Middle English Dictionary Entry
chẹ̄r adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | chẹ̄r adj. Also chere, chier(e. |
| Etymology | OF chier, cher (from L cārum). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of things: precious, prized, valuable; luxurious (temple); (b) of persons: worthy, esteemed, noble; -- also as noun.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Hose wolde be-þenke (Vrn)8 : Charite is no lengor cheere.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)203 : No þyng more profytable, ne more chere.
- (1425) RParl.4.267b : To touche thing yat was so chier, and so nygh ye worship.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4513 : Achilles..was in the chere temple.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)1051 : Thy neybur to ewyll ne sterre not thou, but all thynge torne into wertu chere.
b
- c1390 Heil be þow Marie Moodur (Vrn)69 : Heil, cher chosen..Heil, chef chaumbre of Charite!
- c1425(?a1400) Arthur (Lngl 55)306 : The kyng of Denmark..þis was a worthy chere.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)p.166 : Þe chere men of lond..Deol & sorwe hii made ynou.
- (1426) Paston2.27 : The chief and most chier man with my Lord of Gloucestre.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1772 : He chese hym a chere man the charge for to beire. Antenor he toke for his triet wit.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5286 : Þen Achilles to þat chere choisly can say [etc.].
2.
(a) Lovable, beloved, dear; ~ affeccioun, deep affection; haven ~ [OF phrase], have affection for (sb.), cherish, love; (b) solicitous, deeply concerned; -- with of or over phrase.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.5.19 : Glade thou with the womman of thi ful waxende ȝouthe, A most cheere [WB(2): dereworthe; L carissima] hynde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3898 : I can nat fynde In myn herte..Swiche on to loue..Nor haue hym chere..in no degre.
- ?a1430 ?Hoccl.Poems PS Compl.Virg.(Hnt HM 111)210 : Yit ful cheer he [Christ] had hem þat him slow.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)46.448 : My brothir dere..Of Alle othere to me most chere.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)723 : His cheer [vr. chere] louyng tendirnesse.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2741 : Thei loueden his fadir so..And had him in so chere affeccioun.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)7872 : Yf he were to me as cheere As euer he was.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13851 : He hade a child..was a chere sone.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)37 : And lede yow in to Paradise to yive yow..a yifte that he hadde riht cheere.
b
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.148 : That is Charite, my leue childe, to be cher ouer thi soule; Contrarie hure nauht.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1494 : Fynde can þei non So gentel, or of hir estat so cheer, Þat onys liste for hem to ryde or gon.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3915 : [The king] of his peple oweþ be so cheer, That hir profet he moot for any þing Promote wit his myght and his power.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)211/11 : Þe folk..weren wondre besye and chere of here biryenge..and hadden grete rewarde of þe..holynesse of here fadres.