† deˈliber, v. Obs.
Forms: 4–6 deliber, 5 delibere, 5–6 delyber, 6 delybre: see also deliver v.2
[ME. a. F. délibérer (15th c. in Littré), or ad. L. dēlīberāre to weigh well, consider maturely, take counsel, etc., f. de- I. 3 + lībrāre to balance, weigh, f. lībra a balance, pair of scales. In 15–16th c. it varied with deliver: cf. the ordinary Romanic v from Latin b.]
1. a. intr. To deliberate, take counsel, consider.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 169 He gan deliberyn for the best. c 1386 ― Melib. ¶760 She..delibered and took auys in hir self. 1481 Caxton Myrr. i. v. 21 They deliberid emong them and concluded. |
b. trans. To deliberate upon, consider.
| 1545 Joye Exp. Dan. viii. (R.), In delibering, in decerning things delybred. |
2. trans. To determine, resolve. a. with simple obj. or inf.
| 1482 Caxton Polycron. Prohemye A iij, I haue delybered too wryte twoo bookes notable. 1489 ― Faytes of A. i. vi. 13 It is not to be delibered ne lightly to be concluded. c 1534 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camd.) I. 204 But hee..delibered to withstande the adventure. 1580 Stow Hen. V an. 1417 (R.) He delibered to goe vnto them in his owne person. |
b. refl. (with inf.)
| c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xvi. 378, I pray you that ye wyll delibere your self for to gyve vs a good answere. 15.. Helyas in Thoms Prose Rom. (1858) III. 25 On a day he delibered him for to go to hunt. |
c. pass. To be determined or resolved.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur v. ii, I am delybered and fully concluded to goo. a 1529 Skelton Bk. Three Fooles I. 203 Joseph..had vii brethren..the which were delybered of a longe time to haue destroyed him. |