Middle English Dictionary Entry
braien v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | braien v.(1) |
| Etymology | OF brai-re |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To make a loud vocal noise: (a) of persons: cry out, shriek, wail, weep; (b) of animals: roar, bellow, whinny, mew, etc.; (c) of the elements: roar, howl.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4881 : Þys yche chyld..began to braye and crye, As þogh hyt shuld al to-flye.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)346 : For þoȝ þou..Braundysch & bray þy braþez breme..Þou moste abyde þat he schal deme.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3488 : Þe Romayns..grete strokes vpon þeym leyde..& dide þem [þe Bretons] braye & crye for wo.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)203 : Bi the throte thei tooken me..Crye and braye j mihte riht wel; Oother solas hadde j noon.
- a1475 St.Mary Magd.(2) (Dur-U Cosin V.2.14)217 : This pylgryme..sawgh his wif dede and his childe brayinge with wepyng voyce.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)2.5.32b : Now wepe, yelle, crye, braye as besy as ye kan.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)298 : She braied and cride with an high voyse, Seint Marie..helpe me and socour!
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)387 : The wounded men cried and braied for the peynes of deth.
b
- c1350 Ayenb.App.(Arun 57)265 : Ase þe lyoun brayinde geþ aboute þan þet he wyle uor-zuelȝe.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3669 : Þat hors..faste gan neye and loude braye.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3027 : Wailende in his bestly stevene..He..braieth To seche merci.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1163 : What! þay [deer] brayen.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)6 : Homme parle, ours braye..Man spekeþ, bere brayeþ.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8013 : Thei blew and cried as wilde bere brayes.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)56 : I..the hert smot..And he balkede and brayed and bruschede thurgh þe greues.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)343 : He cried and brayed as a bole.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)668 : The catte..be-gan to whowle and to bray so lowde that it was herde thourgh the hoste.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)3855 : A lyon..brayed faste and gaped wyde.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)73 : Ver bernynde, brenston stinkinde, tempeste brayinde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22607 : Saint Petre..heuen he sal se part in sundre, And he sal here it cri to wonder, Bath cri and brai.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.31va (2.3) : 'Fibra,' i. os 'vibrans,' i. brayand out wiþ myȝt, for vp þat þe fibres ar stronge & myȝty, so is þe voys.
Note: New form: braiand. Editor's gloss: brayand, v. pr. ppl. 'sounding, making a noise'.