Middle English Dictionary Entry
agrẹ̄en v.
Entry Info
| Forms | agrẹ̄en v. Also aggre. Ppl. ag(g)rẹ̄ed, ag(g)rẹ̄id, agrẹ̄it. |
| Etymology | OF agre-er |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To please, gratify, satisfy, appeal to (sb.); ben agreed, be satisfied or contented (with sth.); (b) to be pleasing or satisfactory; (c) to placate (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2631 : Ȝif þer-with-al I myȝt ȝow agreen.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.409 : If harm agree me, wherto pleyne I thenne?
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)47.197 : The kyng, Agreed he was Of the veniawnce.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)240/23 : The wise man..hath countenaunce, iustice..he is a-greed with aunswers.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)179/22 : What that pleaseþ you, I shal holde me right wel agreed.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14689 : So swetly with my ffloute I pype..hem tagree.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)82 : Yef the kynges profer myght not agre the lady [etc.].
b
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1622 : Ȝif it agre and plese..And be according vnto ȝoure avis [etc.].
c
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)39.402 : Gret Amendis wolde I Maken the..ȝow, sire, Agreen I wolde ful pleyn.
2.
To assent, consent, agree; approve, grant; -- often with to or inf. phrase: (a) refl. or intr.; (b) pass.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5175 : To ben assured..Wher þe Troiens agreen wil þer-to.
- (1421) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)162 : If thay wol nat agre hem in no way unto the said Wages.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.131 : That..Ye wolde..somtyme frendly on me see, And thanne agreen that I may ben he..alwey to don yow my servise.
- a1425 Ordin.Nuns(1) (Lnsd 378)143/9 : If sho fully agre hir to þe beheste þat sho made before.
- (1430) Let.Scrope in EHR 54422 : Whether my seid lordes..wol agree hem..to the articles.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)409 : That she agre to his eleccioun, Whoso he be.
- (1433) RParl.4.425a : Ye said Lords..agreed hem..to make hym to be..paide..fully yei agreed hem yereto.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)99 : Damee was a gentylwoman that Phebus loued hertily, and he purswede hire sore; but she wolde not agre to hym.
- (1447) Shillingford27 : The whiche rule and commaundement the seid Maier and Comminalte fully aggreed ham..and were all redy to fulfille hit.
- (1447) Shillingford32 : Y, stondyng mayer..noght may do, seye, aggre, ne assent withoute communicacion hadde with my feloship.
- (1447) Shillingford33 : Ye fynde the seide Maier and his feloship of the Cite disiderable and aggreyng a communicacion to be hadde.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3649 : All agreit to þe gate with a gode wille.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7863 : Syn the souerain assentid..He agreet to the grete.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11186 : Þan the gret of the grekes agreit hom all, The corse for to cast in a clere terne.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)358 : The kynge agreed hym to goo and graythed him sone.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)84 : The kynge hadde a-greed hym-self all to theire ordenaunce.
b
- (1399) RParl.3.424a : Thes Renunciation and Cession ware pleinelich and frelich accepted and fullich agreed by all the States and Poeple.
- (1432) Paston2.35 : It is agreed as it is desired.
- (1452) Doc.in Sharp Pageants Cov.15 : These men above writen wer acordid & agreed..That Thom's Colclow..shull have [etc.].
- (1461) LRed Bk.Bristol2.127 : Item hit is aggreed, ordeigned and assented by..all the Comune Coucell..That [etc.].
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.285 : If ye wol have her hom to you for a seacon..my mastre is agreed.
- (1473) RParl.6.74a : Such Provisions and Exceptions as by his Highnes be or shall be made and aggreed, and duryng the tyme of this present Parliament put in writyng.
- c1475-a1600(a1473) Fortescue Declaration (Clermont)528 : Wherunto Harold..and also the more parte of all the lordis..were welle aggreyd, and promytted that it shalbe so.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)113 : Vnto God I sey in sothenes..agreed is hur mekenes.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)3597 : And so thei were agreed on hym alone, he for to Reigne vppon them euerychone.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)5638 : The Sowdon was agreyd well therto.
3.
(a) Of two parties: come to agreement; make a settlement; (b) give satisfaction to or compensate (sb.); square accounts (with sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (1447-8) Shillingford27 : Tochyng the grete maters yn variance..yf the parties myght so aggre and accorde at their comyng home.
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.289 : Bryng hem to gedyr, and set hem acord, if ye can..And eyf he woll not, lete hym..be compellyd to fynd hym suerte of the pes to agry in thys heed.
b
- (c1420) Will in Bk.Lond.E.221/36 : He will þat John Spyke be agreed with resonabli for his labour and travaille.
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)570/23 : Richard Bukkeland, Tresourer of Caleis..had entretid þe saudiours of Caleis, and aggreyt with hem, and gyven hem obligacions of customs.
- c1525(1473) Oak Bk.Sou.Ordin.in Sou.RS 1088 : Vnto the time that he be reconciled by the good men of the gilde, and that he be agreed with him to whome he hathe trepassed.
- c1613(1468) Plumpton Let.19 : I stand in doubt whether Mr. Midleton and Mr. Ros greed you and Sir John Malivera thereof..if they agreed you nott [etc.].
4.
(a) To compensate or pay (sb.); -- with of, for; (b) pay (duty).
Associated quotations
a
- (1418) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.164 : We wol..that thier be taaken dewe accomptes of the said John..and therupon that he be contented and agreed.
- (1423) Proc.Privy C.3.91 : That the forsayd Thomas myght be agreed of the areragez of his forsayd wagez.
- (?1454) Will York in Sur.Soc.30176 : I will yt the Priour..be agreed for ye house..evere yere v s.
- (1466-7) Will Sus.in Sus.RS 4250 : They shalbe aggreed by myne executours..of that that can be founde due.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.49b : Till..he or they..be contented or aggreed of asmuche as he or they..were charged in defaute of non payment.
b
- (1432) RParl.4.390a : Merchandise of any Merchant Deniszein out of this saide Roialme passyng, wherof the seide Subsidei is paied or agreed, or seurtee made therfore.
- (1442) RParl.5.38a : For the which Woll and Wolfell, the Subsidie..hath be duely paied or agreid.
- (1444) RParl.5.70a : The Subsidee to yowe due..shall be dewely payed or aggreed, or surtee therof founde.