Middle English Dictionary Entry
werve n.
Entry Info
| Forms | werve n. Also (early, ?error) werȝe & (in place names) werves-, werwes-, werne-, wherne-, worve(s)-, worwes-, wornes-, wordes-. |
| Etymology | OE weorf, (in place names) werwe-, worfes-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A beast of burden; also, a riding animal;
(b) ?in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.254].
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)79 : An helendis Mon…bond his wunden and brohte him huppen his werue.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)85 : He brohte hine uppen his werue þet is unorne mare, þet bitacneð ure unorne fleis.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)343 : Swo is moni gadeling godelike on horse, wlanc on werȝe [?read: werwe; Mdst: op his stede], & unwurþ on wike.
b
- (c1150) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)74 : Werveslega.
- (1180) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)74 : Worvesle.
- (1235-6) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.) ()302 : Worveleg.
- (1255) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)302 : Weruele.
- (1255) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)302 : Whernelege.
- (1275) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)74 : Worwesle.
- (1291) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.) ()302 : Wernelegh.
- (1291) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.) ()302 : Worneleigh.
- (1327) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)74 : Werwesle.
- (1332) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)74 : Wornesleye.
- (1333) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)200 : Woruegate.
- (1424) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.) ()74 : Wordesley.