a. Forms: (1 ʓewintred), 3 wintred, (Orm.) winntredd, 6–9 wintred, 6– wintered. [OE. ʓewintred, f. ʓe- Y- + winter WINTER sb.1 + -ed, -ED.]
† 1. Having lived through or experienced many winters or years (cf. WINTER sb.1 2); aged: veteran. In OE. also = ‘of age,’ grown up. Obs.
The meaning in the last quot. is doubtful.
688–95. Laws of Ine, xxxviii. (Liebermann). Healden þa mægas þone frumstol, Oð ðæt hit [sc. the child] ʓewintred sie.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., VI. xxxi. § 1. Hi hiene nieddon to leornunga, þeh he ʓewintred wære.
c. 1200. Ormin, 746. Sannt Johan wass streonedd ta Þurrh faderr & þurrh moderr, Þatt time þatt teȝȝ wærenn ba Winntrede menn & alde.
1594. Kyd, Cornelia, IV. i. Backt With wintered souldiers vs’d to conquering [Garnier vne armee, De fieres legions à vaincre accoustumee].
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 66. The action is entred, the complaint of her [sc. a turbot’s] wintered browes presented.
2. Exposed to the influence of winter; subjected to wintry conditions; chilled or blasted by winter.
c. 1205. Lay., 191. Þa scipen foren wide ȝeon þare wintrede sæ.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & F., i. 4. In field so florishing That wintered withered stalks stand in couart.
1596. Lodge, Marg. Amer., 21. First shall the sunne be seene without his flame, The wintred mountaines without frost or ice.
1804. Anna Seward, Mem. Darwin, 293. The late and wintered period of Autumn.
1879. G. Macdonald, Sir Gibbie, III. xv. 241. Something like a flash of cold moonlight on wintred water gleamed over … his poor focusless eyes.
1889. Mrs. Lynn Linton, Thro’ Long Night, II. xx. He would welcome her as the wintered earth welcomes the fresh young spring.
† 3. Adapted for or used in winter. Obs. rare–1.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 111. Wintred garments must be linde.
