Middle English Dictionary Entry
clẹ̄r n.
Entry Info
| Forms | clẹ̄r n. Also clare, cleres. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Brightness, ?also, bright matter; en ~, brightly; (b) transparentness or translucence, or transparent or translucent matter; ~ of the eie, the cornea; (c) the clear or clarified portion of a liquid; the white of an egg; (d) in ~, in full, fully.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)1077 : Þe sonne schonne en clere [Thrn: full clere].
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)1787 : By commixion of derke, clere and clene, shalbe gendred all the colours meene.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1050 : Þurȝ woȝe and won my lokyng ȝede, For sotyle cler noȝt lette no lyȝt.
- a1425 *Chauliac(4) in Norri Dict.Med.(Jes-C Q.G.23)101rb (p.208) : Of obtalmia & apostumes..bihinde þe clere of þe iȝe [L retro corneam].
- a1425 *Chauliac(4) in Norri Dict.Med.(Jes-C Q.G.23)101va (p.208) : Puschis, bladris.., quitres þat be bihinde cornea, þat is þe clere of þe iȝe.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.360 : This blinde Boteler [Cupid] Yifth of the trouble in stede of cler And ek the cler in stede of trouble.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)126b/b : Þat..clere [*Ch.(2): glaire; L clara] of eggez..be euermore redy to hym.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)9/38 : Late it sattill and wete a fethir in þe clere abouuen.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)3/22 : Þou schalt a-se a gebot of ȝelewe at þe botme and cleyr aboue.
d
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)65 : The kyng may have euery yeer in clere to his Tresour ffor defense off his Rewme xx ml. li. and more.
2.
A forest-glade, a clearing [see Smith PNElem. 1.98].
Associated quotations
- (1237) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)299 : Les Cleres.
- (1272) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)299 : Clers.
- (1294-1300) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)299 : Cleris, Cleres.
- (1305) EPNSoc.2 (Bck.)119 : Les Cleres de Ludgershell.
- (1307) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)299 : Le Cleers.
- (1319-20) Cart.St.John in OHS 68204 : Nicholaus Atteclere.
- (1348) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)156 : Clerwode.
- (1361) EPNSoc.2 (Bck.)119 : Cleresplace.
- (1366) EPNSoc.2 (Bck.)119 : Claresplace.
3.
(a) A beautiful person; (b) surname.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.318 : Sir Umfrey Boun..wedded..Elizabeth þat clere.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1489 : 'Ȝet I kende yow of kyssyng,' quoþ þe clere þenne.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Heyle Ihū my (Cmb Dd.5.64)22 : Of spittyng spred es al þat clere [Jesus] to dede with betyng broght.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11992 : He..keppit hir full close, þat clere out of sight.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)78 : Y have herde of a clere, Florens þat ys feyre and bryght.
b
- (1327) Sub.R.Stf.in WSAS 7254 : Nicholaus le Clare.
- (1379) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)7.213 : Willielmus Clere.
- c1444(c1270) Cart.Lewes in Sus.RS 38 (Vsp F.15)142 : Robert le Clere.
- c1444(c1270) Cart.Lewes in Sus.RS 38 (Vsp F.15)143 : Robert le Cler.