Middle English Dictionary Entry
tọ̄̆r(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | tọ̄̆r(e adj. Also toure. |
| Etymology | From OE tōr, as in tōr-cirre; also cp. ON (cp. OI tor-). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. tor-fer(e n.
1.
(a) Difficult, hard; (b) inconvenient; (c) ?crucial, critical, urgent.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6350 : Tat iss harrd & strang & tor & hefiȝ lif to ledenn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7165 : Ȝiff þe riche mann iss braþ & grimme & tor to cwemenn, Hiss lede þatt iss unnderr himm Himm dredeþþ þess te mare.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)27/24 : Ȝette is wurse ȝif mon seis þat ho is grucchere & ful itohen..& tor for to paien.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1428 : It were tor for to telle al here atyr riche.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14085 : O þair gladnes war tor to tell.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1109 : Wyth gret delyt þay glod in fere..Tor to knaw þe gladdest chere.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)165 : Þat were to tor for to telle of tryfles þe halue Þat were enbrauded abof.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)190 : It were tore tille any tonge my tourmenttis to telle.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)649 : To tell hur botenus was toor [rimes: azour, Trechour].
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3911 : The ton fro the tother was tore for to ken.
b
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)644 : This tyme is so tore & we no tome haue.
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2782 : Now is tyme most tore to tente þere aboute.
2.
(a) Of knights or warriors: hardy, sturdy, fierce; (b) of objects, structures: sturdy, large, great; (c) with intensive force: excessive, great; also, full.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5500 : He lockis in..ane ser Tarbyn, a tulke with many toore thousandis.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1035 : Ercules..Assemblid of Soudiours a full sadde pepull, Of the tidiest of Tessaile, tore men of strenght.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1131 : Part we vs..þe pupull in two, In the ton shall be Telamon, þat is a tore kyng.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6156 : Dissyrus was..Of all the Troiens, to tell, torest in fight.
b
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)320 : Hit was þe souerayne Citie of the Soyle..Well wallit for werre..Grete toures full toure all þe toune vmbe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4279 : In this Temple was a tor ymage, all of triet gold.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6717 : Telamon hym tacchit on with a tore speire.
c
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)47/78 : Trowes þou þat I wol leue þe harde lande, And tourne vp here on toure deraye?
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3348 : Trowe ye not Troy is tore of all godis, As plaintiouse..as þe prouynse of Achaia?
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13723 : Þis proud..Bad hym turne vnto tessail in a tore hast.