A drop of the saline, watery fluid continually secreted by the lacrimal glands, a tear.

Pl. (a) Tears appearing in or shed from the eyes in response to physical stimulus, ophthalmic disease, etc.; tears occasioned by physical pain or suffering; (b) med. a pathological watering of the eyes, an abnormal production of tears.

(a) A tear appearing in or shed from the eyes in response to intense emotion, esp. sorrow; also fig.; also, an insincere tear [quot. a1382]; (b) bitter (blodi) teres, tears of profound sorrow; fals teres, insincere tears; (c) fig. and in fig. contexts: the sorrow evidenced by the shedding of tears;—also pl.; don awei tere(s from eien, wipen (awei) teres from eien, etc.: of God: to relieve (someone's) sorrow; dronknen with tere, overwhelm (a city) with (one's) sorrow; (d) dale (dene, valei) of teres, ?a specific valley in Palestine; ?fig. a desolate place; (e) dene (vale, valei) of teres, fig. the world.

A tear appearing in or shed from the eyes in response to a particular frame of mind: (a) a tear indicative of a state of contrition; teres of contricioun (shrift); bitter teres, tears of deep contrition; (b) a tear reflective of religious devotion or mystical ecstasy; swete teres; (c) a tear of compassion for the plight or sins of others; also in fig. context; teres of blod, heartfelt tears of compassion.

(a) A drop of some bodily fluid other than tears; swotes teres, drops of sweat; (b) a drop of some liquid or viscous substance; honi ~ [OE hunig-tēar], a drop of honey; also as an epithet for Christ.