Middle English Dictionary Entry
chārī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | chārī adj. Also (early) cearig, charry. |
| Etymology | OE cearig |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Actively concerned, diligent; (b) sorrowful, sad (life); (c) cherished (person).
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)31/142 : Martha wæs bisig and cearig emb þa þenunge.
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)36/198 : Emb feala þing heo wæs, swaswa Martha, bisig and cearig.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1274 : Forr turrtle ledeþþ chariȝ lif..Forr fra þatt hire make iss dæd Ne kepeþþ ȝho nan oþerr.
c
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2964 : Sir Gawayn gretes with his gray eghne..Fore the charry childe so his chere chawngide, That the chillande watire on his chekes rynnyde.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Feast Tott.(Cmb Ff.5.48)97/325 : Tybbe were full tharre [read: charre] of hert, As sche dawnsid she latt a fart.
Note: New form: Also..charre, (error) tharre.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense (b).
Note: Might this quot. belong to chẹ̄rī adj. instead?
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section (including supplement forms): Also charri, charre (error) tharre, (early) chariȝ, cearig.--notes per MLL