Middle English Dictionary Entry
yern(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | yern(e adv. Also yeren, yarn, yurne, ȝern(e, ȝarn(e, ȝairne, ȝorne, ȝurne, (chiefly N) gern(e, (N) yierin, garn, giern(e, (SW) ȝirne, (SWM) ȝoerne & (chiefly early) ȝeorne, (early) yeorne, yorne, ȝierne, georne, ieorne & (errors) ȝeore, ȝiere, weorne. |
| Etymology | OE georne, giorne, gyrne. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. iyerne adv.
1.
(a) Enthusiastically, eagerly; gladly, willingly; fervently, passionately; also, willfully;
(b) earnestly, sincerely.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)49 : Þider ȝe sculen ȝorne draȝen walde ȝe god ileue.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)3 : Men…wisten gerne after ure lauerd ihesu cristes tocume.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)538 : Hi boþ hoȝfule & uel arme, An seche ȝorne [Jes-O: yorne] to þe warme.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1352 : Heo par sume sotteslore Þe ȝeorne bit & sikeþ sore…mis do sumne stunde.
- a1300 Ancr.(Cai 234/120)47/20 : Aris up; hihe ieorne toward me.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)78/1413 : He comen out of scyp sterne To horn ward wel ȝerne.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6989 : Þe king…herede ȝerne seint swithin þat such miracle adde ido.
- a1350 Iesu crist heouene kyng (Hrl 2253)21 : Þin hondywerk nult þou lete, þat þou wel ȝerne sohtest.
- c1390 Form Conf.(1) (Vrn)342 : I haue taken his blessed nome in Idelnesse ȝeorne and ofte.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.993 : Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2795 : Þe ȝerner þat loth þam be-soght, þe mare on him with strenght þai soght.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)12454 : Ioseph & marye wolde not werne But to þe scole lad him ȝerne.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)23030 : Þai helde up hende to life and die And armede þam ful hastelie, And…Towardes þe valai yierin þai passe.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9)351 : Kay callut on Gauan ȝerne.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)449 : Aftur hym ȝorne they chaste.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)p.12 : I trespase aȝens the ȝerne; To the I am rebell and froward.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)22/14 : Þe underkyng…hine bæd ȝeorne þæt he sceolde faren & his sune hælen.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)31 : He…mot…forȝeuenesse weorne [read: ȝeorne] bidde.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)63 : Recheluste…is erueðer to betende…bute hie þe more hem bimurne and þe gernere milce bidde.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)70/13 : Heo wulleþ mid holiwatere beworpen ec þeo w[owes], ble[t]sien ham ȝeorne to burewen ham wiþ þe.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)47/10 : Ȝif heo hit mei eten, ete ant þonke god ȝeorne.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)80 : No mon þet ðe ȝeorne bit of helpe ne mei missen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)633 : He þonkede hire ȝeorne.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)143 : Aftur milce ȝeorne he cride, þei it to late were.
- c1390 As I wandrede (Vrn)5 : To crist ful ȝeore [read: ȝeorne] he criȝede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5942 : Ful yern [Frf: gerne] on godd bi-gun þai call.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)19/31 : Þan sal scho pray gerne to god.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)1274 : Who was so hardie and so stern? Tel me nov, I pray you yern.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)727 : Ȝyrne to god for hym he bedde.
2.
(a) Diligently, assiduously, conscientiously, zealously; also, with abouten used adjectivally, with inf. or clause following, in phrase: ben ~ abouten: to be diligently busy (to do sth., so that sth. should happen), be diligently busy about (how one might do sth.), etc.;
(b) intently, attentively, carefully; also as intensifier: well.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)6/9 : Gyf þu hwylcne cræft cunne, bega þone georne.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)102/23 : We sceolon…symle Godes bocæ teachunge ȝeorne fylȝean.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)132/30 : Uton we wenden us nu to þam beteræ & cerræn to ure Drihten, & him ȝeorne iheræn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2718 : Ne nohht niss time inn oþerr lif…To sekenn kirrke ȝeorne.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)9072 : He wolde swa Uss alle ȝifenn bisne…to serrfenn hemm well ȝerrne.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)125/22 : Bute þu his ȝiere [read: ȝierne] make clane after þine mihte…ne scal tu naure ȝesen…godd almihtin.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)82/25 : Her beoð iþeos word twa eadi þeawes to noti swiðe ȝeorne.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)120/6 : Sathan is ȝeorne abuten forte ridli þe ut of mine icorene.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6269 : Melga…ȝeorne wes abuten hu he mihte aȝeinnen þat he weoren bimnen [read: binnen].
- a1300(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Jes-O 29)81/*97 : Þe mon þe on his youhþe yeorne leorneþ wit and wisdom…he may beon on elde wenliche lorþeu.
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(LdMisc 108)323 : Þe deuel was wel ȝeorne a-boute ȝif he miȝhte him mis-lere.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)708 : He hem dede ȝern schriue Of alle þat he couþe enserche.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11475 : Gais…and spirs well gern [Göt: garn].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19027 : Petre paind him ful gern [Phys-E: gierne] In crist lai þat folk to lern.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21771 : Eline…sua gern [Phys-E: giern] it soght.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)70 : Thus thow moste also preche And thy paresche ȝerne teche.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)34 : There sewet hym a sowre þat seruet hym full ȝerne.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)147/23 : Þer was a tonne of bras…into þe wheche tonne he was put and closyd þeryn, and fure made vndyr hote, and so þei weren ȝerne about for þat Seynt Ion schuld haue brent þeryn.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)55/38 : He georne wyste þæt Gode andsæte wæs.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)100/19 : Heo sceal Godes lare ȝeorne lystæn.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)110/2 : Þæt we æfre on ylce tide ȝeorne þencean hu læne…þas weorldlice þing beoð.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)17962 : He…herrcneþþ Wel ȝerrne hiss word.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)135/25 : Ne teiþe þu him naht anoan, ac beðenc ðu ðe wel ȝerne and fastliche wid eald [read: wiðheald] þe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)5/33 : He hefde en chere bihalden swiðe ȝeorne hire utnunme [Roy: utnume] feire & freoliche ȝuheðe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)155/23 : Lokið nu ful ȝeorne [Cai: georne] hwet tis beo to seggen.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)103 : Ȝif þu milce nauest of me, þet ich wot wel ȝeorne, þet ine helle pine swelten ich schal.
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)27 : Ir felawes þat hire biseten, ful yerne hire bihulde.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)661 : Þe niȝtingale at þisse worde…þoȝte ȝorne on hire mode Ȝif ho oȝt elles understode…Þat miȝte helpe to oþer þinge.
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)13 : Wel ȝerne he him biþoute Hou he hire gete moute In ani cunnes wise.
- (a1333) Herebert Soethþe mon (Add 46919)22 : By-þench, mon, ȝoerne on oeuche wyse…On what þou shalt truste þare.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)835 : Alisaundrine…þederward as William was wayted wel ȝerne.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)76 : Whose…ȝerne biholdeþ þis ilke writ…Alle poyntes he fynde may Of vre beleeue.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.13 : His sauel gern spied he Yef he moht se…thar inne Any…spotte ofe sinne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3290 : Þe sargant yern can on hir loke.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)21 : The longe day ful faste I redde and yerne.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)559 : He houyd, and byheeld vs ȝerne.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)81 : In thys book, yf they rede yerne, Pylgrymes schal the verray trouth lerne.
3.
(a) Vehemently, vigorously; profusely; also, keenly; also, heartily;
(b) forcefully; firmly; also, sternly; as intensifier: strongly; greatly.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.2 Quadr.(Bod 343)56/24 : We sculon eac mid oðre godum dedum swiðe ȝeorne fæsten lufiȝen.
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)93 : Þo he fond water, ȝerne he dronk.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)63/1085 : He seȝ Rymenhild sitte Ase heo were of witte, Sore wepinge & ȝerne.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)925 : Sit now doun and et ful yerne.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1865 : Drepen him he wolden yerne.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3281 : Þat fyr þat setlede so on þe walle, ȝerne hit gan to brenne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.398 : Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne That it is ioye to se my bisynesse.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1424 : Þey…seyen þo…How fast & ȝerne þat nayle bledde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)667 : Oft storbis me þi statour & stingis me ȝerne, Þat þi personale proporcion sa party is to myne.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)399 : Ho haþ don þe þys scham Þat þou bledest so ȝerne [Lamb: yeren]?
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)584 : Þe mayde cryde yerne Þat som man schuld her þer wete.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)93/15 : Ærest mæn sceal leornigen hwæt sien Godes beboden, & heo syððen healden swa swa man geornest mage [L quantum valeat].
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)13 : Drihten cweð eft and ȝerne lerde þet uwilc mon scal beoden oðre alswa he wile þet men him beode.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)69/32 : Lieue saule, ic ðe warni and ȝierne bidde ðat tu…understande and lierne fastliche ða ȝekyndes of sennes.
- a1225 Lamb.Hom.Pater N.(Lamb 487)67/235 : He fondede god solf mid his wrenche and walde hine ȝorne swenche.
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)52 : Corineus…desirede suithe yurne To wrastle wyth that foule thing.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2656 : Þei…comen ofte to þe quen and cunseiled hire ȝerne to acorde wiþ þe king.
- c1390(a1325) Ipotis (Vrn)596 : Þe Emperour wiþ wordes sterne Þus seide to þe child ȝerne [vr. ȝayrne]…‘I coniure þe…þat þou me þe soþe seye.’
- a1400(a1325) Glo.Chron.B (Trin-C R.4.26)861/342 : Þo were þere barons þat come forþ anon & speke ȝurne of acord…Ac al hit was treson…Vor ham were leuere habbe werre euere mo.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3325 : The creste of þe compas they couette full ȝerne.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)179 : Wiþ ȝou to carpe in þis kiþ covaitede y ȝorne.
4.
(a) Quickly, swiftly;
(b) at once, immediately, without delay; also (as) ~; late or ~, late or soon, at any time;
(c) frequently, often.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2197 : God gaf þe werwolf grace to go awei so ȝerne þat borse [read: horse] ne hounde for non hast ne miȝt him oftake.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)505 : For he scholde ȝerne go, his side y made blede.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.158 : Sleuthe wex wonder ȝerne and sone was of age.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)498 : A ȝere ȝernes ful ȝerne & ȝeldez neuer lyke.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1124 : Whan the ȝeer his cours haþ ronne ȝerne…he shal ha repair To Regne in Thebes.
- ?a1425 Const.Masonry(1) (Roy 17.A.1)p.263 : The mayster may his prentes so enforme That hys hure may crese ful ȝurne.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)238/20 : Sche preyid hem to gon in her cumpany; Þei seydyn, yf sche myth duryn to gon as ȝerne as þei, sche xulde be wolcome, but þei myth not han no gret lettyng.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)536 : Ȝarne [Win: Ȝarn], hastyly: Festinanter, celeriter, festine.
- (a1450) Paston2.522 : He lyted and knokkyd on the gate, and we folwyd as yarn as we myth.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.200 : He must seyn distynclyche, nout to ȝarne ne to atret, for ȝif he seye to ȝarne he may lythly ouyrscyppe.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)3065 : Hennes ȝern þou fle Out of siȝt mine.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2043 : Whan sche þat wist, for wraþ al so ȝern sche dede me deliverly devoyde þer hire chaumber.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.430 : Ȝif I…borwe it…I forȝete it as ȝerne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.151 : Were I a god, ye sholden sterve as yerne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.376 : Achilles with his spere Myn herte cleve…if I late or yerne Wolde it bewreye.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.3176 : I shal telle as yerne, Riht wonderful & vnkouth for to heere.
- a1475 Mourn.Hare (Brog 2.1)35 : Then wyl þe wyffys al-so ȝeorne flece me with here dogis heyke.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)494 : Hym þoȝte hys body wold berne But he myȝt, also ȝerne, Fell Lybeaus adoun.
c
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.8.22 : We hafe sent…oure broþer apollo, whom we hafe profyd in manye thyngys ȝerne to be bysy [L quem probavimus in multis saepe sollicitum esse].