narwe
Middle English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From nearw-, the oblique stem of Old English nearu, from Proto-Germanic *narwaz.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈnarwə/, /ˈnarɔu̯/, /ˈnariu̯/
Adjective
narwe (plural and weak singular narwe, comparative narwere, superlative narwest)
- Narrow, skinny; lacking width.
- 2003, Akio Oizumi, A Complete Concordance to the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: A lexical concordance to the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, supplement series, III. v. 1. A-D, →ISBN:
- Narrow, small: narw, narwe, narwest. For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- Little; diminutive in or lacking size.
- late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4011-4012:
- A povre widwe, somdel stope in age,
Was whylom dwelling in a narwe cotage, [...]- A poor widow, somewhat advanced in age,
Was once dwelling in a small cottage, [...]
- A poor widow, somewhat advanced in age,
- late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4011-4012:
- Tight, constricting; not allowing for much space.
- late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 946:
- Forth goth hir ship thurgh-out the narwe mouth [...]
- Forth goes her ship throughout the narrow mouth [...]
- late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 946:
- (rare) Unassuming, modest, simple.
- (rare, Early Middle English) Severe, rigorous, unforgiving.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)
Derived terms
References
- “narw(e, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-08-27.
Adverb
narwe
- Tightly; in a confined or restrictive way.
- Firmly; in a well-secured or well-attached way.
- Close, near; without allowing for much space.
- Uncomfortably; in a threadbare or poor way.
- Judiciously, attentively, with care, attention and heed.
- Readily, enthusiastically; with much purpose and dedication.
- (rare) Compactly, crowdedly; in a packed or non-diffuse way.
- (rare) In an accurate or meticulous way.
- (rare) Clingily; in a possessive manner.
- (rare) Strictly, unforgivingly.
- (rare) Sadly; sorrowfully.
Descendants
- English: narrow
References
- “narwe, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-08-27.
Descendants
- English: narrow
References
- “narwe, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-08-27.
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