▪ I. † dretch, v.1 Obs.
Forms: 1 drecc(e)an, 2–6 dreche, 3 dræcche, dracche, dreeche, 3–5 drecche, (4 drich), 5–6 dretch. pa. tense 1 drehte, 4 draihte. pa. pple. 1 (ᵹe)dreht, 3–4 idrecchid (-æ-, -a-, -ee-), idraht, 4 draiht.
[OE. drecc(e)an: unknown in the other Germanic langs.]
1. trans. To afflict, torment, vex; in ME. esp. to trouble in sleep.
| c 900 Bede Glosses 27 in O.E. Texts 180 Adficiens, dreccende. a 1000 Cædmon's Gen. 2179 Mec sorᵹ dreceþ. c 1000 ælfric Hom. (Th.) I. 86 ᵹif he hwon hnappode, ðærrihte hine drehton nihtlice ᵹedwimor. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 77 Alle oðre men þet heuie sunnen drecheð. c 1205 Lay. 4521 Þa þe king wes a-waht, he wes swuþe idraht. Ibid. 22556 Þa þe king him awoc swiðe he wes idræcched [c 1275 idrecched]. 1340–70 Alisaunder 819 Hee was draiht with dreme thorou deuiles engines. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Catharina 818 Þu sall drich me na mare. c 1386 Chaucer Nun's Pr. T. 67 As man þat in his dreem is drecched soore. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xx. v, We alle..were soo dretched that somme of vs lepte oute of oure beddes naked. |
2. intr. To be troubled in sleep. rare.
| 1421 Hoccleve Complaint 308 Lat them drem as them lyst and speke & dreche. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 131/2 Dremyn, or dretchyn yn slepe, sompnio. 1535 Goodly Primer (1834) 210 Sleeping or waking, dreaming or dreching. |
Hence † ˈdretching, torment, vexation, trouble.
| a 1050 Liber Scintill. lxxx. (1889) 217 Fram þysum lichaman butan dreccunge stiþre beon ᵹenumene. c 1230 Hali Meid. 7 Deð hire in to drecchunge to dihten hus and hinen. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8080 Drecchynge by tymes haue þey wrought. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xxi. xii, It is but dretchyng of sweuens. |
▪ II. † dretch, v.2 Obs.
In 3–5 dreche, drecche, (5 driche, dryche.)
[Not known before 13th c.; in form identical with prec. vb., but, on account of diversity of sense, generally viewed as distinct.]
1. intr. To delay, linger, tarry.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1420 Ne wold he ðor Ouer on niȝt drechen nunmor. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 1215 (1264) What sholde I drecche [v.r. dretche] or telle of his aray? a 1400 Morte Arth. 754 For drede of þe derke nyghte þay drecchede a lyttille. 1461 Liber Pluscardensis xi. xi. (1877) I. 399 The party..drichit and delayit our fra yeir to yeris. |
2. trans. To delay. b. To protract. rare.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1602 What halt hit muche her-of to telle{revsc} to drecchen ous of our lay? 1393 Gower Conf. II. 41 Than make I..tarienges To drecche forth the longe day. |
Hence ˈdretching vbl. n., procrastination, delay.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 16390 (Gött.) Selcuth vs thinc of þe, pilate, wid dreching [Cott. drightin] for to drill. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 11757 Make no long drecching þer-to. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. v. iii. 52 And to Rowme þet Tribwte pay Wycht-owtyn drychyng or delay. c 1470 Henry Wallace vii. 183 Trubbill weddyr makis schippis to droune, His drychyn is with Pluto in the se. |
▪ III. † dretch, n. Obs.
[f. dretch v.1]
Trouble.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1972 To sett hym in þe waye And coundue hym by þe downez, þat he no drechch had. ? 13.. MS. Cambr. Ff. ii. 38. 33 (Halliw.) Ye schall see a wondur dreche Whan my sone wole me fecche. |