Middle English Dictionary Entry
tā̆r(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | tā̆r(e n.(1) Also thar(e & (?error) tara, (error) dare; pl. tares, taren. |
| Etymology | ?Cp. MDu. tarwe, MLG terwe wheat. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A wild or cultivated leguminous plant belonging to the genus Vicia, vetch, tare; tin ~, tinetare (Vicia hirsuta) [see also tin-tare n.]; wilde ~, a vetch of some kind; (b) a vetch seed; also, in neg. phrases emphasizing worthlessness: ben not worth a ~, to be of no value; counten nought a ~ of, ne holden worth a ~, setten nought (the mountaunce of) a ~ of, have no regard for (sth.), consider (sth.) to be worthless.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)338 : Le azoun [glossed:] thar [vr. tar].
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.529/13 : Clerico marescalcie..per manus garcionis stabuli pro tares, feno, et pane equino emptis pro somariis..viij d.
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)51/18 : Corignum..folia habet in colore similia oliue..florem album et semen orobi, i. anglice, thare.
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)131/8 : Orobus: gallice, uesche, anglice, thare uel mousepese.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)88/20 : Þese medicyns ben..driere..orabum þat is wiilde tare.
- ?a1425 Alphita (Sln 284)186 : Trifolium acutum: anglice, wildetare uel tintare.
- ?a1425 Alphita (Sln 284)189 : Viciola: anglice, tintara [?read: tintare].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)431/17 : Tho þinges..þat..maken good colour..as ben..wasshinge taken of þe mele..of ficches, of tares, of barly, of whete.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7354 : Our folk tohewen waren To smale morsels so beþ taren.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1570 : Of al the remenant of myn oother care Ne sette I noght the mountaunce of a tare [vrr. thare, dare].
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)85/163 : Þeih peter for a soule preye, hit is not worþ a tare.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4000 : Therof sette the millere noght a tare.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4056 : Of al hir art counte I noght a tare.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5993 : Al þat we haue wonne and wrouȝth Ne helde Ich worþ a tare bouȝth [LinI: for nouȝt].
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.50 : The taaris [L Eruum] in this Ianys ende Is good to sowe in placis drie.
2.
Bibl. pl. Weeds growing in grainfields, prob. darnel (Lolium temulentum); souen tares, to plant such weeds, sow darnel seeds; also fig.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)2/22 : Þe enemy of God haþ sowen taaris vpon þe seed of Iesu Crist.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.13.25 : Whanne men slepten, his enemy cam and sewe aboue taris [WB(1): dernel, or cokil; L zizania] in the myddil of whete, and wente awei.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.13.30 : Gadere ȝe to gidere the taris [WB(1): dernels, or cokilis; L zizania], and bynde hem to gidere in knytchis to be brent, but gadere ȝe whete in to my berne.