Obs. Also Sc. 5–6 wer, 6 uer. [a. L. vēr or OF. ver. In ME. a variant of VERE.] The season of spring; springtime.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. l. 8. He shyneth … as the flour of roses in the daȝes of ver.
c. 1407. Lydg., Reson & Sens., 91. Whan the clere sonne aroos In grene ver, ful of delyt.
c. 1450. Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls), VIII. 435. In whiche yere in the tyme of ver [etc.].
1450–80. trans. Secreta Secret., 27. Ver bigynneth whan þe sonne entrith into the signe of þe Ram.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 226. Syne into ver, quhen that the da grew lang, This king … tuke the feild.
1581. T. Howell, Deuises (1879), 197. The more to mourne Our Ladie lost in source of sorrowes shaken Which loe in Ver to heauen hath tane the waye.
1600. Eng. Helicon (1887), 253. Ver hath made the pleasant field Many several odours yield.
b. In more or less personified use.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 118. Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4037. Ver entrid full euyn, eger with all.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, V. xv. (1554), 132. Ver came in with hys newe grene.
a. 1547. Surrey, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 8. There might I se how Ver had euery blossom hent.
1568. T. Howell, Arb. Amitie (1879), 24. Now Lady Ver in liuely greene doth showe her grace in fielde.
1577. Grange, Golden Aphrod., etc., P iv b. When Ver is in hyr pryme.
1630. Drayton, Muses Eliz., Nymphal iii. 179. Whilst fresh Ver is flinging Her Bounties abroad.
