perfay, int. arch.
(pəˈfeɪ)
Forms: α. 4–5 parfay, 4 parfai, par-fai, 5 par-fay, -fey, parfey(e, -faie. β. 5–6 per fey, 5 perfey(e, 4–6, 9 arch. perfay.
[ME. a. OF. par fei, AF. also par fai, fay, f. par by (par prep. 1) + OF. feid, feit, fei, mod.F. foi:—L. fid-em faith.]
By (my) faith; verily, truly: cf. fay n.1 6 b. (Obs. in ordinary use since 16th c., but revived by some modern poets.)
| a 1300 Cursor M. 298 (Cott.) Þe erth it has na sun parfai [G. parfay, F. perfay, Tr. perfey]. Ibid. 597 Parfay [v. rr. parfai, forsoþe] þat es bot eth to rede. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 39 The land vj ȝer, and mayr perfay, Lay desolat eftyr hys day. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 495 Som maner confort shal I haue parfay. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7838 Þai Did mare harme þan gude parfay. a 1550 Image Hypocr. iii. 408 And then, my lordes, perfay..Not all your gold so gay..Shall serve youe to delaye. 1570 Levins Manip. 196/47 Parfay, medius fideus. 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 15 She had task't hersel, perfay, To work before a certain day A pair o' stockins. 1865 Swinburne Poems & Ball. Ser. i. Masque Q. Bersabe 117 This knave hath sharp fingers perfay. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. I. i. 338 Perfay all goeth more than right. |