so tryste and trye].
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.783 : Of griffyng of a lytel braunche, Ful sturdy trees growe vp ful ofte.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3492 : In al hast he bent a sturdy bowe And ther-In sette a narowe fyled kene.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1380 : Whan that the stordy ook On which men hakketh ofte..Receyved hath the happy fallyng strook, The greete sweigh doth it come al at ones.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4155 : Aboute hem made he a diche deepe..Vpon the whiche also stode Of squared stoon a sturdy wall..And right grete thikkenesse eke it bare.
- c1455 Chaucer CT.Kn.(Trin-C R.3.3)A.1279 : Sturdi [Heng: The pure fettres of his shynes..Were of his..teeris wete].
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1373 : The sturdy oke, the asshe, the plom tre, Wyth akornys, chattys, and wyth damasyne.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.171 : Now is the se calm and blandisshyng; Now ar the wyndis comfortable & still; Now is Boreas sturdi in blowyng, Which yong sheep & blosmys greueth ille.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)370/91 : Harkyn to this horne..So sturdy a showte sen that I was borne hard I neuer here abowte.
- 1558(?a1440) Burgh Praise Lydg.(Add 29729)48 : From the high hille..was sent in to briton the stormy persaunt that made me loke as lede & chaunge semblant, and eke ye sturdi wynde of yperborye made me of chere vnlusti, sadde, & sory.
d
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)18.98 : The water was as fowl As Ony chanel, Riht hydows Therto, & ful stordy Ech del; Thus Evene ferd it Atte the begynneng [F Chil fluns estoit si troubles el coumencement et si espes comme boe].
6.
Of a sheep: afflicted with the brain disease sturdy; of a dog: acting as if it had sturdy, giddy, harebrained, wild.
Associated quotations
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)64 : Alauntz byn stordy [F estourdiz] of here owyn nature and haue not so good witte as many oþer houndes haue, for if a man prik an hors þe alaunt wil gladly renne and bite þe hors; also þei renne at oxen..and to alle oþer beestis or to men or to oþer houndes..And in alle maner wise alauntz byn july felle and euel vndirstondyng and more foolish and more sturdy þan eny oþer maner of houndes.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)97/21 : Som sette þeire iȝen in þeire hedes as þei were sturdy scheep betyn in þe heed, & as þei schulde diȝe anone.
7.
In conventional comparisons.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4084 : Duke Nestor firste, sturdy as a wal, In whos manhod was neuer founde lake..Gan presen in with many worþi Greke.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1389 : He was so strong, & sturdy as a wal.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1594 : He vp-on his hors-bak Kepte hym so wel, for al þat fel stroke Remevinge nat, but sturdy as an oke Sat in his sadel vp-riȝt.
8.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (a1185) Chart.Cumbwell in Archaeol.Cant.5203 : Nicholao Sterdi.
- (c1195) Cart.Oseney in OHS 90275 : Galfrido Sturdi.
- (1209) Select Pleas Forest in Seld.Soc.133 : Robertum Sturdi de Siberton.
- (1224) Close R.Tower 1612 : Petrus Sturdy.
- (1256) Assize R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.8843 : Willelmum Sturdy.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2122 : Johanne Sturdy.
- (1327) Nickname in SAU 63189 : Will. Stordy.
- (1354) Pat.R.Edw.III113 : Humphrey Sturdy.
- (1400) Pat.R.Hen.IV368 : Richard Sturdy.
- (1446-7) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99145 : Thome Stordy.
- (1459) Close R.Hen.VI354 : William Sturdy.