Obs. Forms: α. 4–5 veir, 5 veyr, Sc. weyr, 6 Sc. weir. β. 4 veer(e, 5 weere, 6 vear. γ. 4–6 vere, 5 Sc. were. See also VER sb.1 [a. OF. ver masc. or vere fem.:—L. vēr VER sb.1] The season of spring; spring-time.
α. c. 1325. Prose Psalter, lxxiii. 18. Þou madest alle þe cuntres of þerþe; somer and veir, þou formedest þo þynges.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 72. Veir bigynnes whenne þe sonne entres yn to þe toknynge of þe sheepe.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 1697. Gud Wallace … Erest in weyr to Sanct Jhonstoun couth fair.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, III. 17. Scant begunnin was the fresch weir, Quhen that Anchises … Bad ws mak sail. Ibid., X. Prol. 11. Fresche veir to burgioun herbis and sweit flouris.
β. c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 157. Þe tyme Of Aperil, when clothed is þe mede, With newe grene, of lusty veer the prime.
1388. Wyclif, Ecclus. l. 8. As a flour of rosis in the daies of veer.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 243. The tyme of weere is hote and moisti.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 244 b/2. Some say that the transfyguracion was made in veer.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, H iv. In vear, the husbandmen lop their trees, to the intent that afterward they may growe the better.
γ. 1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, II. ix. (Skeat), l. 133. The same yere maketh springes and jolite in Vere … to renovel with peinted coloures.
c. 1400. Sowdone Bab., 965. In the prymsauns of grene vere.
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., II. xii., in Ashm., Theat. Chem. Brit. (1652), 138. And then be Wynter and Vere nygh over-gon To the Est.
1509. Payne Evyll Marr. (Percy), 25. In tyme of vere when lovers lusty be.
a. 1529. Skelton, On Time, Wks. 1843, I. 138. The rotys take theyr sap in tyme of vere.
1563. Jack Juggler (E.E.D.S.), 36. I never use to run away in winter or in vere.
Hence † Vere-time, spring-time. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxxv. 16. He goon out thens, com in veer tyme to the loond that ledith to Effratam. Ibid. (1388), Ps. lxxiii. 17. Thou madist alle the endis of erthe; somer and veer tyme, thou fourmedist tho.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 48 b/1. He wente thens and cam in veer tyme unto the londe that goth to effratam.
