▪ I. † vere, n. Obs.
Forms: α. 4–5 veir, 5 veyr, Sc. weyr, 6 Sc. weir. β. 4 veer(e, 5 weere, 6 vear. γ. 4–6 vere, 5 Sc. were. See also ver n.1
[a. OF. ver masc. or vere fem.:—L. vēr ver n.1]
The season of spring; spring-time.
| α c 1325 Prose Psalter lxxiii. 18 Þou madest alle þe cuntres of þerþe; somer and veir, þou formedest þo þynges. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 72 Veir bigynnes whenne þe sonne entres yn to þe toknynge of þe sheepe. c 1470 Henry Wallace viii. 1697 Gud Wallace..Erest in weyr to Sanct Jhonstoun couth fair. 1513 Douglas æneid iii. i. 17 Scant begunnin was the fresch weir, Quhen that Anchises..Bad ws mak sail. Ibid. x. Prol. 11 Fresche veir to burgioun herbis and sweit flouris. |
| β c 1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 157 Þe tyme Of Aperil, when clothed is þe mede, With newe grene, of lusty veer the prime. 1388 Wyclif Ecclus. l. 8 As a flour of rosis in the daies of veer. 1422 Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 243 The tyme of weere is hote and moisti. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 244 b/2 Some say that the transfyguracion was made in veer. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus H iv, In vear, the husbandmen lop their trees, to the intent that afterward they may growe the better. |
| γ 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love ii. ix. (Skeat) l. 133 The same yere maketh springes and jolite in Vere..to renovel with peinted coloures. c 1400 Sowdone Bab. 965 In the prymsauns of grene vere. 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. ii. xii. in Ashm. Theat. Chem. Brit. (1652) 138 And then be Wynter and Vere nygh over-gon To the Est. 1509 Payne Evyll Marr. (Percy) 25 In tyme of vere when lovers lusty be. a 1529 Skelton On Time Wks. 1843 I. 138 The rotys take theyr sap in tyme of vere. 1563 Jack Juggler (E.E.D.S.) 36, I never use to run away in winter or in vere. |
Hence † vere-time, spring-time. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif Gen. xxxv. 16 He goon out thens, com in veer tyme to the loond that ledith to Effratam. 1388 ― Ps. lxxiii. 17 Thou madist alle the endis of erthe; somer and veer tyme, thou fourmedist tho. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 48 b/1 He wente thens and cam in veer tyme unto the londe that goth to effratam. |
▪ II. † vere, v. Obs.—1
[Of obscure origin.]
trans. To raise up; to uplift.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 254 That Iuel þenne in gemmyz gente, Vered vp her vyse with yȝen graye. |
▪ III. vere
ME. var. fere n., fire n.; obs. f. very a.; obs. Sc. var. war n.; obs. f. wear v.; Sc. f. were (doubt) Obs.