Middle English Dictionary Entry
werrelī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | werrelī adj. |
| Etymology | From wer(re n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of or pertaining to war, military, martial;
(b) skilled in warfare, warlike;
(c) suited for warfare; also used iron. [1st quot.]; of the porcupine: ?fig. equipped for war; ?bellicose;
(d) as adv.: in a warlike manner, violently.
Associated quotations
a
- (1457) Doc.in Sharpe London3.382 : Ships…in their most defensible and warrely araye.
- c1475(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Hrl 661)p.287 : Werly affraie [Grafton: Theyr shyppes all by batayl and affraye Were take and brought then into Englande].
- c1475(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Hrl 661)p.316 : [Grafton: No siege was layde, for there they had no doute] Ne no mystruste of no maner escape, More like to fooles than to the werly iape.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)1591 : Greffan…the uaillant Cite of Triple cam by, Bi hys huge prowesse went it to assaill In ryght werly wyse.
b
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)1362 : The petyuins tham bare As warly men fre…Assautes tha gafe dyuers And sondry.
c
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)971 : He is a werrely knyght, Whos herneys is horribil & beduste, Not onys vsed in a fourte nyght, And al that iron is or steel, beruste; Vnkept his hors, how may he fight or juste?
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)320/25 : They rode unto the dykes and sawe them double-dyked wyth full warly wallys.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.155 : Off bestis saw I mony divers kynd…The nyce ape, The werely porpapyne.
d
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)813 : Kyng askuardyn in his gere Rydes owte a course of were Full werly and with ill will.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)1741 : These brethren…ful werrely wrought…Off o side and other so departed there, That the peiteuyns Ausoys gan conquere.