Middle English Dictionary Entry
wē̆rish adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | wē̆rish adj. Also werishe, (N) wersh, warsh. |
| Etymology | Origin unknown: cp. MnE dial. (chiefly Northern) wairsh & EMnE wersh; perh. related to ME wẹ̄rī adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Lacking in flavor, insipid; also, watery, thin in consistency; also fig. and in fig. context [quot. c1450]; ?also, insubstantial [1st quot.];
(b) belonging to or identifying one of the nine categories into which tastes were classified, specif. tasteless; ~ savour (taste);
(c) ?having an unpleasant taste; ?unable to taste.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)245b/a : The muste þerof is reed…and þe fruytz withoute byclipped wiþ ful thynne and werissh [L molli] fele.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)316a/b : Suche werische þinges ben…citrulles, melones, and oþere suche þat ben more vsed in medicyne þan in oþer mete and norischeþ but litel, for it haþ no likyng sauour.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)163/13 : Þe hert þat [was] werisch as watere [Corp-C: weattri, smechles]…þorouȝ trauaile of penaunce & of gret biddinge god it turneþ in to wyne.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)115/1425 : Gramerly for to spek, þis word styptyk is na mare for to say bod new, as it commys fra þe stok or ellys kepand þe kynd of þe stok newyssh & warssh & harssyssh.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)144/569 : Ȝyf þe food pass owt hool or negh hool, or ellys it roppys up abovyn raw & sowryssh & werssh, it is takne of excess of cald in þe stomak.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)154/26 : Any man…amonge many manere deynte metes wolde forsake an vnsauory & werysshe mete.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)313b/a : Þre sauours…ben witnesse of mene substaunce: bytyng, sauour, salt, and werissh [L insipidus].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)316a/b : Werissh sauour comeþ of colde and moysture in mene substaunce.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2123 : Also is werish taste, callid vnsauerye, with colde engendride effectuallye.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)79b/b : If it comeþ of fleume þer folewiþ ache þat greueþ…þe face is pale…þe yȝen beþ blered, þe mouþ is werisch & vnsauery [L oris insipiditas].