Middle English Dictionary Entry
wọ̄d(e n.(3)
Entry Info
| Forms | wọ̄d(e n.(3) |
| Etymology | From wọ̄d(e adj.; cp. OE wōd n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Madness; also, an overmastering emotion, specif. rage or fury; for (pure) ~.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.217 : He wolde noght his herte change To be benigne…bot unmerciable, Betwen the wawe of wod and wroth Into his dowhtres chambre he goth.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)276 : She is in so gret turment…whan folk doth good That nygh she meltith for pure wood.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)18579 : When Hectuba…Saw ded hir doghter Pollexene…The quene…felde men with stones…And tare here clothes & on hem spit…When thei saw hir for wode so wilde Thei did lede hir…With-oute the toun…And stoned hir to dethe.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)5777 : Out of witt he was for wode.
2.
In misc. adv. phrases with for prep.: for ~: (a) in a panic, frantically;
(b) ferociously, fiercely;
(c) intensely, furiously, like mad.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6201 : Is folc…hii flowe vor wod.
b
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)403/48 : Neddren and snaken þer stingeþ for wod.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)381 : In þe northhalf of þe churche…Ne fel neuere a reynes drope…In þe southhalf þoruȝ al þe heiȝe strete it leide on for wod.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2420 : The se, by nyghte, as any torche it brende For wod.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1747 : Lat us to the peple seme Suche as the world may of us deme That wommen loven us for wod.