Middle English Dictionary Entry
wer adv. comparative
Entry Info
| Forms | wer adv. comparative |
| Etymology | Prob. from wer adj. comp.; also cp. ON: cp. OI verr adv., comp. of illa. It is difficult to distinguish wer adv. comp. from wer n.(3) in phrases with dọ̄n v.(1) & werken v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wers(e adv. comp.
1.
(a) More unfortunately, in less happy circumstances, worse; faren (the) ~;
(b) more severely, more painfully, worse; ~ and ~, ?more and more rigorously;
(c) less effectively, less well; werken ~;
(d) more wickedly, more evilly; don ~.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11900-11901 : Þai…drund him in pike and terr And send him quar he faris werr, Werr þan he fard euer ar.
- a1400 Wenest þu (Lin-C 132)15 : & þow sire robert, with his cloke, Wold þe helpe & be þi ppoke, þe werre þu schust fare.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)1130 : Hast þow bacbyted þy neghbore For to make hym fare þe worre [vr. wore]?
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)616 : My countenaunce ys nycete, And…My pees, in pledynge and in werre; Allas! how myghte I fare werre?
b
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)436 : I durst folow him no ferr For dout me solde bite [?read: bitide] werr.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)66/223 : Saint Peter proued him be proces playne And þe fende answerd fast ogayne, Bot euer he proued him wer & wer, To-tyme þe fende kouth say no ferr.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)180/54 : Þer was neuere dede þat euere he dide þat greued hym warre.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)296/108 : And þis gedlyng go þus, it will greue werre, For he gares growe on þis grounde grete velanye.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)72/30 : Þe fleis þat will com vnto my wownd of new, will bite me war & þai wold hafe done.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21884 : Ai þe ma takens we se, Ai þe warr warnist ar we.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)391/334 : I schall walke este and weste And garre þame werke wele werre.
d
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)62/8 : His name is cursid Iudas…hise children don myche warre in selling þe sacramentis.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)635 : If we se hir do Oþerwise or wer…Þan scho teches vs to do in dede, Þan sal we ordand our wirkyng Als crist vs teches.