Middle English Dictionary Entry
vǒuren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | vǒuren v. Also voure, vourn; p. vourede, woured; ppl. vourid & (error) wordede. |
| Etymology | Prob. shortened form of dēvǒuren v., but also cp. L vorāre & OF vorer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To feed [quot. a1450(a1338)]; swallow up (sb., meat), devour;
(b) to consume (sth.) entirely; fig. of a sword: kill (sb.); ppl. vouringe as adj.: all-consuming.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.12.10 : The heued with his feet & entreylis ȝe schullen vowrn [vr. vowre], ne þer schall not lefen of it eny þing.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1644 : Horestes…made hir bern oute of þe tovnis boundis To be vowrid of bestis.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10318 : In þe water…Are fisches inne foure maners: Þo þat are y þat o corner, Never more come þat oþer ner, Ne þe fisches alle foure Ne wyþ oþer menge ne voure.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)21/1 : The dragoun come so orible ayen hym as she shulde a wordede [read: worede] hym.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11606 : A lyon come…and wowred [vr. devovred] hym.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.6.10 : Þe prest shal…take þe askyn þe which þe fuyr vourynge [L vorans ignis] brente out.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.19.6 : Cedre…& ysope…þe prest shal putte into þe flaume þat voureþ [vr. vowrith] þe coow.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 18.8 : Manye mo weren whom þe wijlde woode wastide…þan þei whom vowrede þe swerd.