Middle English Dictionary Entry
air n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | air n.(1) Also aire, aier, eir(e, eier, aer(e, ere, hair(e, heir(e. |
| Etymology | OF air(e, aer (from L āēr, ult. Gr.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The gaseous substance surrounding the Earth; air, the atmosphere. [In ancient cosmology, the perisphere of air was said to be surrounded by the perisphere of fire. The perisphere of air was regarded as consisting of 2 or 3 layers; see quots.]
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)512 : Next þe Mone þat fuyr is hext..þe eir is þanne next bi-neothe and tillez riȝt to þe grounde.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(Hrl 2277:Wright)135/128 : Their is swithe heȝ.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.943 : As the Plover doth, of Eir I live.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.369 : Air..environeth bothe tuo, The water and the lond also.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)121a/a : Derk ayer is I clepid derknesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133a/b : Þe ouer partye of þe eyr is pure and clene, clere, esy & softe, ffor mevynge of stormys, of wynde and of wedir may nat reche þerto; and so it perteyneþ to heuenlych kynde. And þe neþir partye is nyȝe to þe spere of watir and of erþe, and is troubly, greet and þicke, corpulent and ful of moyst erþy vapoures, as longiþ to erþy partyes..Þe eyr strecchiþ hym kyndely al aboute fro þe ouer partye of þe erþe and of watir anon to þe spere of fire.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133b/a : Þe ferþere eire is fro erþe and þe ner heuene, þe more clene & pure he is & þe more lik to þe clennes of heuene. And þe ner he is to þe erthe, he is þe more coolde and fatte & þe more lik to qualite of þe erþe..Of reboundinge of sonne bemes in moyst eyr and þicke, dyuers coloures beeþ I gendred þerinne..as it fariþ in þe reynbowe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133b/b-134a/a : In mounteynes & hillis þe eyr is coolde, & in valeyes hoot..Nygh þe north see þe eyr is coolde and drye by coolde vapour and drye þat comeþ of þe see.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5668 : Þe addres..conceyueþ of þe sonne veire, By nature of þe wynde and eire.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.9.27 : I fyghte not as betande þe eyre.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.45 : And so may men go on þe eyre, ȝif it be closid wiþinne leþer.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)2b/a : Aeromancia: lordshepe þat is in þe eyre.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.1.6 : Whanne the swifte thoght hath clothid itself in tho fetheris, it despiseth the hateful erthes, and surmounteth the rowndnesse of the gret ayr [Add 10340: eyir].
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)63/3 : Þe elementis of this aere, þat es at say, Thunners, leuenyngez and water.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)340 : Blew, bryght, clere was the ayr.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)765 : Soun ys noght but eyr ybroken.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1041 : The clappe of a thundringe, Whan Joves hath the air ybete.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)29 : [The Egyptian wise men] Knew þe kynd, & þe curses of þe clere sternys..tre [read: thre] airis, & oþire Of þe fold & of þe firmament.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)864 : Yt heng hih vp in the hayr: Twen hevene & Erthe stood the place.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)367/344 : The eyer is ful of melodye.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)73/27 : Þe see ys paisyble, yn þe heyr ys cleernesse.
2.
The air as the habitat of birds, winged insects, spirits, etc.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)422/83 : In þe Eyr a-bouen us here, þare luþere gostes fleoth.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2749 : Þer beþ in þe eyr an hey..a maner gostes..Þat men clupeþ eluene.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.114 : Þene fel he [Lucifer] with his felawes..Summe in þe Eir..and summe in helle deope.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3993 : Sche drof forth bothe char and whel Above in thair among the Skyes.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1939 : Right as an hauk..Vp spryngeth into theyr.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.128 : In þe eyre an hiegh An angel of heuene.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.43 : Fissch to lyue in þe flode..Þe corlue by kynde of þe eyre.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle Bee (Thrn)54/6 : When scho [the bee] flyes scho takes erthe in hyr fette, þat scho be noghte lyghtly overheghede in the ayere of wynde.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5535 : Twoo stronge ffeendes off þe eyr In lyknesse off twoo stedes ffeyr.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)60/29 : He fareþ as a butre-flye, þat lyueþ bi þe aier and haþ no þing in hire guttes but wynd.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)340 : Fowles flow furth in the Ayre.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)30/11 : Angeles songen yn þe ayre.
- a1500 *Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149:Hulme)264a : Than we schul yeue the to the bryddes of the ayre.
3.
The air as affecting life: (a) atmospheric conditions, climate; atempre ~, mild climate; strong ~, severe climate; (b) wholesome or fresh air; swete ~; out of the ~, protected from weather, under cover; taken ~, go or live outdoors, enjoy outdoor life, take a walk; (c) contaminated air; infect ~, ivel ~, thik ~; fig. (objectionable) atmosphere [quot. a1500].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)701 : Þe eyr was euere in o stat, naþur to hot ne to cold.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)564 : For-to soiorni elles-ȝware, þare betere eir to him were.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133a/b : Eyre ȝeueþ breþ to alle men & beestis, and is breþinge of alle men & bestis, & propre wonynge place of briddes & foules; & no creature wiþ soule may lyue wiþouten eyr.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133b/a : Þe eir þat by clippiþ vs is to vs most profitable for nede of breþ and also for co[n]tynual norischinge of þe spiritual lif. And ȝif þe eyr is clere, bright & clene, humours & spiritis schulde be clere and briȝt..Eire I drawe by þe longen to þe herte and by þe herte to al þe body ȝeueþ temprament þerto; & so þe eyr chaungiþ moost þe body, for he passiþ to þe inner partyes & to þe spiritis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133b/b : Whan þe sonne is wiþ a sterre þat brediþ coolde, as wiþ Saturnus in a colde signe, þanne is bred strong colde in þe eyr; and if þe sonne is wiþ an hote planete, as with mars, he is cause of passynge hete in þe eyr.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)135a/b : West Contreyes & londes haueþ nouȝt eir parfitly temporat in hete and in humour.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)5a/b : Aer, mete & drynk..þese beeþ þe cause of al þe sekenesse & of helþe.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)204 : Th'air of that place so attempre was That nevere was ther grevaunce of hot ne cold.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3044 : Kyng Richard so syke lay..For þe trauaylle off þe see And strong eyr off þat cuntree.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)180/1 : In-to a noder contreth..at sho sulde be bettur be changyng of þe ayr.
b
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f. 71rb : Qwan thei haue lorn grenehede, cut hem of & hald in drie place or hang hem in dry place out of þe eyr to drye or harde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8349 : In his werynes Hym to refresche & to taken eyr.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)144a/b : Baþing & standyng vnder þe open aier [L sub diuo].
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)140/21 : A preyst toke hir in hys armys & bar hir in-to þe Priowrys Cloistyr for to latyn hir takyn þe eyr.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)2 : He must draw hym to a place of sweyt eyr..& ete norysching metes.
- 1466 Challenge Warw.in PMLA 22 (Lnsd 285)601 : The seide lorde departid oute of Caleis to Guynes..aftir Cristmas day, for to take the eire and disporte of the Countrey.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)47/26 : Temperat taking and vsing of mete and drynk, slepe..rest, eir, delectaciouns.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)346 : On a tyme he toke þe eyr Wyth two knyȝtus gode and fayr.
- a1500 As I walkyd vppon (Hnt HM 183)2 : As I walkyd vppone a day To take þe aere off feld and flowre.
c
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)27b : Þicke eir in hire hus..stench oðer hwiles.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133a/b : Eyr is kyndely mevable and chaungeable, & may be I turned in to contrarye qualitees; þer fore ofte he is chaungid by vapoures of þe erþe and of þe see; for ȝif þe vapour stynke & is corrupt & venymous, þe eir is corrupt and infecte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)134a/a : Chaungynge of þe eyr comeþ of nyȝnesse of careynes and of mareys, for by corrupcioun þerof eyr is infect and I rotid and I maad pestilencial.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.50-1 : The longis woo comth ofte of yvel eire; The stomak als of aier is ouertake.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Stella Celi(1) (Hrl 2255)13 : That thu nat disdeyne off infect heyr [Chet: Eyres] the mystis to restreyne.
- a1500(1446) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)246 : Þe aier and þe pestelence þat hathe long regned in oure said universite.
4.
(a) A body of air; (b) breath; (c) vapor, fumes.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)811-13 : Every word..Moveth first on ayr aboute, And of thys movynge..Another ayr anoon ys meved.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)26/23 : The pyte of God cam so fayre that þere smote amonge hem an eyre that helede the seke bodies and made a plentyuous yere.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)3/6 : Keuer hit so þat non eyre com þer-to.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)295a/b : Oute of his [the panther's] mouþ comeþ wel good eyre and smelle.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)17b/b : Þe pulse veyne..wherof oo party goþ to þe lunges..berynge stynkynge vapoures to lunges and ledynge bytwene ayer to cole with þe herte.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2262 : The air off metis and off baudi cookis, Which..alday roste and seede.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)69 : When hit is ryȝt wel boyled y nowȝ, holde vp þy mowþe þer ouer, & let þe eyre [Sln 3153: fume] þer of in to þy þrote.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)134/18 : Kewere well þi poot, þat þer may non eyr owt.
5.
Air as one of the four 'elements' of which all bodies, physical and organic, were thought to be compounded. [Pure air was said to exist in the upper stratum of the atmosphere, the caelum aetherium.]
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)667 : Of þis foure elemenz ech quic þing I-make is Of eorþe, of watur, and of þe eyr and of fuyre.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1246 : Ther nys erthe, water, fyr, ne eyr, Ne creature that of hem maked is, That may me helpe.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)10.3 : A Castel..I-mad of foure kunne þinges, Of Erþe and Eir [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.605 : Of Elementz the propretes..nou myht thou hiere..Of Erthe, of water, Air and fyr.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)131a/a : Fire and ere acordiþ in hete, þogh þey discorden in drynesse & moysture. And eir & watir acordiþ in moysture, but þey discorden in hete & cooldnes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133a/b : Constantine seiþ þat eire is a symple element substancialych moyst and hoot by his owne kynde.
- (?a1400) in Evans Jewels81 : God mad al mankynde..Of foure elementis..Of fyr & water & aer & erth.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)137 : Eyar, element: Aer, ether, ethera.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)219/36 : The bloode Is hotte and moysti to the lyckenesse of the heiere.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)236/38 : L the wyse Philosofers in oone accorde sayne that iiije elementes bene in the worlde, Wherof euery corruptabill thynge is makyd..Erthe, Watyr, Eeyre, and fyre.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)93/19 : Veer is likenyd vnto the aier, somer to to þe fyre..we faste in veer for that the ayre of elacion and pride schuld be distroyed; in somer, þat þe fyre of couetise..be i-slakenyd.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)26782 : Þe image armede semelie and fair Þai raisede in sight vp in þe har.
Note: New spelling
Note: (see p.393; har = air)
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)737/32 : Hoc columber: a arehole.
Note: New spelling
Note: ~ hole, an air hole
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Trin-C.R.14.45 Recipes (Trin-C R.14.45) 136/16 : Wrynge þyn skynne and hange hit up to drye ageyn þe heyere.
- a1500 Dc.45 Artist.Recipes (Dc 45) 151/5 : Kepe hyt so þat non wynd nodyr ar com þertoo.
Note: New spellings (heyere & ar).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. air.