Middle English Dictionary Entry
ūre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ūre n. Also (?error) yre. |
| Etymology | From OF uevre, pl. (AF) hures; a few quots. may reflect confusion with or influence of ME eure n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. inure adj.
1.
(a) Custom, habit; with inf.: the habitual inclination (to do sth.), the habit (of doing sth.); in ~, in or into conformity with customary behavior, good habits or customs, etc.; also, with inf.: in the habit (of doing sth.);
(b) putten in ~, to make use of (sth.), employ; apply (scientific knowledge);
(c) late in ~, ?recently brought before the court, in litigation; putten in ~, to put (sth.) into effect, bring about; also, bring forward (a legal action) [quot. 1460];
(d) haven in ~ (of, haven in ~ and (or in) remembraunce, to bear (sb. or sth.) in mind, be mindful of; also, remember (that sth. is so).
Associated quotations
a
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3628 : Þe seuene dedys of mercy whoso hadde vre To fylle.
- ?a1450 Whane that phebus beemes (Cleo C.4)94 : As god hath comandyd, soo kepe owur hartes invre.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)1173 : Now good son, y haue shewed the & brought þe in vre, to know þe Curtesie of court.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2321 : Now I wold all tho that suche craft vseth Were put in vre this payn to assaie, To hange by the necke but half a day.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)99/22 : He must…put himself in vre to do his devoure.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)3722 : With my name baptised was she, And…My goddoughter I may called [read: calle] hir in vre.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.215 : Elder than oon yeer no grayn in vre Thou putte, in drede hit die.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)187/14 : Artificers…putt it in vre [F mettent a euvre] that the sciences haue shewed befor…their werkes ben theffecte of sciences.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)21 : Gret foly were…In hym that ys both naked and bareyn As in makyng to lak discrecion…I am vnpurueyed and in nowyse sure, Safe my good wyll feyne wold I put in vre.
- c1480(?1475) Benev.Edw.IV (Add 48031)146 : Our olde adversary of Fraunce .. hath late .. wonne to his intente our rebelles and traitors whiche put his said werkes and will in ure, and laboured aboute the saide rebellion and division in all that they coude or mighte.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)6825 : In them [herbs] I knowe the vertu that is sure…And often tyme I haue putte it in vre.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1448 : Dethe…wold nat tary Hys feruent power there to put in vre.
c
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)187/2 : I haue ricchesse ynough, by thewhiche I may put in vre [Scrope: put in effecte] alle thinge that I wole take vpon me.
- (1460) Paston2.202 : Þe seid Paston to stande to þe auenture of cleyme or trouble, if any fortuned here-after ther-in to be put in vre.
- a1605(1470) Guiding Earl Warwick (Hrl 543)134 : Towchinge the tyme whene the Mariage shalbe put in ure…the seyde marriage shal not be perfyted to th’Erle of Warwick…had recovered the realme.
- (1477) Paston (EETS)1.500 : For th’enconvenyence þat I have knowe late in vre in case lyke…by-twyen a jentylman and his sustre, I wolde ye toke the advyce off yowre concell.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)142/28 : Fault of yeuyng and receyving of goode ordre, discipline, and rule hath putt in vre [CQ(1): set in…ordre] the misusing of the power that God hath sent vs.
d
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.347 : The peple off Englonde…cryethe Gurmunde to haue subiugate Irlonde…hauenge not Turgesius in vre or in remembraunce [Trev.: of Turgesius makeþ no mynde; L de Turgesio nihil memorans].
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.463 : Ye, afflate and replete with pride, hauenge not in yre [?read: ure] and remembraunce that ye be men [Trev.: ȝe forȝeteþ þat ȝe beeþ men], afferme and say Allemyȝhty God not to ȝiffe attendaunce to thynges mortalle.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)452 : The kynge, havynge not in ure of the seide promisse…causede the monke electe into abbot to be blissede of the bischop of London.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)486 : The noble men, understondynge þat þe kynge wolde not come…sende worde to the kynge, seyenge that and if he wolde not kepe his promyse they scholde electe a kynge whiche scholde obtemperate the cownsayle of lordes; The kynge, havynge that in ure, come to Westmonastery in the morowe folowynge.