shrew--prophetes.ai

▪ I. shrew, n.¹
    (ʃruː)
    Forms: α. 1 screuua, screauua, scraeua, 6 shreaw, 6–7 shrewe, 6– shrew. β. 6 shrowe, schro, 8 shrow. γ. 6 shyrewe, 9 dial. shirrow, sheroo, shorrow.
    [OE. scréawa, scrǽwa, not found elsewhere in Teut.
    Some scholars refer the word to the OTeut. *skreu- to cut (see shred n.), comparing, for the sense, MHG. schermûs ‘sorex’, ‘glio’, ‘talpa’ (mod.G. schermaus mole, also a kind of mouse), OE. scirfem{uacu}s ‘sorex’ (related to sceorfan to cut). See, however, shrew n.² With the β forms cf. strow strew v. It is possible that in the γ forms there may be some mixture of the (? synonymous) OE. scirfe(m{uacu}s): cf. the dial. sarrow = serve v.
    The absence of evidence for the word between the OE. period and the 16th century is remarkable; its place may have been supplied locally in ME. by erdshrew (i.e. earth-shrew), though this, with its apparent corruptions hard-shrew, hardishrew, harvest-shrew, nossro, nursrow (with prefixed N 3), is not recorded before the 17th century.]
    1. Any of the small insectivorous mammals, belonging to the genus Sorex or the family Soricidæ, much resembling mice but having a long sharp snout; a shrew-mouse.
    The common European shrew is Sorex vulgaris. For elephant, house, jumping, marsh, mole, musk, otter, pygmy, rat-tailed, river, tree, water shrew, see the qualifying words; also hardishrew. The shrew was popularly held to be venomous and otherwise injurious; cf. shrew ash, -bitten, -run below.

c 725 Corpus Gloss. M 336 Musiranus, screauua. c 825 Epinal Gloss. 649 Musiranus, screuua. a 900 Leiden Gloss. 226 Musiranus, scraeua. 1538 Elyot Dict., Scytala, a lytel beaste callyd a shyrewe. 1545 Ibid., Mus Araneus, a kynde of myse called a shrew, whyche yf it goo ouer a beastes backe, he shall be lame in the chyne. 1551 Turner Herbal 169 The poyson of..the feld mouse called a shrew. 1578 Lyte Dodoens 622 The poison of the Scorpion and Shrowe and such like venemous beastes. 1595 Duncan App. Etym. (E.D.S.), Sorex, a rotton, a schro. 1600 Surflet Country Farm i. xxviii. 195 The shrew by her biting of the horse maketh him oftentimes to die. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVII. 610 The tucan, or Mexican shrew. 1813 J. C. Prichard Phys. Hist. Man iii. 92 The proper Shrews, of which there are ten species. 1825 Jamieson Dict. Suppl., Shirrow,..the shrew, Roxb. 1859 Darwin Orig. Spec. xiii. 414 The external similarity of a mouse to a shrew. 1904 J. G. Millais Mammals Gt. Brit. I. 145 In still summer evenings, when lying in the woods waiting for rabbits to come out, I occasionally catch a momentary glimpse, of the restless, excitable Common Shrew.

Proverb. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 41 When all shrews haue dind, Chaunge from foule weather to faire is oft enclind. 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 73 It does likely hold up, as we say, by that time the Shrews have dined. 1849 Literary Gaz. Apr. 266 It will be fair weather when the shrews have dined.

2. attrib. and Comb., as shrew-bitten, shrew-faced, shrew-like adjs.; shrew-afflicted a. = shrew-struck; shrew-ash (see quot. 1776); shrew-mole, a mole of either of the genera Scalops and Scapanus; shrew-run, paralysed (as was supposed) as the result of being overrun by a shrew-mouse; so † shrew-running (see quot.); shrew-stroke, the fact or condition of being shrew-struck; shrew-struck = shrew-run.

1841 Penny Cycl. XXII. 263 If a person or animal, thus *shrew-afflicted, was passed through the arch of a bramble [etc.].

1776 G. White Selborne, To Barrington, 8 Jan., A *shrew-ash is an ash whose twigs or branches, when gently applied to the limbs of cattle, will immediately relieve the pains which a beast suffers from the running of a shrew-mouse over the part affected... A shrew-ash was made thus:—Into the body of the tree a deep hole was bored with an auger, and a poor devoted shrew-mouse was thrust in alive, and plugged in, no doubt, with several quaint incantations. a 1845 A. E. Bray Warleigh xiii, So long as I hold in my hand this wand of shrew ash there is nothing to fear. You are safe from the spirit in this chamber.

1614 Markham Cheap Husb., Bull, etc. xxxix. 61 Of being shrew runne, or *shrew bitten. A Shrew Mouse..is a venemous thing [etc.].

1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers iv. 97 A tall, thin *shrew-faced woman.

1898 Guide Mammalia Brit. Mus. 108 The *shrew-like Tarsipes.

1823 Godman Amer. Nat. Hist. (1836) I. 61 The *shrew-mole is found abundantly in North America, from Canada to Virginia.

1607 Markham Caval. vii. 80 If your horse be *shrew-runne, you shall looke for a briere which growes at both endes, and draw your horse thorow it and he will be well. c 1720 W. Gibson Farrier's Guide ii. xvi. (1722) 61 Many of the Country People..when they see a Horse or a Bullock have his Limbs suddenly taken from him,..believe him to be either Planet-struck or Shrow-run.

1726 Dict. Rusticum, Planet-Struck, or *Shrew-Running; (in Horses) is a deprivation of Feeling or Motion.

1872 Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. 131 The curative power which alone could heal the *Shrew-stroke lay in the branches of a Shrew-ash.

1850 Kingsley Alton Locke xxi, When my vather's cows was *shrew-struck, she made un be draed under a brimble as growed together at the both ends.

▪ II. shrew, n.² and a.
    (ʃruː)
    Forms: α. 3–4 screwe, ssrewe, shreu, (4 schreawe, srewe), 4–6 shrewe, schrew, (6 shreaw, 7 shreue), 4– shrew. β. 4 Sc. schraw, 6 shrowe, shroe, srow, 6–7 shrow. γ. 4 sherewe, s(s)cherewe.
    [Generally held to be a figurative use of shrew n.¹, the transference of meaning being accounted for by the superstitions as to the malignant influence of the animal: see e.g. quot. 1545 under shrew n.¹ 1. This appears possible; on the other hand, shrew n.¹ may be a specific application of this word in the sense ‘malignant being’; cf. MHG. schröuwel devil.]
    A. n.
    1. † a. A wicked, evil-disposed, or malignant man; a mischievous or vexatious person; a rascal, villain.
    Sometimes emphasized by cursed, false.

c 1250 Owl & Night. 287 Ne lust me wit þe screwen chide. c 1290 Beket 1917 in S. Eng. Leg. 161 Þe foure þat mest schrewes weren biþouȝten hem of guyle. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3020 Þe ssrewen dude seþþe to þis lond suiþe moche wo. a 1300 Cursor M. 14825 Þan come þai to þe phariseus, Of all þai war þe maister schreus. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 321 That schrewe Pilatus. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 353 For o schrewe which he spareth A thousand goode men he grieveth. c 1400 Destr. Troy 12547 All a company is cumbrit for a cursed shrewe. c 1400 Gamelyn 230 While þou were a ȝong boy a moche schrew þou were. c 1400 St. Alexius (Laud MS.) 572 For þat tyme were þe folk of Rome Þe mest shrewen of cristendome. 1461 Paston Lett. II. 4 These fals shrewes that are of an oppynion contrary to the Kyng. a 1529 Skelton Bouge of Court 525 Who deleth with shrewes hath nede to loke aboute. 1563 Homilies ii. Serm. Rogat. Wk. ii. Qqqqj, Now are they taken from me by euil chaunces, and false shrewes, by naughty wretches. 1587 Harrison England ii. xvi. in Holinshed I. 199/2 These are some of the policies of such shrewes or close booted gentlemen. 1609 Dekker Rauens Alm. Wks. 1873 IV. 264 Such as were shrewes to their wiues. a 1650 Merline 1571 in Furniv. Percy Folio I. 471 Then said Merlyn thoe, ‘hee was a shrew that told you soe’.

β c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Ninian) 459 Al þai schrawis euire-ilkane. c 1570 Pride & Lowl. (1841) 36 To trye a true friend from a shrow. a 1650 Merline 1221 in Furniv. Percy Folio I. 460 Thou cursed srow, thou goe vs froe!

γ 13.. Beues (A.) 1211 Hii lowe, þe scherewes, þat him gan wreie. c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶232 Dauid seith blisful is that man þat hath nat folwed the conseilyng of sherewes.

† b. Applied to the Devil. Obs.

[c 1315 Shoreham vii. 470 Þaȝ god soffrede such a schreawe Al for to spylle.] 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. x. 209 Þei don vuele and þe deuel plesen, And aftur heore deþ day schul dwelle wiþ þe schrewe. c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. T. 364 Though þat the feend noght in oure sighte hym shewe I trowe he with vs be þat ilke shrewe. 15.. New Notbroune Mayd 13 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 2 Yet yf that shrewe To hym pursue That clepyd is Sathan.

† c. Applied to a malignant planet. Obs.

c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §4 Þat he be nat retrograd ne combust, ne ioigned with no shrewe in the same signe.

† d. Used as a term of abuse: Wretch, villain.

1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. vii. 143 To Pers þe plouh Mon one profrede his gloue,..And bad go pisse him with his plouh, pillede screwe [v.rr. s(c)hrewe]! c 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 221 Shrew, Iape! Thus late as thou goys, what wyll men suppos? 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 110 That auld schrew, schame him betide!

e. pseudo-arch. In a weakened use, to express playful reprobation.

1888 Stevenson Black Arrow i. i, Take me this old shrew softly to the nearest elm, and hang him tenderly by the neck. Ibid., Our poor shrew of a parson is, by some mad soul, accused of slaying him.

† 2. A thing of evil nature or influence; something troublesome or vexatious. Obs.

c 1315 Shoreham iv. 207 And ase god dyȝt þeawes In alle gode men, Þe feend a-rayeþ þe schreawes In wykken þer a-ȝen. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 629 That this his yifte shold not fro that tyme be reuoked by ony machynacion or shrew. c 1450 Merlin 568 Than seide Dodinell the sauage that it were a shrewe to go, for in this foreste is noon rescettes. a 1500 Brome Bk. (1886) 12 Take iij schrewys. [A waspe, a wesill, a woman.] 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. xxxi. 12 Remembre, that an euell eye is a shrew. 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxvii. (1888) 166 If to great a multitude making to great a state do not proue a shrew, then am I deceyued. 1620 T. Granger Div. Logike 223 Enmitie, hatred, and ill will is a shrew.

3. a. A person, esp. (now only) a woman given to railing or scolding or other perverse or malignant behaviour; freq. a scolding or turbulent wife.
For the proverbial collocation of sheep and shrew see sheep n. 5 b.

α 13.. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 547/380 He þat his tonge con not holde, In cumpaygnye a schrewe is tolde. c 1386 Chaucer Merch. T. Epil. 10 But of hir tonge a lobbyng shrewe is she. c 1400 Beryn 1282 For now, I am in certen, I have a Stepmodir: They been shrewis som. a 1450 Myrc 59 Wymmenes speche that ben schrewes, Turne ofte a-way gode thewes. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 251, I schaw ȝow, Sisteris in schrift, I wes a schrew euir. 1546 J. Heywood Prov. ii. vi. (1867) 61 Euery man can rule a shrewe, saue he that hath her. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xxiv. (Arb.) 299 To be a shrewe in the kitchin, a saint in the Church. 1609 C. Butler Fem. Mon. i. (1623) C j, They [bees] are like vnto incorrigible shrews: there is no dealing with them but by patience. a 1720 Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iii. 200 His wife who was a wicked shrew. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. I. 59 Those men are most..conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home. 1839 ― Wolfert's Roost (1855) 183 He brought home with him a wife, who seemed to be a shrew, and to have the upper hand of him.

β 1581 A. Hall Iliad i. 12 Iuno Dame that shrowe. 1584 Peele Arraignm. Paris iv. iii, Vul. A harletrie I warrant her. Bac. a peeuish eluish shroe [rime so]. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. v. ii. 193 Now goe thy wayes, thou hast tam'd a curst Shrow. 1603 Florio Montaigne iii. x. (1632) 575 Happy he..[that] Pan and old Sylvan knowes, And all the sister shrowes. 1608 [Tofte] Ariosto's Sat. iv. (1611) 51 Silence cuts a shrow worse then a sword. 1659 Lady Alimony v. iii. K j, He that will practise the art of swinging in a Halter, either to please or cross a Shrows humour.

fig. 1731–8 Swift Pol. Conversat. 83 Marriage is honourable, but House-keeping is a Shrew. 1742 Young Nt. Th. iii. 356 To love, and hate, The same vain world; to censure, and espouse, This painted shrew of life.

† b. jocularly for: A wife. Obs. rare.

a 1626 Breton Post with Packet of mad Letters (Grosart) 40/1 With commendations to your kind Son, your selfe, and your good Shrew.

4. attrib. and Comb., as shrew-tamer, shrew-wife; shrew-ridden adj.; † shrew-shake(n a., ? cured of shrewishness.

c 1530 Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.) 110 Þe wyff was sum⁓what shrew shake. 1551 T. Wilson Logic O vj b, To be obedient, to be shrewshaken, to bring vp her children well [etc.]. 1808 M. T. Kemble Day after Wedding 8 Accomplish that, and I'll acknowledge you the Prince of Shrew-tamers. 1911 Chamb. Jrnl. Dec. 774/2 The snappish utterances of his shrew-wife. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 425 We have shrewridden Shakespeare and henpecked Socrates.

B. adj. = shrewd (in various senses); wicked, evil-disposed; bad; shrewish, ill-tempered.

1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2091, & so þei ssrewe robeours abbe hor wille. Ibid. 6718 A ssrewe & luþer dom. c 1305 St. Kenelm 202 in E.E.P. (1862) 53 Þis quene..schrewe leuedi bicom ynouȝ. 13.. Beues (A.) 398 Go hom, truant!.. Scherewe houre sone. c 1481 Caxton Dialogues 44/27 Pieryne his doughter Is the shrewest [F. la pieure] ghyrle That I knowe on this side the see. 1638 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) I. 76 He of Liberton does us a very shreue turne.

▪ III. † shrew, v. Obs.
    Forms: α. 4–6 shrewe, schrew(e, 7 'shrew, 5– shrew. β. 4 schrowe, 6 shrow, Sc. schir(r)o, 6–7 Sc. schro.
    [app. f. shrew n.², q.v.; cf. beshrew v.]
    1. trans. To curse; = beshrew 3. Chiefly in imprecations I shrew{ddd}(occas. with I omitted).

α c 1386 Chaucer Nun's Pr. T. 606, I shrewe vs bothe two And first I shrewe my self bothe blood and bones If thou bigyle me. c 1386 ― Sompn. T. 519 O vile proude cherl I shrewe his face. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. vii. 75, [I] Venged me fele tymes..and shrewede myn emcristyne. c 1403 Clanvowe Cuckow & Night. 250, I shrewe al hem that been of love untrewe. c 1460 Towneley Myst. ii. 341 Here will I lig thise fourty dayes And I shrew hym that me fyrst rayse. a 1553 Udall Royster D. i. iii. (Arb.) 21, I shrew them that say nay, and that shall not be I. a 1568 Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club) 269, I wait nocht gif thir lawis be gud, I schrew thame first thame fand. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 281 'Shrew my heart. 1611 ― Cymb. ii. iii. 147.

β 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 236, I schrowe alle þer maners, þat lufes þer partie. a 1529 Skelton Agst. Garnesche iv. 127 To know thy selfe yf thow lake grace, Lerne or be lewde, I shrow thy face. a 1568 Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club) 377 Ye hurt me now, schirro your fais. 15.. Wowing of Jok & Jynny 15 in Ibid. 388, I schro the, lyar, full leis me yow. 1668 R. B. Adagia Scot. 48 Shro the ghuest the house is the war of.

2. To deprave; = beshrew 1. rare^—0.

c 1440 Promp. Parv. 449/1 Schrewyn, pravo.

3. To treat shrewishly; to scold. rare.

a 1687 Cotton Joys of Marriage 31 If too wary, then she'll shrew thee. 1883 M. E. Braddon Gold. Calf xx, She shrewed me so abominably..that my pride was roused.