Middle English Dictionary Entry
brēth n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | brēth n.(2) Also breith. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI brǣði. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. broth adj.
1.
Wrath, anger, vengeful spirit; the fury (of battle); wreken ~, wreak vengeance.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7624 : In breth [Frf: wraþ] he wald him thoru ber.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18222 : Wit þis can iesus him to wreth, Als þof he brath had bene in breth.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)2.5 : Þan sal he speke to þam in his wreth, And todreue am sal he in his breth [L in furore].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)916 : Hou schulde I huyde me fro hem þat hatz his hate kynned, In þe brath of his breth þat brennez alle þinkez?
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2213 : Brothely with brown stele his brethe he þare wrekes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3557 : Than the burliche kynge, for brethe at his herte..alle his ble chaungede.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)457 : Blynnes, beryns, of ȝour brethe and of ȝoure brode worde!
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1956 : Sire Darius..Mas a brefe at a braide, & it in brathe [Dub: in a breth] sendis To Alexander as be-lyue.
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)5 : Schrift is levynge of synne, þat turneþ þi breeþ fro me.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2815 : Keepe thy breith cloos withyn thy breeste And be not sodenlie hoote without mesure.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)34.23 : For sothly til me pesfully thai spake: and in breth of erth [L iracundia terrae] spekand tresons thai thoght.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)73.1 : Wrethid is thi brethe [L iratus est furor tuus] on the shepe of thi pasture.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)236/267 : Cayphas: whils I am in this brethe, let me put hym to deth.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1220 : All fell bernes at brayde whilse his breth lastez.