Middle English Dictionary Entry
afēren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | afēren v. Also afferen, averen. |
| Etymology | OE āfǣran |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. afered.
1.
To make (sb.) afraid, to terrify.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25553 : Feorlic wes þat sweouen, þene king hit auerde [Otho: aferde].
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)221 : Þu miȝt mid þine songe afere Alle þat ihereþ þine ibere.
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)164 : He þe sende þis crois, þine fon to aferene.
- a1300 Owl & N.(Jes-O 29)978 : Hi myhten a-fere heore preost.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)72/68 : He liet ordeinie is fierd..and þat folk sore aferde.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)511 : A gret ok he wolde braide adoun..& bere vorþ in is hond, þat volc vor to afere [B: afear].
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10128 : Þis sunne & oþer mo king Ion sore aferde.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)722 : Þou ne afferest me noȝt so.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.430 : It afereth þe fende.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.165 : Conscience þo cryed vpon elde, And bad hym fonde to fyȝte and afere wanhope.
- c1410 St.Anselm Medit.(UC 97)445 : On þat oo syde schullen bee synnes accusynge, on þat oother syde streit riȝtfulnesse soore afferynge.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.26.6 : Ȝe shulen sleepe, and there shal not be that shal afeere ȝou.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.770 : That no thyng hem afere, or ought offende.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)8125 : We Scholen afferen hem with-jnne.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)879 : Ful ofte þey hire foos afferde.
- a1450 Pride Life (ChrC-Dub)412 : Com þou yerfor hidir, Wet Deþt me to afer!
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.32.79a : Þerein is no maner poynt of vertue, saffe..grennyng of teth to afferen fooles.