▪ I. † ure, n.1 Obs.
[a. AF. *eure, = OF. uevre, euvre, evre (13th cent.; F. œuvre):—L. opera opera n.]
I. in ure:
1. a. In or into use, practice, or performance. Often with vbs., as bring, come, have, and esp. put (freq. c 1510–c 1630). Also rarely with into.
| (a) c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 1448 Whom folowyd Dethe, whych wold nat tary Hys feruent power there to put in vre. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 215 And elder than oon yeer, no grayn in vre Thou putte, in drede hit die. c 1500 H. Medwall Nature (Brandl) 815 He hath shewed me a praty whyle [= wile], If I may put yt in vre. 1522 More De Quat. Noviss. Wks. 76/2 Y{supt} this only lesson wel learned & busily putte in vre, must nedes leade vs to heauen. 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. vi. 1031 Even as a Surgeon..before in ure he put His violent Engins on the vicious member. 1627 Hakewill Apol. (1630) 287 Would God men would be pleas'd to put this course in ure. 1682 New News fr. Bedlam Postscr., You have put his jealous Pen in Ure. 1702 R. L'Estrange Josephus, Antiq. xvi. i. 444 That was the Course therefore, they resolved to put in Ure. |
| (b) 1563 Shute Archit. F i, They maye be practised and brought in vre to diuers vses. 1581 G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) 26 b, Perchaunce they haue brought in ure both publikelie and priuatlie vices far more pernitious than this. a 1604 Hanmer Chron. Ireland (1633) 175 If hee dyed seised during that time, his wife shall not be indowed of the same land as came late in ure. 1606 Holland Sueton. 97 Martiall discipline he required most sharply, bringing again into ure and execution certaine..chastisements. |
| (c) c 1475 Partenay 3722 My goddoughter I may calle hir in vre. 1494 in Househ. Ord. (1790) 112 The sitting of all Dukes, Earles, and Barons sonnes.., such things hathe beene well had in ure. c 1530 Remedy of Love xxiii, But this am I sure, Moche lyke thyng I haue had in vre. a 1542 Wyatt Poet. Wks. (1913) I. 11 Trouth is tryed where craft is in ure. 1545 R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 57 What thing a man in tender age hath most in vre. 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. 128 Neither had it any agreement with that which is in vre among vs. 1613 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. v, The staires of rugged stone, seldome in ure. |
b. With dependent infinitive.
| a 1530 Heywood Love (Brandl) 33 No tonge can attayne to put in vre Her to discryue. 1575 Gascoigne Glasse of Govt. ii. vi, Greate the paines which teachers put in ure, To trade them still, in verteous qualities. 1598 Marston Sco. Villanie ii. (1599) 175 [To] dare put in ure To make Jehoua but a couverture To shade ranck filth. |
c. With reference to statutes, etc.: In or into effect, force, or operation. Chiefly with vbs., esp. put.
| 1454–5 in Bolton Stat. Irel. (1621) 23 All the Statutes..against Escheators shall be put in ure, and be of force. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. 505 To the entente that they shulde see y⊇ sayde proclamacyon put in vre. 1539 St. Papers Hen. VIII, I. 597 My letters to the said Depute shall not nede to be put in ure. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. i. xviii. 165 Ye statute of Northampton..is now..put in vre for the punishment of Forcible Entries. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 420 They ment to bring..S. Edwards lawes and liberties againe In ure. 1614 Bacon Draft of King's Speech Wks. 1869 V. 30 His Majesty could wish the ancient statutes were put in ure. c 1670 Hobbes Dial. Com. Laws (1681) 141 That the Diocesan hath Jurisdiction of Hersesie, and that so it was put in ure in all Queen Elizabeths reign. 1701 Atterbury Add. to 1st Ed. Rights Convocation 48 They would not Enact, put in Ure, Promulge, or Execute any New Canons. 1711 G. Hickes Two Treat. Chr. Priesth. (ed. 3) II. 79 Without any retrospection to old Principles, the King's Ecclesiastical Supremacy in Virtue of these Laws, was put in Ure. |
d. In remembrance or recollection. Only to have..in ure.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 347 The peple..sayethe..Gurmunde..to have made those dyches, hauenge not Turgesius in vre or in remembraunce. c 1450 Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls) VIII. 452 The kynge havynge not in ure of the seide promisse. |
e. In or into a state of prevalence or existence. Chiefly with vbs., as come, draw, put.
| 1470 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 134 Towchinge the tyme whene the Mariage shalbe put in ure. 1477 Paston Lett. III. 191 For th'enconvenyence that I have knowe let in ur in case lyke, and yit enduryth in Kente. a 1547 Surrey in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 15 Like as when, rough winter spent, The pleasant spring straight draweth in vre. 1548 Udall Erasm. Par. Luke xxii. 167 b, What thyng Petur did, the same would the other disciples also haue dooen, if lyke necessitee had cum in vre. 1549 Proctor Fall of late Arrian R iij b, Touchynge the dispensacion of the flesh, and the misterye nowe in force and vre, Christ shalbe subiected vnto the father. 1638 Farley Emblems H 3, This waxen torch is able to endure The winds, when æolus puts them in ure. |
2. Of persons, their faculties, etc.: In or into the regular exercise or practice of a particular pursuit. Usu. with verbs, as fall, put, and chiefly (esp. c 1580–c 1685) keep.
| (a) c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 1173 Y haue shewed the, & brought þe in vre, to know þe Curtesie of court. 1513 More Rich. III. (1883) 18 Himself had bene al his dayes in ure therwith. a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 217 To put his people in vre, that thei might bee the more ready to fight. 1571 Campion Hist. Irel. ii. i. (1633) 69 Sundry times came Lacy to quicken his labourers, full glad to see them fall in ure with any such exercise. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. 42 Till they have brought their hande in ure with the shape and fashion of the Letters. 1677 Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. s.v., To put himself in ure, s'accoûtumer. |
| (b) 1539 Latimer Serm. & Rem. (Parker Soc.) 416, I pray you, keep your hand in ure. 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades 84 Hee..by the Crosse doth keepe our patience in vre. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xxiv. 351 To keepe in vre and exercise, the skill and valour of her English. 1627 Bp. Hall Epist. iii. viii. 329 To keepe the heart in vre with God is the highest taske of a Christian. 1627 ― Art. Divine Medit. xxxi, The minde is by turnes depressed and lifted vp:..which order doth best hold it in vre, and just temper. 1690 W. Walker Idiomat. Anglo-Lat. 254 He lies to keep his tongue in ure. 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables 92 Keeping his hand in Ure with somewhat of Greater Value. |
II. 3. out of ure: a. Out of use; disused; obsolete.
| 1553 Brende Q. Curtius Q vi, Oure naturall toungue throughe the conversation of straunge nacions is gone out of ure. 1567 Jewel Def. Apol. Ch. Eng. v. v. §1. 524 Al these thinges are woorne nowe out of vre, and nighe deade. a 1600 Hooker Eccl. Pol. vii. xiv. §2 The mention of contrary orders worn so many ages since quite and clean out of ure. |
b. Out of practice. rare—1.
| 1625 Bacon Ess., Simulation (Arb.) 509 Which..maketh him practise Simulation in other things, lest his Hand should be out of vre. |
III. 4. Custom or habit on the part of persons; wont to do something. rare.
| c 1425 Cast. Persev. 3629 in Macro Plays 185 Þe vij dedis of mercy, who-so hadde vre to Fylle. 1506 Kalender of Sheph. A iv b, I Nouembre wyll not abyde behynde, To shewe my kyndly worthynes and vre. 1556 Abp. Parker Ps. cvii. 316 Ryght oft is hys vre by loue to allure. 1557 F. Seager Sch. Virt. 716 in Babees Bk. (1868) 344 And sure it is taken by custome and vre, whyle yonge you be there is helpe and cure. c 1600 Sylvester Miracle of Peace xxv, Or (if you cannot leave your wonted ure) Leave (at the least) all mutinous alarmes. |
5. Sc. Work; labour. rare—1.
| a 1510 Douglas K. Hart i. 2 King Hart, into his cumlie castell strang Closit about with craft and meikill vre. |
▪ II. † ure, n.2 Sc. Obs.—1
[App. repr. OE. ór beginning, front, van, taken in the sense of ord point, front, beginning.]
The point of a weapon.
| 1432 Sc. Acts Parlt., Jas. I (1814) II. 21 Gif he hurtis or defoulis with fellon assailȝeing with ege or vre, he sal remayn in preson. |
▪ III. † ure, n.3 Obs.
Also 7 owre.
[a. OF. ure (16th c.), or ad. L. ūrus urus. Cf. OE. {uacu}r, OHG. (MHG.) ûr, ON. {uacu}rr.]
= urus, aurochs.
| 1563 Golding Cæsar (1565) 163 Ures..are of bignes somwhat lesse than Elephantes, in kind and color and shape like a Bull. 1577 Harrison England iii. iv. (1878) ii. 29 As for the plowing with vres (which I suppose to be vnlikelie) and alkes. 1600 Fairfax Tasso iii. xxxii, The swift Vre by Volgaes rolling flood. 1668 Charleton Onomasticon 6 Urus Jubatus, the Owre. [1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Owre, a kind of wild Bull. (Hence in Bailey and some later Dicts.)] |
▪ IV. ure, n.4 Orkney and Shetland.
({obar}r)
Forms: 6–7 uris-, 6 wyris-, uyerris-, 7 vrs-, 8 urs-, erys-, 9 eris-; 8– ure (9 eure).
[ad. ONorw. {obar}yrir (Norw. {obar}yre, {obar}re), = MSw. and Sw. öre, MDa. and Da. {obar}re, Icel. eyrir, ounce of silver (also denoting a standard value and latterly a coin), ad. L. aureus a gold solidus (taken at its value in silver); the original vowel remains unmutated in the ON. pl. aurar. Cf. ora1 and ore4.]
1. In genitive combinations (ON. {obar}yris-, eyris-). a. uris-land [ON. {obar}yrisland, MSw. örisland], land giving the rent of one-eighth of a mark; an ounce-land. (From the feu-duty formerly paid to the superior.) Obs. exc. Hist.
| 1534 in Orkney & Shetl. Rec. (1907) 64 Quhatsumevir that pertenis..to ws..wythin the half wyris land of Sabbaye. 1589 in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1890) 460/1 The landis of Trosnes extending to ane urisland. 1592 Ibid. (1892) 117/2 My 6 merk land and 2 uyerris land of Kildabuster. 1627 in Peterkin Rentals of Orkney (1820) iii. 94 Lying in the vrs⁓lands off Brabister. 1772 G. Gifford in Low Orkney (1879) 144 Our Ure or Ursland..contains 18 Pennylands. 1795 Statist. Acc. Scot. XIV. 323 Every Erysland of 18 penny land had one [chapel] for matins and vespers. 1805 Barry Orkney 220 The entries are first by islands and parishes,..and lastly by marklands, erislands [printed erls-] or ounce⁓lands. |
b. uris-cop [ON. {obar}yris-, eyris-kaup], = prec.
| 1609 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 128/2, 6 lie uriscoppis in Glenna, cum lie quoyis. Ibid., 9 lie uriscoppis de Mo. |
† c. uris-thift, stolen goods to the value of an ounce of silver. Obs.—1
| 1602 Shetland Law Rep. in Scotsman (1886) 29 Jan. 7/1 Gif he beis apprehendit with the walor of an uristhift. |
2. ure of land, = 1 a. [So MSw. öre.]
| [1624 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1894) 212/1, 2 merc. 5 lie uris terrarum de Brabister.] 1799 Statist. Acc. Scotl. XXI. 278 In these parishes there are 1618 merks 4 ures of land. 1821 Scott Pirate i, Scarce a merk—scarce even an ure of land. 1884 Scotsman 26 July 3/1 (Shetland advt.), Three Merks, One Ure and One-Third of an Ure of Land. |
| ellipt. 1774 G. Gifford in Low Orkney (1879) 145, 8 Ures make 1 Mark [of Land]. 1799 Statist. Acc. Scotl. XXI. 278 An ure is the eighth part of a merk. 1822 Hibbert Descr. Shetl. Isl. 179 note, The division of a mark of land into Ures, appears to have been first introduced..in the year 1263. |
| attrib. 1814 Shirref Agric. Surv. Orkn. 31 The lands in Orkney had been early divided into ure or ounce lands. 1822 Hibbert Descr. Shetl. Isl. 179 note, [Hacon] divided the islands into Eurelands or Ouncelands. |
▪ V. ure, n.5 local Sc.
[a. ON. {uacu}r drizzling rain.]
1. A damp mist.
| 1818 Edinburgh Mag. Sept. 155/1 The mune be this was shinan clearly abune a' the ure. a 1824 in Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. 333 Glowring at the azure sky, And loomy oceans ure. |
2. An atmospheric haze, esp. of a coloured nature. Freq. dry ure.
| a 1824 in Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. 455 The east was blae, dry ure bespread the hills. 1824 Mactaggart Ibid. 455 Ure, a kind of coloured haze, which the sun-beams make in the summer time. 1875 J. Veitch Tweed & other Poems 49 The dry ure glow of sky-enkindled flame. |
▪ VI. ure
var. eure n. and v. Obs.; obs. f. ewer2 (pitcher, etc.); var. ewer3, yure (udder) dial.; obs. f. hour; obs. var. ore2.
▪ VII. † ure, v.1 Obs.—1
[ad. OF. urer, ourer, orer:—L. ōrāre to pray.]
intr. To pray.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 286 Ofte, leoue sustren, ȝe schulen vren [v.r. preyen] lesse uorte reden more. |
▪ VIII. † ure, v.2 Obs.—1
[var. of eure v.]
intr. To have good fortune.
| c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 845 In hillis is to cure To sette hem on the south, yf they schal vre. |
▪ IX. † ure, v.3 Obs.
[f. ure n.1]
trans. = inure v. 1.
| a 1500 Chaucer's Dreme C.'s Wks. (1598) 356/1 And in my selfe I me assured, That in my body I was well vred. 1530 Palsgr. 769/2 And he be ones ured to it, he wyll do well ynoughe. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utopia i. (1895) 49 The Frenche souldiours..haue byne practysed and vrede in feates of armes. 1596 Edward III, i. i. 159 Thou must begin Now to..vre thy shoulders to an Armors weight. |
▪ X. ure
obs. var. our pron.