Middle English Dictionary Entry
therk(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | therk(e adj. Also thirke. |
| Etymology | ?OE *þeorc (cp. þeorcung, alternative form of deorcung). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. derk adj. (from which quot. c1330 in sense 1.(b) should be deleted), thester adj.
1.
(a) Of a place: unilluminated; of the night, mists, etc.: dark; also, fig. sullied, sinful [quot. c1450]; (b) tending to obscure, obscurant; also, fig. obscure; (c) ?as adv.: in a dark or dirty manner.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)129/2790 : So be-twene hem leste þat fiȝt Til it was þe þerke niȝt.
- c1330(?c1300) Reinbrun (Auch)p.641 : He let hem caste in prisoun Stinkande & þerk.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)33/370 : Al þat lond was euer liȝt, For when it schuld be þerk & niȝt, Þe riche stones liȝt gonne As briȝt as doþ at none þe sonne.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)490 : Therke, or dyrk: Tenebrosus, caliginosus.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2520 : Shettyn he hir dyde hastly In a therk presoun wythout solace.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)219/31 : Fyve citees schal be in the therk body of man, þat arn þe v bodyly wyttes.
- 1468 Medulla (StJ-C C.22)112b/a : Turbidus: trubly or therke.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.323 : It farith be folc born in þe prisoun of þe wrechid word as it doth be a child born in þe depe þerke pit of þe prisoun.
- a1500 Lo here is (Tan 407)20 : The skyes in her coloures rake, Þe therke sladdes of clowdes blake: This reioyceth me above.
- a1500 Lo here is (Tan 407)27 : I se these hey hyllys wher is the holsom ayer ..Þe therke mystes, how it ascendys.
- a1500 PParv.(KC 8)491 : Thyrke, supra in Therke.
b
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)184/4 : It muste be nakyd, þat is, opynly schewyd out in confessioun..& noȝt coloured in therk & fayre woordys.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.115 : As alle þe sterrys..gynne to dymme and therkyn, so was þe elde lawe wol dym and wol therk, but þe newe lawe is opyn, bryght, & cleir.
c
- c1460 My fayr lady (Hrl 2255)p.204 : The blak crowe moote yow byght, Your byl clothyd thirke and on clene, A froward velym upon to wryt.