Middle English Dictionary Entry
werreien v.
Entry Info
| Forms | werreien v. Also werrei(e, werrein, wer(r)i(e(n, warrei(e, verrei(e, verrai, verrie, (chiefly N) werrai(e, warrai, (SW) worri(e & (early SWM or SW) weorri; sg.2 werreiest, etc. & (N) werrais, weirais; sg.3 werreieth, etc. & (N) werreis, werrais, warrais; pl. werreien, etc. & (N) werrais, werras, warrais; p. werreied, etc. & werreide, waried, verraide, (N) werraid, werhaid, warraid; ppl. werreied, etc. & werreid, wereied, werihed, waried, verraid, (N) werraid(e. |
| Etymology | AF guer(r)eier, guarraier, guerrier, warreier, ONF werier, OF werrier, warrier, vars. of OF gueroiier. Quots. have been distributed between this verb & werren v.(1) on the basis of spelling, but because of possible analogy with verbs containing -ī̆(e(n suf.(2) from OE, some quots. here, esp. in K, SW, and early SWM texts, may belong to werren v.(1); cp. -ī̆(e(n suf.(2) (d). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To wage war, go to war; attack, do battle, fight, harry; ~ forth; ~ samen, wage mutual war, fight each other;
(b) ~ ayen (ayenes), to engage in war against (sb., a city), fight against; ~ on (up, upon, with), make war on (sb., a land, etc.), attack, fight with; also [1st quot.], ?attack (the quarry) in a hunt; ?pursue (the quarry) in order to kill it; ~ on the weke, prey upon the weak; ~ with the world, fig. ravage the world;
(c) to wage war on (sb., a city, country, etc.), fight with, attack; of a pagan deity: subject (a city) to war and destruction;
(d) to attack (the quarry) in a hunt;
(e) fig. of love: to besiege (someone’s heart), harry; of Cupid: attack (sb.); ben werreied with, be smitten by (Cupid’s arrow).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)1868 : He…hehte þane duk stronge werri [Clg: heriȝen] in suþ londe.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)549 : Þe king of hongerie suþþe com…Into Scotland to worri [B vr. werrey] & to do albanac ssame.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.241 : When þe Romaynes wolde werry [Higd.(2): ȝiffe batelle; L bellum indicere] in eny lond, schulde oon goo to þe endes of þat lond and clereliche declare and schewe þe matire and cause of the werre.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.233 : By his witte and sleiþe þe Hunnes were i-torned aȝen þat caste for to werry in þe empere of the Westlondes.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)757/22 : Terges þe kynge…went into Grece for to werry.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21872 : Folk þai sal gain oþer rise To werrai samen mani wise.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24766 : A king was hight willam basterd, þat warraid in jngland ful hard.
- a1400(a1325) Glo.Chron.B (Trin-C R.4.26)1168 : Worri [vr. to worrie; A: Þe emperour þoȝte ȝut wonie in is londe].
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.266 : Þise cardinals so bond Edward & Philip, Nouþer suld werri bi lond, no in water bi schip, Bot hold þam stone stille in pes.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21081 : Þus to werrai and fight þai dreghien.
- ?c1425(c1380) Chaucer Form.A.(Benson-Robinson)25 : No trompes for the werres folk ne knewe…What sholde it han avayled to werreye [vr. warrey]?
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2599 : He has bene rebell to Rome and reden theire landes, werreyand weisely wyntters and ȝeres.
- a1450(1436) Libel EP (LdMisc 704)p.167 : Oure meny wode Wyth grete poure passed overe the ffloode, And verrie forth into the dukes londe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2495 : Now werrays [Dub: warreys] he full worthily as wiȝt man suld.
- ?1457 *Hardyng Chron.A (Lnsd 204)12a : Lordes sonnes bene sette…At sextene yere, to werray and to wage, To juste and ryde, and castels to assayle.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)981 : To hys knyȝtes he sede, ‘Lybeauus well werry kan!’
b
- c1300 SLeg.Eust.(LdMisc 108)21 : ‘Placidas,’ seide þe heort, ‘ȝwy woltþou weorri with me?’
- a1325 SLeg.11000 Virg.(Corp-C 145)22 : For þe king of Engelond was mon of gret miȝte And þat he nadde poer, non aȝen him worri ne fiȝte.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)884 : Þis king…nom…His ost & upe is cosin bigan to werri vaste.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3522 : Agayns hir foos she faught so cruelly That ther nas kyng…That he nas glad if he that grace fond That she ne wolde vp on his lond werreye [vr. verreye].
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1484 : Thanne wolde he take his way To Thebesward, his freendes for to preye On Theseus to helpe hym to werreye [vr. werye].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2218 : A fole conseil tok þai and son To werrei on þe son and mone.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.273 : Omer…feyned falsly that goddis…The worthi Grekis holpen to werreye Ageyn Troyens.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7018 : Outward lambren semen we [mendicants]…And inward we…Ben gredy wolues…With all the world werrien [F avons pris guerre] we; We wole ordeyne of al thing, Of folkis good, and her lyuyng.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)26/4 : How than durste þou be so balde, for to passe so many waters…for to werraye agaynes oure royalle maiestee?
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6131 : A lordyng…Of noble lynage…werreyed on Asclipedot.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)67/19 : Wiþ nakyd brest and opoun heued þey wende to werrey aȝenst þe Gootis.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1076 : Þe wye waried on the woke, alle his wombe-fille.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)14 : The sowdane Arabas the stronge Werreyde appon Crystyndome with wronge.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3730 : Þare werraid neuir with vs na wee þat wirschip achewid.
c
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1135 : Þa tocan þa oðre & helden her castles agenes him, & Dauid king of Scotland toc to uuerrien him.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4987 : Penda þe heþene duc adde euere god wille To worry him & don him ssame.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1544 : How longe, Iuno, thurgh thy crueltee Woltow werreyen [vrr. werien, werryen] Thebes the citee?
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.10 : At Sarray…Ther dwelte a kyng that werreyed Russye, Thurgh which ther deyde many a doghty man.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7338 : Men werraid þam on ilka side…þat þei…War put vte o þair heritage.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22003 : Quatkin man…warrais [Frf: destrois] þat þat þai suld wer, Of anticrist þe nam mai bere.
- a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)24766 : A king was hiht Willam bastard Þat werraid ingeland ful hard.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1984 : I dar afferme þat we strenger be…Ȝow counseilyng…Þe proude Grekis manly to offende…Hem werreyn with al oure ful myȝt.
- a1425(c1340) Rolle Psalter (LdMisc 286)128.1,2 : Oft syth thei waryed me…wondur ȝow not of thair tourmentyng…Oft syth thei hafe werrayde [WB(1): out foȝte; WB(2): fouȝten aȝens; L expugnauerunt] me fro my ȝouthede.
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)3174 : King Eglon…Verrayde of Israel the folk, oppressing thayme horribily.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3447 : Bot the wolfes in the wode, and the whilde bestes, Are some wikkyd men that werrayes thy rewmes.
- c1450 Rich.(Add 31042)154/24 : J porpose me to wende to the Holy Londe…And to werrey that londe þat is fro vs lorne.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.KEng.(1) (Hrl 372)123 : Þe first Herry Was at London crownyd…Whos brodir Roberd…Gan hym werreye.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)320 : After shall we go…to turneyen a-gein these sarazins that this londe do werryen.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)212/32 : He was also werried with his enemyes, assailed with the swourde.
d
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)56 : Þay wery [Dc: werray] þe wilde swyne, and wyrkkis þame waa.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)657 : Faunde my forestez be frythede…That nane werreye my wylde, botte Waynour hir seluen.
e
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3963 : He was marked with Cupides bowe, with his Arwe sodeynly werreyed.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.584 : O blisful lord Cupide…thow me hast wereyed [vrr. weryhed, waryed, weryede, werried] on every syde.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2078 : Myn herte is youres…Ye haue theron sette sich iustice, That it is werreid in many wise.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)9/255 : So sore me werieth loue that…lo, my sewte…it is To holde my silf yowre sely poore knyght.
2.
(a) To wage spiritual war;
(b) ~ ayen (upon, yen, yenes), to war against (Jesus, Jesus’ name or works, the good of one’s soul, a virtue); wage spiritual war against (pagans); also, battle (Satan, pride), fight to overcome; ~ on (with), attack (sb., God, a virtue), struggle against; war spiritually against (Adam); ~ toward, of the devil: direct an attack toward (sb.);
(c) to war against (God, the Christian faith, a virtue, God’s grace, etc.); fight against (a vice, vicious living); attack (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)20004 : Þe apostlis…werrayed in her lordis name.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)4.265 : It ȝaf hem myght to make resistence Ayene synne, and knyghtly to werreye, And to contynue in vertu tyll thay deye.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)30/34 : Ich hit am þet weorri a wið rihtwise.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)32/8 : Ich leote oðer-hwiles a cleane mon wunien neh a cleane wummon, þet ich nawhit towart ham ne warpe ne ne weorri.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)143/397 : He [Lucifcer] waux wel proud…And so he werry ferst by-gan Wyþ gode ine heuene.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)32 : On charite ai werrais wreth.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)727 : Þe warlau and his wijf…Bath þai werhaid on adam For to bring him in to blam.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7548 : Godd es euer on rightwis side, Werraiand again wrangwis pride.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19702 : Ne es noght yon He þat we sagh þis endir dai Gains [Trin-C: Aȝeyn] iesu nam so fast warrai [Frf: verray]?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21982 : He [Antichrist] sal be gains iesu crist…gain [Trin-C: Aȝein] his werc he sal werrai.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27531 : Hed sinnes tald ar þai For þai gain charity werrai.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)17987 : Hard has he [Jesus] werraid me [Satan] again, And mekil merrid of mi main.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)18265 : Wiþ kyng of blis hastou werrayed And so þi self foule bitrayed.
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)363 : Ageyn my soules helthe haue y werreied.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)16.14 : Thi hand…toke my saule to werray with the kyngdome of wickidnes, and to depart goed men fra ill.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)1897 : His baner was…The cros of Ihesu, which he bar vpriht, Maugre paynymes…Lik a chau[m]pion vpon hem to werreye…His sheeld was feith.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)46/315 : Þullich is al þet ȝe þencheð to dei forto weorri me wið: Homers motes ant Aristo[t]les turnes, Esculapies creftes ant Galienes grapes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)29/19 : Þer byeþ zix zennes þet byeþ specialliche ayens þe holy gost…þe vifte is to werri þe grace of þe holy gost ine oþren.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)57/5 : Þe tauerne is a dich to þieues and þe dyeules castel uor to werri god an his halȝen.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)69/21 : Efterward þer byeþ zome of zuo diuers wyt þet none guode techinge ne onderuongeþ ak alneway weryeþ hare sentense huet þet hit by.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.401 : Inpacient is he that…by strif werreieth trouthe wityngly and deffendeth his folye.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18265 : Þou [Satan] þe king o blis werraid And sua þi-self has vnder-laid.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21898 : He [God]…giuen us has sa mikel ur will, þat we him werri [Göt: werrai] ai wit ill.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23752 : Þe warlau, suernes, wreche, and pride, þis werrais [Göt: warrais; Phys-E: werras] us on ilk side.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2516 : Falshede…Lith in a-weyt by many sleiȝty weye, With his gynnes trouþe to werreye.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3251 : Daunger, that is so feloun, Felly purposith thee to werye.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3699 : Ther come venus the goddesse, Which ay werieth chastite…to socoure me.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1358 : This ladi Resoun…Gaff onto man witt and discrecioun, Tauhte hym…that he sholde…Onto al vertu naturali obeie, And in contraire al vicious liff werreie.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)1.230 : Nyght ne day wolde she neuer sees…vices to werrey, With handez to werke, or with mought to pray.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)6879 : Ther gan…other sectys ful vntrewe The feyth off cryst for to werreye.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)18441 : Knele anoon vpon thy kne…I schal ellys verrey [vr. warreye] the; Thow geteste no lenger trewys off me.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)19238 : I [Satan] hate trowthe…And off malys bothe day and nyght Werrey trouthe with al my myght.
3.
(a) To carry on active hostility or persecution (against sb. or the church); ppl. werreiand, persecuting; also, as noun: a persecutor;
(b) to subject (sb.) to hostility, persecution, malice, etc.; show enmity toward (sb., Jesus, the church); afflict (sb.); also, ?betray (sb.), turn against [quot. c1450(?a1400)]; begrudge (sth.) [quot. c1390]; fig. work against (sb.) [quot. c1450]; ppl. werreied, ill-treated, persecuted.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1556 : He scholde late beo stille And ne weorri non more op-on holi churche.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19602 : For to spek of a warraiand [Göt: on werraiand]: Saulus soght aiquar and thrett All þe cristen he wit mett.
- a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)19620 : Saul, Saul, sai me nu, Quarfore on me sua weirais [Göt: werrais] tu?
b
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(Hrl 2277)504 : Wel ofte he bad þe king & his consail, if hit were here wille, Holi Churche werri noȝt, ac in pees lete hire beo stille, Hire franchise as hit was.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)591/54 : Þe Giwes were þe hardiore to werri Cristendom.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.487 : That oother spece of enuye is whan that a man…werreyeth the grace that god hath yeue to his neighebore.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18582 : Þair [Jews’] will was wick þat werraid him [Jesus] bath ded and quick.
- a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)19623 : Saul, Saul…ic hat ihesum nazarene, Þat tu werrais [Trin-C: pursuest] al þat tu mai.
- a1400 12 PTrib.(1) (Roy 17.B.17)47 : Þo troblid soule ne haues noght to holde hym verrayd when he suffres tribulacione.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6926 : Of hem that wole ayens vs [mendicants] be, We hate hym deedly euerichone, And we wole werrey hym…Hym that oon hatith hate we alle And congecte hou to done hym falle…With traisoun we wole hym defame And done hym leese his good name.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)27695 : He þat by caus of enuy Werrayes anoþer wrangwisly…Ful dere boght mun slike bargans be.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)248 : Thow art my mortal fo and me werreyest [vrr. warreyest, verryest; LGW Prol.(1) vrr. weryest, weryeste], And of myne olde servauntes thow mysseyest And hynderest hem with thy translacyoun, And lettest folk to han devocyoun To serven me…For in pleyn text…Thow hast translated the Romauns of the Rose; That is an heresye ageyns my lawe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2689 : Þat þou be willi in þi witt to werray þine awen, Ne tell þou me noȝt þat tale; I trow noȝt þi wordis.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)102 : Ayens me, to werrye me, he is bicome aduocat.
- ?a1475 Chaucer ABC (LdMisc 740)116 : He [Holy Ghost] not to wery vs such a wonder wroghte, But for to saue vs.
4.
?To act aggressively, become bellicose.
Associated quotations
- c1400 Vices & V.(2) (Sim)12/8 : Werreyeþ [Hnt: Riȝt so doþ techynges…to þe proude man, for þe more þat me…chastiseþ hym, þe more he wraþþeþ hym and werreþ and defendeþ hym].
5.
To contradict (a teaching), contest; also, resist (an imposed penance), refuse.
Associated quotations
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.2082 : To the cherche he meekli did obeye, Lik Goddis kniht did lowli his penaunce, Wher ther be summe that wrongli it werreye.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)364 : But se how þat þe worþi prelacie And vnder hem þe suffissant clergye, Endowyed of profound intelligence, Of al þis land werreyen þi sentence.
6.
(a) To disturb (the peace of a nation) by war;
(b) to trouble (the understanding), disturb.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6825 : Þe luþer men of denemarch…To hor olde luþerhede iturnd adde hor þoȝt To worry [B vr. distrouble] vr suete pais.
b
- c1225 St.Marg.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)9/3 : Ne þole þu neauer þe unwiht þat he weorri [Bod: wori] mi wit ne wonie mi wisdom.
- a1250 HMaid.(Tit D.18)43/726 : Ihesu crist leue…þat hare flesches eggunge ne þe feondes fondunge…ne weorri hare heorte wit ne wrenche ham ut of þe wei þat ha beoð in gongen.