† heter, hetter, a. Obs.
Forms: 3–5 heter, hetter, hatter, 5 hatir, hetire, hetur, hattir, hettur, hitter, hittur.
[Cf. MLG. hetter; app. a deriv. of hatian to hate, cf. hęte n. hate.]
Rough; fierce, violent, cruel; severe; keen, eager.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 373 Heter hayrez þay hent þat asperly bited. c 1380 Wylclif Sel. Wks. II. 406 Þe sunne mai be derkkid heter bi fumes þat shal cleer þe erþe. a 1400–50 Alexander 520 And hent sall [he] a full hetire deth. Ibid. 702 Behald ouer þi hede and se my hatter werdis. 1674–91 Ray N.C. Words, Hetter, eager, earnest, keen. |