Middle English Dictionary Entry
wāǧǒur n.
Entry Info
Forms | wāǧǒur n. Also wageour(e, wageor, wager, waigeur, waiour(e, wajour, vageoure. |
Etymology | OF (?AF/ONF) wagour, ONF wageure, vars. of OF gagëure; also cp. OF (chiefly ONF) wagiere, waigere, vagiere (vars. of OF gagiere) & cp. AL wagerum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Something pledged or sworn to, a promise, vow;
(b) an agreement whereby something is pledged on the outcome of a future event, a bet, wager; also, the sum or object held as a surety pending the outcome of a wager, the stake; leien a ~; for a ~, ?because of a bet; ?for a reward;
(c) ?a formal charge or sworn accusation in a court of law.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)131 : A waiour he made…ys heued of to smhyte ȝef me him brohte in hold.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5596 : A waiour dar y wyþ ȝow ley, Þat y shal haue sum gode at hym.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)513 : Wagyn, or leyne a waiowre: Vador…Wayowre: Vadium, vadimonium.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)54 : Here upon y durste leie a waiour of lesing myn arme.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)152/9 : Þis pore man…seid þat þe ryche man had ȝeue hym þat loue and so vanne is vageoure.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)378/29 : Alle nyȝt before þe bataile, þe Frenschmen…played our King and his lordez at þe dys, and an archer for a blanke of hir moneye…þanne þeȝe Frenschmen come prikkyng doun as þei wolde haue ouyr-rydyn alle oure meyne, but God and our archers made hem sone to stomble, for our archers schet neuyr arowe amys…for þey schet þat day for a wager.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)203/26 : I dar lay with you all a grete wageour att I sall þis day or evyn gett almos on hym.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)356/24 : Evur sho talkid vnto hym wurdis to provoce hym to luste of his bodie, and yit be no wyse myght sho induce hym þerto, & so…sho loste hur wageor.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)40/164 : My bow xal I bende wyght and sett myn hand euyn to shete at som best, and I dar ley a wagour his deth for to dyght.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)231 : Thenn men layde grete wagers the Provyncyalle wolde come home and doo many thyngys.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)134b : To lay Wageoure: vadiare, conuadiare, deponere.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)867 : Þat oþer bar redy boun Þe whyte gerfawcoun Þat leyd was to wajour [Ashm: The two ladys waygewr].
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)811 : Hys heed he gan to laye…Whan þat waiowr was take on honde, Launfal þerto two borwes fonde, [etc.].
c
- (1436-7) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)242 : Item, payd to John Beke For a wager þt he leyde þt Robard Marchal hadde broke þe ordinaunse of peper and other wares, Summa vj s. viij d.