v. Obs.; also 4–5 aourn, anowrn(e, enourn(e, 5 aorne, 4–6 anourn, 6 annorn. [a. OFr. aörne-r, aöurne-r:—L. adornā-re; in later Fr. adorner, ADORN. By identification of A- pref. 7 with A- pref. 2, of which the full form bef. a vowel was an- (see AN- pref. 1), a-ourne was erron. expanded into an-ourne, and this again after analogy of Fr. words in en- (often an- in AFr. and Eng.) was frequently made ENORN. Anourn was further confused with the infinitive anour-en, contr. anour-n, of vb. ANOURE ‘adore, honor,’ the confusion being facilitated by the fact that the senses come into contact, since to adorn is a common form of honoring. See ANOURE, ADORN, and ADORE.] To deck, dress, trim; = ADORN.
c. 1380. in Rel. Ant., I. 9/1. Dextrotirium, a ty of golde anornyng the ryght arme.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxiv. 47. Eer ryngis to anourne [v.r. honoure, ourne] the face of hir.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xx. (1483), 66. He … that aourned the with grene.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 39. Suche pompe and pride to aorne suche a carion as is youre body.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 29/4. The holy ghoost hath aourned the hevenes.
1494. Fabyan, VI. cxciv. 198. She anourned her in moste costly and shewynge aparayl.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.), I. iv. (1506), 44. The soule the whiche is annorned and ennobled with all vertues.
1530. Palsgr., 432/2. I anourne, I beautyfe or make more pleasaunt to the eye. Je aorne … Whan a woman is anourned with ryche appareyle.
1558. Bp. Watson, 7 Sacram., xxvii. 172. As the husbande anorneth and decketh his wyfe.
¶ By confusion with ANOURE: To worship, do reverence to.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxxiii. 1. Whanne the same maner þei hadden anowrned, the laste Joseph and Rachel anowryden [Vulg. adorassent … adoraverunt; 1388 worschipid].
