Middle English Dictionary Entry
yīver adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | yīver adj. Also ȝiver, (early) ȝiv(e)re, ȝifer, ȝifre, ȝefere, giuere, giwere & (error) ȝener. |
| Etymology | OE gīfre, gīfere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Gluttonous, greedy; also, rapacious, predatory; ~ after aughte, acquisitive;
(b) eager, keen;
(c) as noun: those who are gluttonous.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)p.389 : Whase…grediȝ iss & ȝiferr affterr [alt. to: To winnen erþlic] ahhte, Aȝȝ alls he mare & mare gett Aȝȝ lisste himm affterr mare.
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)553/4 : Gulosus: ȝifre.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)45/18 : He is to ȝiuer [Pep: ȝyuer] reuen & to bald mid alle.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)111/10 : Þe ȝiuere [Nero: ȝiure; Cai: giuere] glutun is þe feondes manciple, ah he stikeð eauer iceler oðer icuchene.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3657 : Þu sulf ært swiðe gripel, þine gumen sunden ȝefere [Otho: ȝifre]; þu þenchest to setten o þin hond al middel-ærdes lond.
b
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3955 : Polidamas…was his prise son, ffull ȝener [read: ȝeuer] and ȝepe, and a yong knight.
c
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)111/25 : Ȝef þe kealche cuppe wallinde bres to drinken, ȝeot in his wide þrote þet he swelte inwið aȝein an ȝef him twa; þullich is godes dom aȝein ȝiuere [Nero: þe ȝiure; Cai: giwere; Tit: glutuns] & druncwile iþe apocalipse.