Obs. (exc. dial.). Forms: 3 speren, 5 speryn (speyryn); 4–5 spere, sper (4 spir-); 6 speare, 6, 9 dial. spear. [a. MLG. speren (LG. speren, speeren, speiren), related to MDu. sperren, OHG. sperran: see SPAR v.1
It is clear from rhymes and other evidence that the pret. forms sperde, sperd, common in the 13th and 14th centuries, usually belong to this verb and not to sperre SPAR v.1]
1. trans. To shut or close (a door, lid, etc.) firmly or securely; † to bar or block (a way).
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 384. He ben don ut of blisses erd, Cherubin hauet ðe gates sperd.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5618. In þis kist þe barn sco did. Quen it spird was wit þe lid,… Sco laid it on þe water fame. Ibid., 18086. Spers [Gött. Speris] your yates, þis es na gamen.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 13166. Sire Richer saw, & Beduer herde, Þat þer enemis þer weyes sperde.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5545. In at a wicket he went & wynly it speris.
1449[?]. Paston Lett., I. 83. And qhan he com thedder, the dors were fast sperid.
1542. Becon, Potation for Lent, I viij b. Heauen gates were speared agaynst vs for the sin of our first father Adam.
c. 1550. Bale, Image Both Ch. (East), 30. Speared is Gods Temple, when his true worshipping is hid.
1894. in Heslop, Northumbld. Gloss.
b. With up.
1445. in Anglia, XXVIII. 275. Where as townys were longe speryd vp, he dare sette wide þe yates.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 1100. I close vp heauen, And speare vp paradyce.
2. In general sense: To close, shut, etc.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 80. Þet ȝe þertoȝeines … tunen [C. speren] ower eiðurles.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter x. 5. His egh lidys … þat now ere oppynd & now sperd. Ibid., cxl. 3. Swa be oure lippis opyn til shrift, and sperd til excusynge of syn.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 121. For overmoche sorwe the herte is stoken and spered.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3649. Brant vp he sittis, Springis out a spere, sperid all þe platis.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 39. Þe lacertes and þe synowes speryng and opnyng þe lure.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 283/1. Lacyn, or spere wythe a lace, fibulo.
c. 1550. Bale, Image Both Ch. (Wyer), E v. So was it [a book] afore speared by the decre of God.
1560. Becon, Policy War, Wks. 1564, I. 139. Howe many wynke and speare theyr eyes, because they wyll not se it.
3. To shut up or confine (a person) in a prison or other place. Also fig.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2194. He dede hem binden, and leden dun, And speren faste in his prisun.
c. 1300. Havelok, 448. Onon he ferde To þe tour þer he woren sperde.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 14. Thai stythly speryt [thaim] Bath in fetrys and in presoune.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxiv. 113. He spered him in amanges his tresour withouten mete or drink.
c. 1460. Play of Sacrament, 46. In an hoote ouyn [they] speryd hym fast.
1542. Becon, Potation for Lent, F iiij. Fastynge speareth vp & encloseth as though it were in a narrowe prison the extraordinary & vnlawfull mocions. Ibid. (1548), Solace Soul, Wks. 1564, II. 111. Therfore doth he … snarle him with these fetters and chenes, speareth hym in this prison & dongen.
b. To shut up, put away, or enclose, in some receptacle.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6888. Ilk waand þat þai þere bare He sperd wit-in þer santuare.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 3656. Cunsel of shryfte sperd yn hys breste, He ne oght for to telle. Ibid., 6134. Weyl I ferde Ar y, yn purs, penys sperde.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xxiv. 195. In þi wombe þou speredest heuene Hele of god, vre mede.
a. 1564. Becon, Art. Chr. Relig. Proved, Wks. 1564, II. 158. When the disciples … dyd receaue his bodye they receiued it neither shutte or speared, or enclosed on ye bread.
c. To unite or join closely.
1545. Bale, Image Both Ch., C vj. They are speared up together faste unto hym with the shyninge cheane of charite.
4. To exclude; to shut out.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25183. Þat thoru vr liuelade wick we sper fra us þe rightwis demester.
13[?]. Seven Penit. Psalms, 72, in Engl. Stud., X. 234. In heuene, whan þou holdist alle, Late me not be þer out isperd.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 228. Wo to ȝou þat speryn out of ȝoure herte þe mynde of cristes passioun.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 31. This blysse I spere from ȝow ryth fast.
5. absol. To perform the act of closing or shutting.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13329. O þaim þou sal þe caiss ber, For to oppen bath and sper. Ibid., 17357. Þai sperd fast wit lok and kai.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 3835. Of wilk þe pape þe kays bers, Whar-with he bathe opens and spers.
1538. Bale, God’s Promises, VII. O perfyght keye of David,… whych openest and no man speareth. Ibid. (c. 1550), Image Both Ch. (Day), I iij. With all auctorite … to open or to speare.
6. intr. To close or shut; to admit of being closed. rare.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1683. Þu sal … Mak a dor wit mesur wide, A windou sperand wel on hei.
1550. Bale, Eng. Votaries, II. 38. Whyls the dore … oft tymes opened and speared agayne.
Hence Speared ppl. a.1; Spearing vbl. sb.1 and ppl. a.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10091. He com in at þe yatt sperd. Ibid. (a. 1425), 1683 (Trin.). Þou shalt … Make … A sperynge wyndowe als on heȝe.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 284/2. Latchynge, or sperynge wythe a lacche, clitura, pessulatus. Ibid., 460/1. Sloot, or schytyl of sperynge,… pessulum.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.), 24. And bot it is merveille and more to passe thorgh spered ȝate.
1542. Becon, Potation for Lent, I viij b. The spearynge of the chyrch dore.
