Obs. Forms: 1 ancra, 3–6 ancre, 4–5 ankre, 4–7 anker, 5 ankyr, aunker, 5–6 anchor(e. Pl. -s; 1 ancran, 3 -en, 3–6 -es, 5–6 anker(e)s, anchor(e)s. [OE. ancra, ǫncra, for ancora, *ancoro, shortened f. L. *anchorēta, anachōrēta: see ANCHORET. App. made áncora by ‘popular etymology’ after án ‘one, alone’; the similarly transformed OS. ênkoro, OHG. einchoran (cf. OHG. einsidilo, mod.G. einsiedel, -ler), were according to Sievers, prob. adaptations of the OE. ME. again had a short after two cons. OE. had prob. ancra masc., ancre fem., though the latter is not recorded; in ME. ancre was of common gender; the fem. ancress, ankeress, ANCHORESS, appeared in 14th c., and an extended masc. ANKERER in 16th; but Fr. anachorète, modified to ANCHORET, anchorite, has superseded the earlier forms, anchor appearing last (as current wd.) in Shaks.]
1. An ANCHORET.
a. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wright, Voc., 42. Anachoreta, ancra.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 10. Powel þe erest ancre, Antonie, & Arsenie.
c. 1300. St. Brand., 330. The threteoth fram the to the Ylle of Ankres schal wende.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 28. Ancres and Hermytes þat holdeþ hem in heore celles.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. VI. 149. He lyvede anker his lyf.
1432–50. trans. Higden, ibid. Lyvede after as an ankre in yle of Farne.
1496. Dives & Paup. (W. de Worde), VI. xiii. 253/1. Whan men take them to be ankeres and recluses.
c. 1500. Robt. Deuyll, in E. E. Pr. Rom., 1858, I. 23. We have robbed and kylled nonnes, holy aunkers, preestes.
1529. More, Comf. agst. Tribul., III. Wks. 1557, 1247/1. Ancres and ancresses most especiallye.
a. 1536. Tindale, Exp. Matt., Wks. II. 42. Monks … whether obseruant or ancre.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 113/1. To Crowland, where he led the life of an Anker.
1599. Bp. Hall, Satires, IV. ii. 103. Sit seauen yeares pining in an anchores cheyre.
1604. Shaks., Haml., III. ii. 229 (2nd Qo.). And anchors cheere [i.e., chair] in prison be my scope.
1872. [See ANCHORAGE2].
2. An ANCHORESS. Well known in the book-title Ancren Riwle, the ‘Rule of Nuns.’
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 4. Nu aski ȝe hwat riwle ȝe ancren schullen holden?
1297. R. Glouc., 380. An ancre … Þat nolde vor non þyng fle out of hyre house.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. IV. 144. In þe castel of corf ich shal do þe [womman] close Ther as an ancre.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6351. Now lyk an anker in an hous … And now a nonne, and now abbesse.
1466. Past. Lett., 549. II. 267. To the Prioress of Carow, vis. viiid. To a maide that came with her, xxd. To the anchors xld.
¶ At an early period fancifully associated with ANCHOR sb.1
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 142. For þi is ancre icleoped ancre, & under chirche iancred, ase ancre under schipes borde.
3. Comb. anchor-house, an anchoret’s cell; also, a monastery or nunnery; anchor-settle, -saidell, an anchoret’s seat or cell, also applied to the occupant, an anchoret.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 88. From smiðe, & from ancre huse, me tiðinge bringeð.
1086. O. E. Chron. Tweʓen háliʓe menn … on ancersettle wuniende.
1516. Diurn. Occur. (1833), 6. Thair was ane woman … ane anarcadell inclosit in the Grenesyid.
1603. Philotus, cxxiv. I charge the … Thow neyther girne, gowl, glowme, nor gaip, Lyke Anker saidell, like vnsell Aip.
