Obs. Forms: 3 felau-, feolau-, south. velau-, veolaured(d)en, 3–4 felau-, felared(e, 4 south. velaþrede, 4–5 felawrede, -dyn, 5 felow(e)red(d)e. [f. FELLOW + OE. -rǽden condition: see -RED.]
1. The condition or state of being fellows or companions; companionship, company, fellowship, society. To bear (a person) fellowred: to bear him company.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 106. Uorto beren him ueolauredden [v. r. feorreden].
c. 1250. Old Kentish Serm., in O. E. Misc., 31. Se [lepre] liest þe felarede of oþer men.
1340. Ayenb., 16. Prede brek uerst uelaȝrede and ordre.
b. For fellowred: for comradeship’s sake.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20380 (Cott.).
| Qui wepes tu sua, quat es tu? | |
| For felaured now sai þou me. |
1340. Ayenb., 38. Þe þyeues be uelaȝrede byeþ þo þet parteþ of þe þyefþe oþer uor uelaȝrede oþer by yefþe oþer be begginge.
2. Intercourse, esp. spiritual; = COMMUNION 2 b.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27974 (Cott.).
| For austin sais þat þoru þis gilt, | |
| Es þat felau-reden spilt | |
| Þat tuix crist and vs suld be. |
1340. Ayenb., 14. ‘Þe mennesse of halȝen’ þet is to zigge þe uelaȝrede of alle þe halȝen.
a. 1400. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867), 3. That es comonynge and felawrede of all cristene.
3. Sexual intercourse.
c. 1250. Old Kentish Serm., in O. E. Misc., 31. Man and wyman deseiurd fram mannes felarede.
13[?]. MS. Harl., 1701. 11 (Halliw.).
| But þou dedyst no foly dede | |
| Þat ys fleshly felaurede. |
1340. Ayenb., 9. Þou ne sselt naȝt wylni uelaȝrede ulesslich wyþ oþre manne wyf.
4. A company of fellows or comrades.
c. 1325. Coer de L., 3137.
| Blythe was the Crystene felawrede, | |
| Off Kyng Richard, and off hys dede. |
1340. Ayenb., 16. He vil uram heuene and becom dyeuel, and he and al his uelaȝrede.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 3586. With him he had a grete felowrede.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg. (1867), 121.
| Seynt peter, noþer his felow-redde, | |
| Dar nott speke A word for drede. |
