Now chiefly arch. and dial. Forms: α. 1–3 sare (3 sære); north. and Sc. 4–5 sar(e, sayre, 4–5, 7 sayr, 4– sair; 8–9 sear. β. 3– sore (3 seore), 4–5 sor, 5–6 soore, 6 Sc. soir. Compar. 3–5 sarre, 4–5 sarrer, 4 sarare, -er, 5 -arre; 4 sorere, zorer, 6– sorer. Superl. 3–4 sarrest, 5 sarest, 3– sorest. [OE. sáre (f. sár SORE a.1), = OFris. sêr, seer, MDu. seer (Du. zeer), OS. and OHG. sêro (MHG. sêre, G. sehr), MSw. sāra, sāre, Da. saare.]
1. Of striking, wounding, etc.: So as to cause considerable physical pain or bodily injury; violently or severely in this respect.
α. c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), lxxvii. 33. Þonne he hi sare sloh, Þonne hi sohton hine.
c. 1205. Lay., 27692. Gecron … his spere grap anan and smat Leir þene eorl sære.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 292. Þe neiles weren so dulte þet heo … breken þe bones, more þen þurleden, uorte pinen him sarre.
a. 1352. Minot, Poems, v. 12. It sowed him sare; Sare it þam smerted.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, II. 351. Feyle men dede, and woundyt sar.
a. 1450. Myrc, 1416. Þe herre þat a mon ys in degre, Þe sarrer forsoþe falleþ he.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 223. Hald abak, and handill me nought sair.
β. 1205. Lay., 27908. Kæi wes forwunded seore.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 407. I schel him smite swiþe sore Upon is hat.
1340. Ayenb., 238. Huo þet heȝest ualþ þe zorer he him blecheþ.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. iii. 416. And fyrst he smote doune my felawe syre Bleoberys & sore wounded hym.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 200 b. Thei were sore beaten, wounded, and very evil intreated.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 61. An olde dog byteth sore. But … tholde bitche biteth sorer.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xiv. 44. Seeing ourselves all sore hurt.
a. 1720. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. II. 130. I did beat you very sore.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, l. She … said ‘they hurt her sore,’ and she was ‘bleeding a power.’
b. Of sickness or other physical suffering: Severely, dangerously, seriously.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 231. Longue wenden þis gode men … Þat huy weren of-hongred sore.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 53. Þat tyme at Westmynstir Harald sore seke lay.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 593. Seiȝth me al ȝour seknesse & what so sore ȝow greuis.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 236. A man … that soore seke is.
c. 1450. Merlin, xiv. 207. Many ther were throwen to grounde sore bledynge with stroke of speres.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xliv. 16. Grit pane and wo … Into thair birth thay suffir sair for ws.
1609. Rowlands, Dr. Merrie-man (Hunterian Cl.), 18. An aged Gentleman sore sicke did lie.
1721. Ramsay, Prospect of Plenty, 73. Peghing fou sair beneath a lade of fears.
1842. Macaulay, Horatius, lxi. Fast his blood was flowing; And he was sore in pain.
1878. Spurgeon, Treas. David, Ps. cxviii. 19. Our hero had also in all probability been sore sick.
† 2. With much suffering; dearly. Obs.
Beowulf, 1251. Siʓon þa to slæpe: sum sare anʓeald æfenræste.
c. 1205. Lay., 8158. Þu me smite bi þon rugge, ah sare þu hit salt a-buggen.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1070. Caym … Vntil his broþer nith he bare, Allas, þat boght þe sacrilages sare.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVIII. 514. War it nocht that he war Sic a catiff, he sulde by sair His wourdis.
1402[?]. in Yorksh. Arch. Jrnl., XX. (1908), 46. Wykked lyf maath [= maketh] a man tabye ful sore.
3. With verbs of grieving, annoying, etc.: So as to cause mental pain or irritation; deeply, intensely.
α. a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 1257 (Gr.). Me þæt cynn hafað sare abolʓen.
c. 1205. Lay., 4598. Þus seide Goðlac, sære him gromede.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2025. Sche told me a-noþer tale þat me tened sarre.
c. 1400. in 26 Pol. Poems, x. 39. Ȝoure gyltes greued god so sare.
1814. Scott, Waverley, lxv. But sair, sair angry and affronted wad she hae been.
β. c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 173. Hie ben sore ofgramede, and wið hem seluen alre sorest.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 10286. Þan ys þy peryl mykel þe more, Þat þou wraþest Crist so sore.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. T., 481. Ne grevith me no thing so sore, As that this elde cherl … Blasphemed hath our holy covent eeke.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. vi. 82. The whiche sorowe greued Balyn passyngly sore.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 8. For these, and for other sterne and cruell deedes done by hym, the sayde Nobles were sore moued against him.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 196. Be not so sore offended, Son of God.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, 54. Although it griev’d him sore.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, IV. I. 105. Minerva held her peace,… sore displeased with father Jove.
b. Used to intensify the idea of dislike or reluctance, esp. with against one’s will.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 56. Vor þet ec þet he dude hire was iðe frumðe sore hire unðonckes.
1530. Palsgr., 842/1. Sore agaynst my wyll,… moult enuys.
1567. Satir. Poems Reform., iii. 232. Sa we departit soir againis our will.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., X. 449. Then vnhappily came I a shoare … sore agaynst the Generals will.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, 158. Away went Gilpin,… sore against his will.
4. With great grief, distress or perturbation of mind; in such a manner or to such an extent as to involve or manifest this. (Passing into a mere intensive.)
a. With verbs of weeping, lamenting, etc.
α. a. 900. Cynewulf, Crist, 1572 (Gr.). Hu þa womsceaþan hyra ealdʓestreon … sare greten.
a. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), cxxxvi. 1. Ofer Babilone bradum streame, þær we sittað & sare wepað.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7924. Forr iwhillc mann birrþ wepenn her, & sikenn sare.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9045. Wit bath his eien sar he grett.
a. 1352. Minot, Poems (ed. Hall), viii. 60. Þe knightes … Come to sir Edward sare wepeand.
a. 1400. Pistill of Susan, 222. Whon we þat semblaunt seiȝ, we siked wel sare.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 1128. The king … Sair murnand in mude.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, II. xii. 15. The ȝing childring … Stude all on raw,… About the tresour quhymperand woundir sair.
1567. Satir. Poems Reform., iv. 65. Scho come to me … Lamentand sair my greit calamitie.
1778–. in northern and Sc. dialect use.
β. c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 169. Iob … hefde … his honden to his breste, and sore sihte.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 885. Vor oþer men hi wepeþ sore.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 1111. Ȝhe fel adoun and wep riȝt sore.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., lxxi. So sore thus sighit I with my-self allone.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 78. Olyuer had so moche compassyon of hym … that he sore wepte.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Macc. ii. 39. When Matathias and his frendes herde this, they mourned for them right sore.
1567. Satir. Poems Reform., iii. 3. Ane bony boy was soir makand his mone.
1611. Bible, Judges xxi. 2. And the people … lift vp their voices, and wept sore.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. (1711), 42. He who did cause her Ill Sore-wailing stood.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par. (1870), I. I. 394. She turned away lamenting very sore.
b. With verbs of repenting, rueing, etc.
α. a. 1000. Doomsday, 83 (Gr.). Þam þe his synna nu sare ʓeþenceþ.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 149. Þet him sare roweþ.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25996. Sua sar þin sakes to for-thingk Þat soru thoru þin hert sink.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 469. I trow … that him sair repent sall he.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, I. 72. Quhar throuch Scotland rapentyt syne full sar.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, ix. 87. In thir pointis, quhair I offendit, sair I rew.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., x. 292. As efterwart thay did repent full sair.
β. a. 1200. Moral Ode, 354. It him mai reuwe sore.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1166. So sore him reu of ðat bale.
c. 1290. [see REPENT v. 1].
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 290. Sore hit me rwez Þat euer I made hem myself.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 663. I now repente wonder sore.
1535. [see FORTHINK v. 5 b].
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), iv. 20. Syne … [she] Perchance sall soir repent.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. viii. 47. That all the noble knights … may sore repent with me.
1838. Wilson’s Tales Borders (1839), V. 15/2. Sore, sore you have rued … that night.
c. With verbs denoting fear, dejection, doubt, etc.
α. c. 1200. Ormin, 3809. Acc aȝȝ þeȝȝ sinndenn … sare offdredde Off domess daȝess starrke dom.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 15. Beo sarre offearet to fallen.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22629. Sair þai sal do for to grise.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 440. He dred sayr his felouny.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 710. I dreid me sair I be begylit.
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), ii. 124. Full sair he dred for blame.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 77. Thay feired nocht litle, bot verie sair, that … al sulde succeid verie ill.
1820. Scott, Monast., iv. Sair, sair my mind misgave me.
β. c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3223. Sore he gunen for-dredde ben.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 575. Þe king kwakede & is men, so sore hii were agaste.
c. 1320. Cast. Love (Halliw.), 1580. Fulle sore mowe heo then dreden.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 314. ‘That is soþ,’ seide satan, ‘bote ich me sore doute.’
c. 1425. Eng. Conq. Irel., vii. 20 (Dubl. MS.). Macmorgh … be-held his men, and saw ham sor amayed.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, II. v. Whanne the folke sawe that the erthe beganne thus to shake, they were sore aferd.
1508. Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 159. Full sore thay dred to done a violence.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 5. Indeed, this news frighted him sorest.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xxviii. 15. Saul answered, I am sore distressed.
1690. W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 426. I was sore afraid, you had been gone.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 636. We are trained up to dread thee sorer by the behaviour, the discourses, and customs of the world around us.
1858. Mansel, Bampton Lect., vii. (1859), 150. In our hearts we believe, yet our thoughts at times are sore troubled.
d. With verbs denoting astonishment or embarrassment.
c. 1450. Merlin, ii. 30. And thei herden hym thus sey, thei were sore a-merveyled.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. iii. 38. Thenne she sore abasshed to yeue ansuer.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xci. 292. He was stryken fro his horse to the erth sore astonyed, so that he wyst not where he was.
1592. Timme, Ten Eng. Lepers, Ij. They would not wonder so sore at the punishment.
1620. Frier Rush, 24. At the which they were sore astonished.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 398. We, sore amaz’d, from out earth’s ruins crawl.
1787. Burns, J. Barleycorn, iii. John Barleycorn got up again, And sore surpris’d them all.
5. So as to cause suffering, hardship, or great straits; to a painful or distressing degree; severely, grievously, oppressively.
α. Beowulf, 2311. Swa hyt lungre wearð on hyra sincʓifan sare ʓeendod.
c. 1000. Genesis, 2415. Þæt sceal wrecan swefyl & sweart liʓ, sare & grimme.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1116. Ðis land & þas leodon wurdon … oftrædlice sare ʓeswencte.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 7. Þu … schalt beo sare iderued under hire, as hire þral.
c. 1440. York Myst., xi. 160. I sall send vengeaunce ix. or x., To sewe hym sararre, or I sesse.
β. c. 1305. Mir. St. James, 67, in E. E. P. (1862), 59. Þe deuel ȝeode awey, & huld him a-gyled sore.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 38. Þei ponysche men sorere for breken of here owen lawis þan for brekynge of goddis lawe.
a. 1400. Sir Perc., 349. The lady was never more sore bygone.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Macc. ii. 30. The tyranny increaced so sore vpon them.
1595. G. Markham, Sir R. Grinuile (Arb.), 85. For his own sake, Whom desperate hazard might indamage sore.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 197. They hate and punish Adultery very sore.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 298. The torrid Clime Smote on him sore besides.
1786. Burke, The Lament, viii. Sore-harass’d out, with care and grief.
1806. Surr, Winter in Lond., III. 7. Unhappy stranger, you have been sore afflicted.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., vii. The archers shot sore at him from the wall.
1870. Burton, Hist. Scot., lxviii. VI. 418. His enemies, too, in their hour of triumph, harassed him sore and showed him little mercy.
† b. To sit (or set) one sore (see SIT v. 15). Obs.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), xxi. I see a siȝte I thenke on ȝete, That sittus me nowe fulle sore.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, I. 439. Sone, thir tythings sytts me sor.
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xx. 20. Quhat kin thing wes lufe, Quhilk now settis the so sair.
6. To a grievous or serious extent; greatly.
a. 1300. X Commandm., 38, in E. E. P. (1862), 16. Sore and bitter þe soule [it] sal der.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., II. xxxv. 151. Oure lorde sent suche a grete showre of rayne that theyre harneys was sore charged with watre.
1513. in C. Rogers, Coldstream Chartul. (1879), Pref. 21. Soo soore abewsed with the faire promyses of Fraunce.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 37. I knaw that I haif sinnit soir.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1124. High Passions, Anger, Hate,… shook sore Thir inward State of Mind.
1683. Yorkshire Dial., 5. Thur Yowes are Clowclagg’d, they skitter sayr.
b. With reference to physical deterioration.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 14. All these maner of otes weare the grounde very sore.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 133. This Towne was so sore wasted with fire,… that it was wholly … consumed.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 429. The Turkes continuing the batterie had sore shaken the aforesaid tower.
a. 1668. Lassels, Voy. Italy (1670), II. 135. Half of it is … sore battered with the aire.
7. With great exertion or effort; laboriously, toilsomely, hard.
a. 1300. Body & Soul, 67, in Map’s Poems 341. Never ne thouȝtest thow … ho therfore sarrest swonk.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 550. Þe fyrst by-gonne to pleny & sayden þat þay hade trauayled sore.
c. 1550. Cheke, Lett., 11. J … labor as sore that ye mai thinke [etc.].
1567. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 517. Laubourand and travelland sair for his leving.
1620. Frier Rush, 27. Me thinks you take great paines to worke so sore your selfe.
1795. H. Macneill, Will & Jean, I. Will wrought sair, but aye wi’ pleasure.
1838. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), IV. 178. Long and sore had this man thought. Ibid. (1843), Past & Pr., III. xiii. To work sore, and yet gain nothing.
b. With great force or vigor; strongly.
(a) c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 8681. Thei rode to-gedur wel sare, Many a stalworthe knyȝt thare.
1464. Paston Lett., II. 144. The plee by twene Ogan and yow was sore argued.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxx. 144. Some of theym … drewe it to them so sore, that they brake the chenes of yron yt helde the bridge.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, M ij b. The membre well and sore rubbed therwith.
(b) 1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 199. On a tyme when it thoundreed veray sore.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 94. The wynde blewe sore against the streame.
1656. Bradford, Plymouth Plant., I. x. (1856), 87. Though it was very darke, and rained sore.
c. With severity or strictness; severely.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, D viij. He had repreued them so sore that they had … grete shame.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 1660. Bot schortly thei sall be sar accusit.
1533. More, Answ. Poysoned Bk., Wks. 1036/2. Of suche bookes, as sore as they bee forbodden, yet are there manye boughte.
c. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. (1590), 224. Thou heardst even now a young man sneb me sore.
8. Eagerly, earnestly; with great desire or intensity. Chiefly with verbs of longing.
(a) 1297. R. Glouc., Chron. (Rolls), I. 356/117. Hym longede after veneson þer after longe sore.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 385. Þen kisses he kenely þe quene…, Langis sare to þe layke.
c. 1420. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1045. He callyd soore for bowes and bade hem shote faste.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxi. 211. Ye shall se Huon, whose presence ye so sore desyre.
1575. Gascoigne, Glasse of Governm., Wks. 1910, II. 78. I long sore to have answere of my letters.
1611. Bible, Gen. xxxi. 30. Because thou sore longedst after thy fathers house.
(b) a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xliii. 143. Then the Admyrall soore [1601 earnestly, Fr. mout fort] behelde Huon.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 25. You studie to sore Toxophile.
1611. Bible, Judges xiv. 17. He tolde her, because shee lay sore vpon him.
1894. Crockett, Raiders, 243. I urged her sore.
† 9. Closely, tightly. Obs.
Perh. only a contextual variation of sense 10.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 219. I conseille alle crystene cleue nouȝte þer-on to sore.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 58. That other Ere als faste He stoppeth with his tail so sore, That he the wordes … ne hiereth.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 8797. Sche kepeth hem … Sore shet wyth lok & keye.
a. 1483. Liber Niger, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 69. Not to boult it soe sore vpon the gurgeones.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 29 b. It shetteth it self so sore … that … it is not so opened agayne.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 111. The string … beynge sore twined must nedes knap in sunder.
10. To a great extent; greatly, very much.
Chiefly in contexts suggestive of sense 6, but sometimes merely intensive.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., I. 90. Ne picche hit not to[o] soore into the vale.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IV. vi. 126. And anone they felle on slepe, and slepte merueillously sore all the nyght.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), C ij b. There was a lawe soore vsed and accustomed, and well kepte in the Romayne polycie.
1561. Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 34. Seth the Turtel wyth water, salt her not to sore.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], trans. Hist. Ivstine, XXXV. 113 b. So sore hated was Demetrius among all men.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., IV. ii. 225. Oh bill sore shaming Those rich-left-heyres, that let their Fathers lye Without a Monument.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 343. The wain goes heavily, impeded sore By … loads adhering, close to the clogg’d wheels.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., I. ii. A shameless wight, Sore given to revel and ungodly glee.
11. With adjs. and advs.: Very, extremely, exceedingly. Obs. exc. dial.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. vii. (1883), 141. The kynge denys had a broder whom he louyd sore well. Ibid. (c. 1489), Sonnes of Aymon, iii. 112. That I assaylled theym, it hath cost me sore dere.
1530. Comp. Old Treat., in Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 171. The new testament … set forthe by Master William Tyndale, which they falsely pretende to be sore corrupte.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 98. Scheiphouses … of quhais burning thay ar nocht sair solist.
1638. Brathwait, Barnabees Jrnl., II. (1818), 61. Where growne surfoot and sore weary, I repos’d.
1860. Geo. Eliot, Mill on Fl., III. ix. She was sore fond of us children.
12. Comb., as sore-holding; sore-dreaded, -meant, -pressed, -wearied, -won, -worn adjs.
c. 1450. Merlin, xiv. 222. The haubrekes, that were stronge and sore-holdynge.
1567. Satir. Poems Reform., iv. 66. My langsum lyfe and sair tormentit Spirite.
1616. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., X. 330. Ann apparition, which seemd at first to bee some sore ment vision.
1638. Brathwait, Barnabees Jrnl., III. (1818), 121. Thence to Ferrybrig, sore wearied, Surfoot, but in spirit cheered.
1785. Burns, Cotter’s Sat. Nt., iv. To … deposite her sair-won penny-fee.
1787. Minor, 28. That bedlam,… bedizened in sore-worn flounces.
1843. Bethune, Scott. Peasant’s Fire-side, 279. It was that day … Which brings to sair worn toil a time Of needful peace.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xxviii. (1878), 479. The sore-pressed garrison which had retreated to its last defence.
1870. J. Bruce, Life of Gideon, xviii. 335. Nigh to the spot on which those harnessed and sore-dreaded dreamers lay.
