Middle English Dictionary Entry
valǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | valǒur n. Also valoure, valor(e, valeure, valuere, walour & (error) valowe. |
| Etymology | OF valor, valeur, valuer, (chiefly AF) valour & L valor, -ōris; sometimes difficult to distinguish from ME valūre n., to which some forms may belong, esp. those in -eure, -uere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Worthiness in terms of the chivalric virtues, nobility of character or breeding; also, spiritual worth [quot. ?a1475]; also, courtliness, refinement [quot. a1500(?a1400)]; of ~;
(b) bravery, courage, valiance in battle; of ~;
(c) physical strength, might; also, stability, endurance [quot. c1450]; intensity [quot. a1475]; of ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4471 : Þis Brangores of valour…þemperour Bi þat time hadde yspoused, A leuedi gent and preciouse.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)19/4 : Gode Men in olde tyme Loueden god almiȝth, þat weren riche of grete valoure, Kynges sones and Emperoure.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)957 : The thridde [arrow] cleped was Fraunchise, That fethred was in noble wise With valour and with curtesye.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5538 : Richesse…ne may so high atteigne As may the valoure, soth to seyne, Of hym that loveth trew and well.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)32 : Octouian…was Emperoure, And was a man of grete valoure.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)189/31 : He is a lord of gret valour…ffor he xall baptyze as seyth scryptour þat comyth of hem all euery-chone In þe holy goost.
- c1475 3 Consid.(UC 85)186 : Princes shulde yive suche yiftes and rewardes liberally and largely, aftir the qualitees of the deedys…the condicion, and the valeure of the persoones.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)140 : He was a noble dysour Wyth ladyes of valour.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)984 : Kyng Artoure gan here fayre grete, And sche hym agayn, with wordes swete, Þat were of greet valoure.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)994 : Oþur lordys of gret valowre, They also kessed Segramowre.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4426 : Þerfore sche com to his socour And fond kniȝtes of grete valour.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1518 : L[edes] for her lele luf hor lyuez han auntered…& after wenged with her walour & voyded her care & broȝt blysse in-to boure with bountees hor awen.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6930 : If we seen hym wynne honour, Richesse, or preis thurgh his valour…compassen we Bi what ladder he is clomben so And forto maken hym doun to go.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.480 : Therto his hors As whit As the Lylye Flowr, And he A worthy knyht and of gret valowr.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4956 : Vndyr þe fforest off Arsour He wolde asaye hys valour.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)2182 : Sone there beganne a straunge shoure: To-geder they smyte knyghtis of valoure.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)405 : I shall lete hem well wite that I am not hidde, yef in me be so moche valour, though I sholde be deed or all to hewen.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6353 : His stede he smot of gret valour And rode oȝain king Arthour.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6588 : Þe cokedrylle…is strong and of grete valoure, And brode feet he haþ foure.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.263 : Thise worldly þinges…schall dissoluen and disseuere, fflittynge right as a thing of no valour, And wauerynge so with-outen gouernour.
- a1475 Limn.Bks.(Brog 2.1)91 : Yf ȝe wolle make crymsons withowte corke in clothe or wolle…after that ȝe have browned hem so aftere the valour, ȝe moste a lytille wode hit opone in the sprynge of the fatte.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)155 : Febylnesse, or lytyl off valour: Exilitas.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)153 : My lady of Synadowne Js broȝt yn strong pryson, Þat ys greet of valour.
2.
Significance, force, import.
Associated quotations
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.35 : Men of diuerse tribus…translate diuine Scripture owte of Hebrewe in to Grewe, not discordenge in eny thynge, neiþer in valoure [Trev.: menynge; L valore] of wordes, neither in ordre.
3.
(a) Material worth, value;—also pl.;
(b) the monetary sum representing the value of something, price.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)26.332 : This Olde gentyl knyght…purveied him Of Gold & Of tresowr and of Mani A Iewel of gret valowr.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)943 : Men mai se…The sepulcre of oure lorde Ihesu Crist Closed in with riche toures And twelff pilers of grete valoures.
- c1450 Siege Troy(1) (ArmsAr 22)104/1312 : Þe kyng…ȝaf hym armes of gret valour, A lyon of gold y-dentyd in asour.
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.4.85 : ij ordinales: one gudde, the oder of smalle valore.
- (1466-7) Acc.Howard in RC 57174 : Ȝe have…a lytel stofe of myne fore my howesolde, wesche is of no grete valor.
- a1500 GLitany (Dc 42)125 : Golde aboue alle other metalles is most precious in valeure and goodnes.
b
- (1404) Will York in Sur.Soc.4527 : Yf the dette be not done to the valour of the forsaid xx marc be, the remanent y ȝeve to pore men.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)3000 : Not for the valour of al this tovn Wold I lenght thi life soo.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)526/3 : He wold not gyff þer-for þe valour of a sh[red] clowte.
- (?c1459) Lin.DDoc.115/6 : By fals Symonye and wynnyng of the valour of xx li. that I haue receyued, I haue vntreuly put Sir Robert Cade, prest, in possession of the benefice of Aylesby.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.267 : Euery man…scholde…offre a peny in valoure [Trev.: value; L pretii] of oure x d. usualle…knowlenge hym subiecte to the empyre of Rome.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)982 : He haþ me sent þe valour Of noble dedes four.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)6957 : Too hym and her he gave a faire Citee…yerly of valowe [read: valowr] vj thousand pownde, to maynteyn yer honour.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)45/184b : Extento: prise a thyng at valuere.
4.
Benefit, use.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5556 : More depe [read: doth] profit and valour Pouerte and such aduersite Bifore than doth prosperite.
- ?a1425 SLeg.Nich.(CmbAdd 3039)67/187 : Ane oynement þat is of grete valoure…þe woman gafe vs to bere to þat kirke.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)13/22 : It is a blessed thinge to faste, for the more harme it dothe the faster, the more is the merit, and of gretter valour.
5.
Associated quotations
- (1434) RParl.5.437b : This thaire assent and grante for to stande in strengthe, and ellus to be as voide and of noe valeure.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)511 : That parliamente of kynge Ricardus was made voyde and as of noo valoure.