† misˈfere, v. Obs.
Forms: see fere v.1
[OE. misféran: see mis-1 1 and fere v.1]
1. intr. To do wrong, transgress; to misbehave (const. mid, with = towards).
| c 1000 ælfric De Vet. Test. (Gr.) 7 Saul..þæt folc bewerode wið þa hæðenan leoda heardlice mid wæmnum, þeah þe he misferde on maneᵹum oðrum þingum. a 1300 Vox & Wolf 212 in Hazl. E.P.P. 65 Men seide, that thou on thine liue Misferdest mid mine wiue. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VIII. 147 Þe outrage of riche men, þat misferde with pore men [orig. divitum insolentiam qua pauperes indigne tractabantur]. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 241 Bot only that thou hast misferd Thenkende. |
2. intr. and pass. To fare ill; to come to grief; to be unfortunate or unsuccessful.
| c 1205 Lay. 26229 Ȝif Arður mis-ferde þene he come to fihte. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7965 Alle þat þey made a day vpright, ffallen was doun vpon þat nyght;..Þat saw þe kyng hit misferde so. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxi. (Clement) 197, & his fadir fore doule & wa he trewyt in þe se mysferde. a 1425 Cursor M. 18311 (Trin.) Þere I was wiþ my foos mysferde [Cott. was vm-sett]. |
3. ? trans. ? To overthrow.
| c 1330 R Brunne Chron. (1810) 224 Whan Sir Edward herd, þat þei had Lyncoln taken, & þe Juerie misferd, þer tresorie ouerschaken [cf. supra þei robbed þam & slouh]. |