Middle English Dictionary Entry
wẹ̄rī̆en v.
Entry Info
Forms | wẹ̄rī̆en v. Also weri(e, wirie, veri, (early) wergen; sg.3 werieth, etc. & werith, werreith, (early) werget; p.ppl. weried(e, (early) ȝwerȝi. |
Etymology | OE wērigian, wēr(g)ian. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To tire physically, be or become fatigued; also in fig. context;
(b) to be or become dispirited, lose heart; also, falter;
(c) to be or become impatient; get sick and tired (of sth.); cease (to do sth.) because of boredom or exasperation.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)128/21 : Ȝef eani feð to sliden, þe oðer hine breid up ear he ful falle, ȝef ha wergið [Cai: werget; Tit: weries], euchan halt him bi oþer.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)58/21 : Ȝe moten rowen aȝein stream…alle we beoð i þis stream, i þe worldes wode weater…Sone se we…wergið & resteð us i slawðe, ure bat geað hindward.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)135/2 : Þencheð…hwen ȝe wergið [Cai: werged; Tit: wergen] i feht aȝeines þe deouel, hu ure lauerd…wiðseide his fleschliche wil.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)17a/a : Þe vertu of god…is stedfast to dure & leste and werieþ [L langueat] nouȝt, noþer febliþ for no long duringe of tyme.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)47/511 : Þet eadi wummon wergede sumhwet & reat hit [read: him] wið þe raketehe.
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)20/166 : Ne wergeð he [Christ] neauer to wurchen ow, al þet wandreðe.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)2464 : He weryed not of swech occupacioun.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)843 : I xall rebuk hym thus so dyspytuusly Þat of hys lyff he xall very.
2.
(a) To tire (sb.), wear out; also, wear (sb., a people, a dragon) down by means of assault or hardship; ben weried, be or become exhausted (by travel, worry, etc.); also, exhibit lassitude [1st quot.];
(b) to make (sb., oneself) heartsick, lower the spirits of;
(c) to bore (sb.); refl. tire one’s patience (for doing sth.); hit werieth me, I find it tiresome (to do sth.); ppl. weried, having had one’s fill of something, fed up;
(d) to harass (sb. or sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)43/25 : He byþ on ælce lime ȝwerȝi.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)436 : He was an old mon weried of werre, And þou weore a ȝong mon in þi grete strengþe.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)36b/b : Lasso: to wyrie [Cnt: to make wery].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)522 : Weryyn, or make wery, or terwyn: Fatigo, lasso.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)796 : He hade weryede the worme by wyghtnesse of strenghte.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)133/15 : Be waar þat þou sende noȝt out to suche open fiȝt neiþer hors ne man þat is feynted or weried wiþ trauayle byfore.
- (c1461-2) Paston2.265 : Owre devout place…hathe been so longe tyme wrongffully oppressid…þat owre…abbesse is so weriyd and brokyn wyth thowt þat sche is ouere—throwyn wyth daily seeknes.
- a1500 Proc.Chanc.in Archaeol.ser.2.67 : The seid John Grey tristith to wery him [petitioner] in the seid prison unto the tyme that he had made a relesse…of a certain tenement.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)42/27 : Þu…ne spedest nawhit for te wurchen on me, meiden an þet ich am; ah wergest [Roy: wergið] þe seoluen.
- a1450 For lac (Tan 346)2 : For lac of sighte grete cause haue I to pleyn; Longe absence so sore me werreyth.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)99/13 : God…wolde þet hit [Paternoster] were ssort uor þet non ne ssolde him werye hit uor to lyerny.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.33.1 : Whan, weried, þou leuest to dispisen, þou shalt ben dispisid.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1304 : It werieth me to telle of his falsnesse.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)4/13 : Þo [books] þat ben lengere werien þe biholderis.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)5/2 : Ofte tymes it werieþ me to here & rede many þinges.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)62 : It weryth [vr. werieth] me þis mater for to trete.
d
- c1460 Oseney Reg.47/16 : Hit be not lawfull to no man…to trobull þe foresaide church or his possessions to take aweye…or to wery þem with oony vexacions.