Middle English Dictionary Entry
thī̆r(e pron.
Entry Info
| Forms | thī̆r(e pron. Also thirre, ther(e, thair(e, (late) theire. |
| Etymology | Chiefly N; origin uncertain, but prob. from ON (cp. OI þeir, OSwed. or ODan. þēr, þair pl. masc. pers. & dem. pron.) or by an analogical process (see English and Germanic Studies 1.59-60 and Tolkien Festschrift 58-60); the forms thair(e may be errors for or conflated with ME thei pron., or an idiosyncratic use of their(e pron. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Used anaphorically, pointing to previously mentioned persons, things, actions, etc.: these, they; also, these, them [quots. 1st & c1450(?a1400)]; alle ~; also, pointing to one of two previously mentioned groups of persons: ~..thei, these, the former..they, the latter [quot. a1400(a1325), 3rd]; (b) used cataphorically, pointing to words, things, etc. about to be mentioned: these.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)250 : Þai offerd gold, ensense, & myrre, and þou forsoke none of þirre.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4115 : Fulfayn war þai þair [Göt: þai; Frf: atte þai] þar him fand; Now mai þai him haue to will in hand.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6481 : 'Trou þou in na godd bot in an..Ne reue nanoþer man his wijf'..þir [Frf: þer; Trin-C: þese] er þe comamentes ten þat drightin taght to moysen.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23625-7 : Als þir godds freindes sall Wirscip haf o-mang þam all, Sua sal þe wreches haf for þair sak, Be-stad in pine wit-vten slak:..þir [Frf: þe gode] sal liue in fredom fre; þai [Frf: þas oþer] sal liue euer in caitiuete. Þir sal euer liue in delite; þai sal euer in soru and site.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)800 : He is ofte seke and ay granand, And ofte angerd and ay pleynand; Alle þir, thurgh kynd, to an ald man falles.
- a1425 Nicod.(1) (Hrl 4196)28 : We, whatkyn godes er þire [vr. þere; Glb: þise]?
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)59/17 : We wofull wrechys þat with þe werlde delis..now lyes..now sweres grete athes; Thir fyles oure prayere & lettis it to be spede.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)33/33 : Þay myghte na while agayne-stande his men of armes, Bot alson þaire ware disconfit and slaen.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)53/15 : Thir twa, when þair herd of þe comyng of Alexander, conspyred to-gedir for to slaa þaire lord Darius.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)657 : Þer er þe pontes of perfite lifyng Þat nedful er to old & ȝing.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5502 : Alexander..with his arte closis..twa & twenti kyngs..All þire he closis in þat cliffe.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)3521 : Fyue vnyons þeyn he toke; 'Þir,' he saide, 'has bene my mete Þir fyue dayes, when me list ete.'
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)3.6 : This thousand of folk is all the deuels of hell..bot all there thare him noght drede, whaim god has uptakyn.
- c1500 O lady myne (Trin-C R.3.19)87 : Your goodly speche also and confortatyfe—All theyre, swete hert, be cause actyfe Why that I perysshyd am thorough the hert.
b
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)3362 : Þir er þa hede syns þat er dedely: Pride, hatreden, and envy.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)97/10 : Þe synnes of þe hert er þir: ill thoght, ill delyte..joy in any mens illfare.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5102 : Sendis scho to him sandis-men with selid lettris..And þire þe wordis of hire write at on þese wyse spekis: 'To þe kiddest kyng of kyngs all othire, [etc.].'
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7154 : Whi women comes noȝt to his fertyr, As man tellis, þe cause ar þir: Before he had a bischop name, [etc.].