Middle English Dictionary Entry
yern(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | yern(e adj. Also yerin, ȝern(e, erne, (N or NWM) gern(e, (N) garn. |
| Etymology | OE georn; occas. difficult to distinguish from ME yern(e adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Eager, keen; solicitous; also, zealous (to do sth.);
(b) enthusiastic, hearty;
(c) swift; also [2nd quot.], ?virulent; ?persistent;
(d) in combs.: lof-yern, med-yern, soft ~, q.v.; wille ~, characterized by willfulness, defiant.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8205 : O þaa wandes grett lose þai made, þe king abute þam was ful gern.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)14638 : Þat ȝe war sauf garn haue i bene.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8064 : Þei…hast hem forþe, so many and so ȝerne, Þoruȝ-oute þe felde so gret a multitude.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)340 : For Iapis of his gemetry, þe ious out he wrengis, Erne till exorȝise & ethis euer elike, Þat it suld worthe as he wald.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3257 : But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne As any swalwe sittyng on a berne.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23588 : Sun and mon and water and stern…rinnes nu wit ras sa yern [Frf: gerne; Göt: gern; Trin-C: ȝern; Phys-E: yerin].
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Tim.5.23 : Vse þou a litil wyn for þi stomac and for þi ȝerne [L frequentes] syknessys.
d
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Nativ.(Phys-E)p.61 : Godd…gert þaim lef thair wilgern werk.