Middle English Dictionary Entry
affrai n.
Entry Info
Forms | affrai n. Also effrai, affroi. |
Etymology | OF esfrei, effrei, effroi. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Assault, attack; maken ~; (b) outcry, uproar, disturbance; of boiling: commotion; (c) law a brawl, riot, public disorder.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3273 : He made a foul affray [vr. fray], For he two pilers shook and made hem falle.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3717 : Þat host compþ after with gret effray.
- c1390 In worschupe (Vrn)4 : God fende hem from vch afray.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.176 : In mirke withouten sight wille enmys mak affray.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5182 : Cam Troylus in, most knyȝtly of aray, And of his manhod made swiche affray Amongis hem [in] reskus of þis kyng.
- (1444) RParl.5.111a : If any person or persones, make any assault or affray upon the seid Lordes or Communes..that then the seid Lord, Knyght of the Shire, Citesein or Burgeis, upon whom such assault or affray is made, have such Writte or Writtes of Proclamation.
- (1448) Shillingford53 : His mynstral made affray apon a woman, and wold have ravasshed hir.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)70/38 : Er þai of myght to make a frayse?
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4746 : The grekes..Shottyn vp sharply at the shene wallis..In diffens of þe folke þat affroi made.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)17 : The Qwene..for that ferfull and terribill affray, fledd yn hir kirtill.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)182 : In that affray eke was take Herry Beamount, with al his hors and tresoure.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)504 : They made many fowle affrays.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3068 : Sche began to crien..And with that noise of hire affray Hir wommen sterten up.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2156 : His meynee, which that herden this affray, Cam lepyng in and chaced out the frere.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)86 : Þan he must..leue his lymer in a certayn place, þer as he may make noon affray [OF effroy].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.990 : With-out noyse or any more affray.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4114 : The vncouth noyse and the gret affray That Grekys made.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2549 : This is the stryf and eke the affray And the batell that lastith ay.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)10.186 : And boyle hit so, not with to grete affray.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.38 : So lowde they gonne to synge..that piers Awook..so Astoned he was Of that Afray.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1994 : Be redy first..to shote & shoute & make affray, With myghti countynaunce.
- a1600 Some tyme Y loued (Cmb Ff.1.6)p.301 : To sone ther fill a gret affray.
c
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.66 : Now is Edward dede, þe soner for þo affrayes.
- (1433) RParl.4.479a : Hit is assented..that yf any person or persons make any affray in offence of the Kynges pees withynne the seid Town..he or they leese uch of hem iii s. iiii d.
- (1444) RParl.5.126a : Yef eny persone or persones make eny affray in offence of the Kynges peas within the seid Toun.
- (1447-8) Shillingford77 : The citeseyns..have had, used, and enjoyed jurisdiccions..for alle affrayes and assautis done or made ayenst the Kynges pees.
- (1450) RParl.5.200b : Riottys, Affrayes and othur inconvenientes..nowe late have growen within this your Roialme.
2.
(a) Fear, consternation, dismay; putten at ~, to put (sb.) to flight; putten in ~, to frighten or alarm (sb.); (b) something that inspires fear, a fearful thing (or quality or action), a terror.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)681 : Þan was þe Sarsyn in gret affray & niste wat was to donde.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1137 : That hym ne moeued outher conscience Or ire or talent or som kynnes affray.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)91b/b : Risinge & stondinge of here wiþ grisliche afray hatte oripilacio.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1174 : I raxled and fel in gret affray.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1232 : Which broght his herte in ful grete affray.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3221 : Foly and childhood..the have putt in gret affray.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3961 : He was for drede in sich affray That not a word durste he say.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3364 : Thathenyenses wer put at affray In a bataile vpon a certyen day.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3226 : The kynge dares for dowte..Sendes aftyre phylosophers and his affraye telles.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)60/35 : Wofull and lamentable noyses..putte þe peple in passynge grete drede and afraye.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)124 : Wher of com gret afray to myn herte.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.1400 : His soule was put in grete affraye.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)75/336 : Thay feyll noght of our afray.
- a1500 Maist thou now (Hrl 116)8 : Yche loke one me aught to put þe in affray.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1822 : Betwyxe þo twey partys þe dragun lay, Gresly to se wyþ grete affray.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.748 : A fyr is foul affray in thingis drie.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)25.174 : Whiche was to hem A gret Afray, Whanne they syen here Lord þere ded.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3384 : Was nevir gretter treson, fere, ne affray I-wrouȝt on-to mankynde.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1472) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8522 : Item, John Dawson maid afray of John Belyngham, ye mercyment iij s. iiij d.
- (1477) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8527 : John Hodd made afray of one Barchand of Rekall.
Note: New spelling