Middle English Dictionary Entry
pūr(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | pūr(e adv. |
| Etymology | From adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Entirely, completely; absolutely; [quot.: (a1398) may be adj.]; (b) directly; of directions: due; (c) ?rightly, justly; (d) very, extremely, thoroughly; ~ whit, very fair-skinned.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Kenelm (LdMisc 108)259 : Þat writ was puyr on Englisch i-write.
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)563 : He..axede him of ȝwuch colur were heuene op-riȝt þere; he seide, him þouȝte riȝt ase gold þat puyr wallinde were.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1542 : He bicom sone þer after pur gidy & wod.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)9b/a : Of þese nounes þat beþ pure & verray essencialia, eueriche is I-seide of eueriche persone by hitself, & of al þre at ones in þe singuler noumbre & nouȝt in plural.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.267 : Who so wil be pure parfyt mote possessioun forsake.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)76/14 : His seede shal bicome pure faderles in straunge lande.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2499 : Our ille dedys er pur ille wroght, Bot our gud dedis pur gud er noght.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)942 : Swich a fairnesse of a nekke Had that swete..Hyt was whit, smothe, streght, and pure flat, Wythouten hole.
- c1450 Myght wisdom (Add 31042)43 : Blissede be þi browes concordande in fere..Not wody thike nor naked pure of here.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apost.(Dub 245)432 : It wer a pur open folye to make herof a rewle for al and for ever.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)180 : A grene wei þov schalt wiende, þat gez euene riȝt puyr est.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6055 : He shipped his folk in grete caynars..Drouȝ vp sailes and wenten forþ To Taracumcte, riȝth pure norþ.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.474 : He Cam to this Gardyn..And Aftyr to Chambre wente ful pure.
c
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)590 : A kynge shude be right besy and studious To gouerne his Roiaulme & his people pure.
d
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)694 : Ȝif þov nimst riȝt puyr hot watur and dost cold þar-to, þov miȝt it makien euene wlach.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)182 : Þe veireste men in þe world þer inne beþ ibore, So clene & vair & pur ȝwit [vr. purwyt] among oþere men hit [read: hij; vr. heo; B: hij] beþ.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8187 : Þer come atte laste Sire hue..Mid an hondred kniȝtes pur versse & sound.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3093 : I wold socour hire..& pult hire out of þis peril in pure litel while.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5884 : Hure vysage was fair & tretys, Hure body iantil and pure fetys.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.189 : For þe pore I shal paye and pure [vr. puire] wel quyte her trauaille.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)8.20 : Godes pyne and hus passion his pure seilde in my thouhte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2124 : I am pure sory þat ȝe list delaye.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)83/14 : Natheles þere is gode lond in sum place, but it is pure litill.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)25.231 : He Opened his Eyen..and abowtes him thanne he loked pure faste.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Origo Mundi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)91 : Pur luen yma thy'm ow whans a'n ven cowethes ordnys.
- a1456(?1417) Lydg.DTChaucer (Add 16165)72 : I am pure sory and hevy in myn hert.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)170 : Þe pris of a plouȝ-lond..To aparaile þat pyler were pure lytel.