Middle English Dictionary Entry
werrǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | werrǒur n. Also werroure, werour(e, werror, werrur(e, wer(r)eur, werrer, werere, verreur, (early SW or SWM) weorrur, weorreur; pl. werrours, etc. & verroures. |
| Etymology | From AF guerreur, guerrour, werrur & AF querrer(e, quarrere, qwerer; also cp. ME werren v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. werreiour n.
1.
(a) A soldier, warrior, fighter; one who conducts warfare; also used of Christ; also, one who likes fighting or conflict [quot. a1400 Cursor (Frf)]; ~ of helle, helle ~, the warrior of hell, the devil;
(b) one who makes war on another, an adversary, enemy;
(c) one who inflicts violence or persecution, a persecutor;
(d) ?error for wer(re n. 4.(a) [cp. AF guerrers, var. pl. of OF guerre; but see OF source of quot.];
(e) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)117/22 : Þe helle weorrur [Cleo: werrur; Tit: werreur] ne asaileð nan wið fondunge þe he haueð in his hond.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)126/13 : Þe weorrur [Nero: weorreur] of helle mei longe asailin ow & leosen his hwile.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)450/53 : Wanne eni fon of werrors come toward þe ȝate, Ȝif me radde þat writ aȝen hom, hi nemiȝte come in þerate.
- ?c1335 Sith Gabriell gan (Hrl 913)p.161 : A better kniȝt nas none No none of more prise; Noble werrure he was.
- c1330(?a1300) Rich.(Auch:Brunner)82/16 : Romaunce make folk of Fraunce Of…Ector, þe gret werrer.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2204 : Nembrot…O babilon king stijf in stur And þer-wit was he gret werrur [Göt: werour].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8306 : Wereur art þou ful wight.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)32 : Of chastite ys licchour loþ; wit charite ys werrour wroþ.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.250 : It is taken for a reule among worldly werrours þat þei shulden anoye þer enemyes on what maner þat þei mai.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)3773 : Theire Cite Is bothe styff, stalworthe, and strong…And ful of men and gode verroures.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)p.51 : In the tyme of the merveillouse werroure and victorius prince, kynge Herry the Vth.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)110a : Who art þowe þat art so gret and so lytell…a wondurful werrour and kyng of blisse?
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)895q : Sir Askelop, þe good werere…was lord of Orkemere.
- ?c1475 *Trev.Nicod.(Sal 39)142a : If þou art a myȝty werrour, fytt wyt þe kyng of blys.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)5 : Jhesu Cryst…Helpe hem at her nede Þat harkeneþ of a conquerour, Wys of wytte and whyȝt werrour And douȝty man yn dede.
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)193 : This childe to be weroure And to do suche labour Js not worthe a fferthinge!
- a1500 Parton.(1) (Add 35288)2667 : Another ys there, a grete werrowre, A kynge thatt ys namyd Surnegowre.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)18014 : Sathan þan till hell ansuerd…Receiue iesu, þou witherwin, vr werreur bath mi and þine.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20933 : To þaim he [Paul] first was verreur And after-ward be-com prechur.
d
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)29/30 : By þe uour werreres [Vices & V.(2): werres; F guerroiers] þet þe feloun heþ: þe uerste is to him-zelue, uor huanne man him berþ hate to þe torment and þe zaule and þet body zuo þet man ne may slepe ne none reste habbe…Þe oþre werre…Þe þridde werre, [etc].
e
- (1202) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms159 : Herb. le Werreur.
- (1230) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames372 : Jordan le Werreur.