Wear v.¹

Pa. t. wore; pa. pple. worn. Forms: 1 werian, 3–4 werie, werye, 3–5 north. wer, 3–7 were, 4 weri, 4–6 wher(e, 5 weyr(e, wheer, 5–6 weer(e, 5–8 (chiefly Sc.) weir, 6 wayre, Sc. weire, veir, veyr, 6–7 weare, waire, 7 ware, (8 wair), 6– wear. Pa. t. α. 1–5 werede, 3 weorede, 4–5 wered, -id, werd(e, 5 weryd(e, werryde, -id, veryd, Sc. werit, -yt, weiret, 6 weard, 8 weared. β. 4–6 were, 4–5 wer, weyr, Sc. war, wour, 5–6 Sc. woir, 5–7 ware, 6 weer, weare, wayre, waare, warre, woore, Sc. wair, woure, 6–7 woare, 6– wore. Pa. pple. α. 1–5 wered, 4 (y)werd, 5 werid, -yd, Sc. -it, werde, werede. β. 5 woryn, 5–8 worne, 6 woren, Sc. vorne, 6–8, 9 dial. wore, 5– worn. [A Com. Teut. weak vb. (wanting in Frisian, LG., Du., Sw., Da., and mod. Norw.): OE. węrian corresponds to OHG. werjan, werjen to clothe, ON. verja to clothe, also to invest, lay out (money: see WARE v.²), Goth. wasjan to clothe (also in comb. gawasjan to clothe, andwasjan to unclothe, strip):—OTeut. *wazjan (? and *wasjan), f. Teut. root *was-, whence Goth. wasti fem., garment, MHG. wester fem., christening robe; ablaut variant of OTeut. and Indogermanic *wes-, whence ON. vesl neut., cloak, L. vestis garment, Gr. ἑννύναι (:—*wesnu-) to clothe, Ϝεσθής, ἐσθής raiment, Skr. vas to clothe, vasman neut., a cover, garment, vasana neut., vastra neut., clothing.

  The change from the weak to the strong conjugation, due to the analogy of verbs like swear, bear, tear, seems to have begun in the 14th c., but is rare before the 16th. In OE. the pa. pple. forworen occurs once, along with the regular forwered, as a gloss to decrepita (Napier, OE. Gl., i. 2109), and in The Ruined City, 7 we should probably read forworene ʓelorene for the forweorone ʓeleorene of the MS.]

  I.  ‘To carry appendant to the body’ (J.).

  1.  trans. To carry or bear on one’s body or on some member of it, for covering, warmth, ornament, etc.; to be dressed in; to be covered or decked with; to have on.

c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., IV. ix. (1883), 190. Þæt nan oþer ne moste gyldenne hring werian, buton he æþeles cynnes wære.

c. 1205.  Lay., 17695. He weorede ane burne.

c. 1290.  St. Patrick, 506, in S. E. Leg., 214. Ech werede cloþes of þe en-taile þat heo wereden on eorþe here.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1928. He were a bleaunt of blwe, þat bradde to þe erþe.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Squire’s T., 139. If hire lust it [sc. this ring] for to were Vp on hir thombe or in hir purs it bere.

c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, 197. He … werd þe her next to hys flesch.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, III. 84. Gude souir weide dayly on him he wour.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 72. Though he ware the habit of religyon, yet his herte was in the worlde.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Macc. xi. 58. To weere a colar of golde.

1590.  Tarlton’s Newes Purgatorie, 35. A crewe of men that woare Baye garlands on their heads.

1601, 1695.  [see TRUSS sb. 4].

1657.  Howell, Londinop., 319. These [Irons] he [sc. a prisoner] ware from Thursday till Sunday.

1707.  J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 355. Wearing Watches in their Pockets.

1721.  Berkeley, Pres. Ruin Gt. Brit., Wks. III. 199. More fine linen is wore in Great Britain than in any other country.

1857.  W. A. Butler, Nothing to wear, 19. Miss McFlimsey … The last time we met, was in utter despair, Because she had nothing whatever to wear!

1879.  Harlan, Eyesight, vi. 73. In Germany … it has long been impossible to fill the ranks of the army without allowing soldiers to wear glasses.

1902.  J. Buchan, Watcher by Threshold, 289. I don’t think the man has any expenses except food and rent, for he wears the same clothes for years.

1913.  M. Roberts, Salt of Sea, ix. 215. His ears had been pierced for earrings, though he wore none.

  fig.  1697.  Dryden, Virg. Past., iv. 30. Each common Bush shall Syrian Roses wear.

1859.  FitzGerald, Omar, xviii. Every Hyacinth the Garden wears.

  b.  To dress oneself habitually or at a particular season in (a material, garment) of a particular sort or fashion. Also in passive, of the material or garment.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 418. Nexst fleshe ne schal mon werien no linene cloð.

c. 1250.  Doomsday, 28, in O. E. Misc., 164. Moni of þisse riche þat wereden foh and grei.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11112. He … wered noþer wol ne line.

13[?].  Sir Orfeo, 241 (Sisam). He þat hadde ywerd þe fowe and griis.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., V. xii. 543. The habitis, whiche … ben assigned to be worn of the religiose persoones.

1516.  Life of St. Bridget, in Myrr. our Ladye, lii. She weer euer rough & sharpe wolen cloth.

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Sam. xiii. 18. Soch garmentes wayre y^e kynges doughters whyle they were virgins.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxv. § 1. The Church … suffereth mourning apparell to bee worne.

1785.  Geo. A. Bellamy, Apol., III. 50. Brown rateen, which at that time was much wore.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, lii. When the Court went into mourning, she always wore black.

1860.  O. W. Holmes, Prof. Breakf.-t., vii. 136. She wears her trains very long, as the great ladies do in Europe.

a. 1891.  R. W. Barbour, Thoughts (1900), 66. Wearing scarlet is a badge of being in the Queen’s service.

  fig.  1896.  A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, ii. Loveliest of trees, the cherry now … stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide.

  † c.  with on or upon adv. (= on one’s person; cf. have on, put on). Obs.

a. 1366[?].  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 564. A chapelet, so semly oon Ne werede neuer mayde vpon. Ibid. (c. 1386), Wife’s Prol., 559. I … wered vpon my gaye scarlet gytes.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, I. 239. Þis victor hym self schulde were on Iupiter his cote.

1567.  Harman, Caveat, 62. A lytle whystell of syluer that his mother dyd vse customablye to weare on.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 209/43. To Weare on, ferre.

1579–80.  North, Plutarch, Aristides (1595), 364. He weareth on a purple coloured coate.

  d.  said of an animal.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, Hawking, d iii. The bellis that yowre hawke shall wheer looke in any wise that thay be not to heuy ouer hir power to weyr.

1579.  W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, 13 b. A ring of gold … ceaseth not to be a ryng of gold though a swine weare it.

  † e.  absol. To dress, be clad (in a specified fashion). Obs. rare.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 4. Þet techeð al hu me schal beren him wiðuten, hu eten, drincken, werien, liggen, slepen, wakien.

1597.  J. Payne, Royal Exch., 28. They walkinge and wearinge in that common place agreable to there caullinge and state.

  f.  intr. (for passive) = to be worn; to be the fashion.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, I. i. 172. Virginitie like an olde Courtier, weares her cap out of fashion,… iust like the brooch and the toothpick, which were not now.

1888.  A. T. Quiller-Couch, in Echoes fr. Oxf. Mag. (1890), 105.

  2.  trans. To bear or carry (arms, also a stick or cane). † Hence, to display (a heraldic charge) on one’s shield.

c. 1000.  Canons of Ælfric, xxx. Ne preost … wæpna ne weriʓe.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 355. The byschop … gert him wer His knyvys, forouch him to scher.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 3872. He was the sterynneste in stoure that euer stele werryde.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 276. Than will he declare the armes that all princis and nobleis and othir gentillis aw to were, and of thair colouris and discripciouns.

1463.  Bury Wills (Camden), 15. To Davn Willm Boxforde my knyves that I veryd my selfe.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Chron. vi. 18. Soch as were fightinge men, which wayre shylde & swerde, and coulde bende the bowe.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xvii. 19 b. [They had] sworne, at no time after to wear armes against the Turkish nation.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 131, marg. note. The ryd lyon he weires in his armes.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., V. i. 2. Weare thy good Rapier bare, and put it home.

1690.  in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 26. The said Lord William Murray is … to … bear and wear the armes and cognizance of the house and family of Nairne.

1749.  Chesterf., Lett. to Son, 27 Sept. His cane (if unfortunately he wears one) is at perpetual war with every cup of tea or coffee he drinks.

1775.  Sheridan, Duenna, III. vii. You shall know that I have a brother who wears a sword.

1819.  D. B. Warden, Acc. U.S., III. 219. Both sexes … wear an umbrella in all seasons.

1847.  Mrs. A. Kerr, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Servia, 270. Their small arms, which they had formerly been permitted to wear.

  † b.  To use, employ, handle. Obs.

a. 1400.  Nominale (Skeat), 138. F[emme] vse nase et criuere. W[oman] weruth seue and riddell.

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 367. He offerd vnto hym … a grete porcion of syluer vessell, & bad hym were þaim for his sake.

  3.  To allow (one’s hair, beard) to grow in a specified fashion, or as opposed to shaving or to the use of a wig.

c. 1100.  O. E. Chron. (MS. C), an. 1056. Leofgar … se werede his kenepas on his preosthade oððæt he wæs biscop.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. xx. 124. Noone wommen weriden thanne eny lynnen or silken keuercheefis, but weriden her open heer.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 55. Speake seldome, and weare a long beard.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 158. The Clearke wil nere weare haire on’s face that had it.

1624.  Capt. J. Smith, Virginia, 3. The women weare their haire long on both sides.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. 407. Many of them have abandoned their Country to preserve their liberty of wearing their Hair.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar W., xxx. Be so good as to inform me, if the fellow wore his own red hair.

1802.  Wordsw., Resol. & Independ., viii. The oldest man he seem’d that ever wore grey hairs.

1841.  Dickens, Barn. Rudge, i. He wore his own dark hair.

1862.  Queen’s Regul. Naval Service, 336. The Officers, Petty Officers, and Seamen of the Fleet are not to wear moustaches or beards.

1905.  H. G. Wells, Kipps, II. ii. § 1. She wore her hair in a knob behind.

  4.  Phrases (lit. and fig.).

  a.  To wear a crown, diadem, mitre, palm, the purple, etc.: to hold the dignity or office of which the ornament is a symbol.

c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., VI. xxx. (1883), 280. Þæt hie woldon þa onwaldas forlætan, & þa purpuran alecgan þa hie weredon.

1382.  Wyclif, 1 Esdras iii. 2. King Darie made a gret soper … to alle that wereden [v.r. werden] purper.

c. 1393.  Chaucer, Gentilesse, 7. Al were he mytre, croune or dyademe.

c. 1470.  Three Fifteenth-C. Chron. (Camden), 4. He was the fyrst kynge þat ever wered crowne of golde in this londe.

1588.  Shaks., Tit. A., I. i. 6. The last That wore the Imperiall Diadem of Rome. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., III. i. 31. Vneasie lyes the Head, that weares a Crowne.

1797.  Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. VIII. 274. It is the power of winning that palm which ensures our wearing it.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. ii. 205. Degrading that crown which it was probable that he would himself one day wear.

1895.  ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Sowers, i. He [the Emperor] is a gentleman, although he has the misfortune to wear the purple.

  † b.  To wear the horn(s: to be a cuckold. Obs.

c. 1530.  Hyckescorner, 706. And, knyght of the halter, my fader ware an horne.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., IV. ii. 14. Take thou no scorne to weare the horne.

1632.  Sir T. Hawkins, trans. Mathieu’s Unhappy Prosperitie, 98. By reason he was old, and without children,… his wife should doe well to make him weare the horne.

1639.  J. Clarke, Parœm., 328. The good wife weares the breeches, the good man the hornes.

  † c.  To wear papers: (of an offender) To have a note of one’s offence fastened on one’s back or head. Obs.

a. 1529–1588:  see PAPER sb. 7 b.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 1. Sone after were apprehended diuerse called promoters … of the whiche, the moste part ware papers, and stoode on the Pillorie.

1552.  Huloet, Weare a paper for some infamye or offence, contamidio [read catomidio].

1560–1.  Machyn, Diary (Camden), 250. They ware paper a-pon ther hedes for pergure.

1616.  Breton, Good & Bad, 14. Lest when the Law indeede laies them open, in steade of carrying papers in their hands, they weare not papers on their heads.

  d.  To wear one’s arm in a scarf or sling: to support it thus when injured. To wear one’s heart upon one’s sleeve: see HEART sb. 54 f.

1597, 1600.  [see SCARF sb.¹ 4].

1660.  F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 27. My companion was so bruised, that he wore his arm in a scarf for two months after.

1727.  Boyer, Dict. Royal, II. s.v. Sling, To wear one’s Arm in a Sling, Porter le bras en écharpe.

1794.  [see SLING sb.² 3 c].

  e.  To wear the breeches: see BREECH sb. 2. To wear yellow hose (or breeches): see YELLOW a. 2. To wear the willow: see WILLOW.

1623.  Massinger, Dk. Milan, IV. ii. If I were The Duke … I should weare yellow breeches.

  † f.  slang. (See quots.) Obs.

1812.  J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v. Bands, To wear the bands, is to be hungry, or short of food for any length of time. Ibid., s.v. Wear it, to wear it upon a person, (meaning to wear a nose, or a conk,) is synonymous with nosing, conking, splitting, or coming it.

  5.  Of a ship (or its commander): To fly (a flag, colors).

  † Formerly also, to carry (a mast).

1558.  in W. G. Perrin, Brit. Flags (1922), 88. Mr. Broke, Captaine of the reed Gallie, who is apointed to ware the flagge of vize Admyrall for this present Jorney.

1575.  Fleming, Virg. Bucol., IV. 12. No shyp that weares a maste, Shal make exchaunge of wares.

1627.  J. Smith, Sea Gram., xiii. 62. Any ship … where he … resideth…, is to weare his flag in the maine top.

1666.  Lond. Gaz., No. 82/1. Thirteen French Gallies, wearing Swedes Colors.

1715.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5359/1. The Czar on board his Ship wears the Distinction of Vice-Admiral of the Blue.

1803.  in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson (1845), V. 287, note. Saint George’s Ensigns are to be worn by every Ship in Action.

1862.  Queen’s Regul. Naval Service, 17. The Admiral of the Fleet, and the Admirals of the Red, White, and Blue, shall wear their proper Flag.

1881.  A. Macgeorge, Flags, 73. The other [pendant] is worn at the mast-head of all armed vessels in the employ of the government of a British colony.

  6.  transf. To bear or possess as a member or part of the body.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VIII. Prol. 156. Quhy the corn hes the caff, And kow weris clufe.

1591.  G. Fletcher, Russe Commw., iii. 10 b. The fish that weareth it [the ‘fishe tooth’] is called a Morse.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 214. Who knowes not where a Waspe does weare his sting? In his taile. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., II. i. 14. Sweet are the vses of aduersitie Which like the toad, ougly and venemous, Weares yet a precious Iewell in his head.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, Pref. D 2. Euery man weares but his owne skin.

1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., Democr. to Rdr. 34. To see a man to weare his braines in his belly, his guts in his head.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 531. Two Golden Horns on his large Front he wears.

a. 1721.  Prior, Turtle & Sparrow, 132. All that wear Feathers first or last, Must one Day perch on Charon’s Mast.

1794.  Godwin, Caleb Williams, 47. I will not put my estate to nurse to you, nor to the best he that wears a head.

1847.  H. Miller, First Impr. Eng., xvii. (1861), 215. Fish that wear an armature of bone outside.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, liii. Steyne wore the scar to his dying day.

  7.  To exhibit or present (a particular look, expression, appearance, etc.).

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 344. With a countenance as cleare As Friendship weares at Feasts.

1669.  Dryden, Tyrannic Love, I. i. When an action does two faces wear.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, XI. vii. He now assumed a carriage to me so very different from what he had lately worn.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar W., iii. The world now began to wear a different aspect.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xviii. 48. There everything wore the appearance on a holiday.

1841.  Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., xi. Both wore very long faces.

1870.  Disraeli, Lothair, xli. 211. The countenance of Lord St. Aldegonde wore a rueful expression.

  8.  In various fig. uses: To carry about with one in one’s heart, mind or memory; to have as a quality or attribute; to bear (a name, title).

a. 1586.  Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 47. Let Aeneas be worne in the tablet of your memory.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 75. He weares his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it euer changes with y^e next block. Ibid. (1602), Ham., III. ii. 77. Giue me that man, That is not Passions Slaue, and I will weare him In my hearts Core. Ibid. (1605), Macb., II. ii. 65. My Hands are of your colour: but I shame To weare a Heart so white.

1655.  Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. 191. Suffragan of Nottingham, (the last I beleeve who wore that title).

1668.  Davenant, Man’s the Master, V. i. He did wear your Brother in his bosome as his dearest Friend.

1777.  Thicknesse, Journ. France (1789), I. 348. ‘Roach; an unfortunate name!’ said he;—‘but, as it is my name, I will wear it.’

1827.  in Scott, Chron. Canongate, Introd. App. He was vain of the cognomen which he had now worn for eight years.

1848.  Classical Museum, V. 382. Up to the latest Attic school the dithyramb wore the same character as Pindar’s ἆθλα, i. e. the poet always spoke in his own person.

1884.  Christian Commw., 21 Feb., 439/1. Those who wear His name.

  b.  To possess and enjoy as one’s own. Chiefly in phr. to win and wear (a lady as one’s wife).

  The lit. reference may have been to a favor won in the tilt, or to a king’s crown (cf. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. v. 222).

1573.  G. Harvey, Letter Bk. (Camden), 114. Thou hast woone her—weare her.

1588.  Greene, Pandosto (1607), G j. Meliagrus is a Knight that hath wonne me by loue, and none but he shall weare me.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, V. i. 82. Win me and weare me, let him answere me. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., I. iv. 96. You may weare her in title yours.

1621.  Fletcher, Wild-goose Chase, II. i. Win ’em, and wear ’em, I give up my interest.

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa, III. 350. I, who have won the gold, am only fit to wear it.

1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xxvii. As for his daughter … you have yet to ‘win her and wear her,’ as the saying is.

  II.  To waste, damage, or destroy by use.

  9.  To waste and impair (a material) gradually by use or attrition. ? Primarily with clothes as obj. = to damage them by ordinary wearing.

  Perh. originally short for FORWEAR, which is found earlier.

1382.  Wyclif, Josh. ix. 13. Clothis and shoon … for the length of lenger weye ben to troden, and almeest wered.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIV. iii. (1495), 469. Waters dygge and weer the nesshe partes of the erthe.

c. 1400.  Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxiv. (end). Whan his tuskes aboue beth … ywered of þe neyther tuskes.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 522/2. Weryn, or vson, as clothys and other thyngys, vetero.

1539.  Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 89. If any of the said housholde stuf be worne or gone, then she to be resonablie recompensed.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 45. How it chaunced, that the philosophiers did frette and weare the threshholdes of riche mennes houses.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Oct., 8. I haue pyped erst so long with payne, That all mine Oten reedes bene rent and wore.

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 752. All the letters beside … are so worne and gone, that they could not be read.

1611.  Bible, Ecclus. vi. 36. Let thy foote weare [ἐκτριβέτω] the steps of his doore.

1717.  Pope, Eloisa, 19. Ye rugged rocks, which holy knees have worn!

1764.  J. Ferguson, Lect., 47. When the stone is considerably wore, and become light, the mill must be fed slowly.

1849.  M. Arnold, Forsaken Merman, 74. We climb’d on the graves, on the stones worn with rains.

1855.  Bohn, Ray’s Prov., etc., 339. Constant dropping wears the stone.

1872.  L. P. Meredith, Teeth, 112. When the teeth are crowded too closely together, they … wear one another.

1898.  ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, iv. 33. The house … is of dark red brick with facings of stone, long since worn by wind and weather.

  absol.  1478.  Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 212. He sal defend the watyr at it were na ferrar in, eftir vale and quantyte of his land.

  b.  with intensifying adv., as away, down, off, out.

1538.  Elyot, Dict., Addit., Contero, to weare out with occupienge.

1561.  in Inuentaires de la Royne Descosse (Bannatyne Club), 33. Ane auld cannabie of grene serge worne away and brokin.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 4. Her lockes … Grew all afore,… But all behind was bald, and worne away.

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, XVIII. xxi. Downe fell the bridge, swelled the streame, and weard The worke away.

1647.  in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 373. All the linnen is quite worne out.

1674.  Boyle, Corpusc. Philos., 28. Such an attrition, as wears off the edges and points.

1676.  J. Smith, Art of Painting, xvii. 75. Too frequent operations in this kind must needs wear off a little of the Colours.

1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, V. viii. Never sweep a room out of use; only wears out brooms for nothing.

1835.  T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 620, note. The metaphor is derived from a flute, the mouth-piece of which is worn out.

1852.  Lyell, Elem. Geol. (ed. 4), iii. 25. These flinty cases and spiculæ are … admirably adapted, when rubbed, for wearing down into a fine powder fit for polishing the surface of metals.

1885.  Law Rep., 15 Q. B. D. 316. The catch on the pin … was worn away.

1922.  C. Alington, Strained Relations, xiv. 222. If you can’t get into Parliament without my wearing out your old suits you’ll jolly well better stay a member of the public!

  c.  with pred. extension, as to wear threadbare, smooth, blunt; to wear to rags or tatters, to the stumps. (Also in fig. context.)

c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 223. Welth and Wyt, I say, be so threde bare worne, That all is without Measure.

a. 1555–1732.  [see STUMP sb. 3 b].

1575.  Gascoigne, Weedes, Compl. greene Knt., 180. She did but weare Cosmanes cloutes, which she in spite had torne: And yet betwene them both they waare the threeds so neere [etc.].

1639.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Part Summers Trav., 48. My Pen is worn blunt.

1661.  Boyle, Style Script. (1675), 232. All his too frequent kisses have worn it to tatters.

1756.  Amory, Buncle (1770), II. 69. There was no water dropping from the roof of this cave; but in a thousand places … it crept through the sides, and formed streams that ran softly over the ground and weared it smooth.

1765.  Foote, Commissary, I. 7. He’ll stick to his honour too, till his cassock is wore to a rag.

1808.  Scott, Marmion, I. v. His forehead, by his casque worn bare.

1852.  Thackeray, Esmond, I. vii. She would wear a gown to rags, because he had once liked it.

  10.  To sap the strength or energy of (person, his faculties, etc.) by toil, age, etc.; to fatigue, weary; † to exhaust (a soil).

1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 127. He is waistit and worne fra Venus werkis.

1523–34.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 14. All these maner of otes weare the grounde very sore.

1585.  Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 381/1. Ager effœtus,… a ground that by continuall fruitfulnes is quite spent, worne, and out of occupyeng.

1591–5.  C’tess Pembroke, Lay of Clorinda, 95. Thus do we weep, and waile, and wear our eies.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, V. i. 4. Since you haue made the daies and nights as one, To weare your gentle limbes in my affayres.

1694.  Dryden, To Congreve, 66. Already I am worn with Cares and Age.

1825.  Scott, Talism., iii. Both warriors, worn by toil and travel, were soon fast asleep.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, II. i. 7. He had brought me up to an occupation that wears the spirits.

1865.  M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., M. de Guérin (1875), 121. Still the yoke wore him deeply, and he had moments of bitter revolt.

1870.  Bryant, Iliad, IV. 402. Age, the common fate of all, has worn Thy frame.

  b.  with adv., as away, out, down, † up. Also with advb. phr., as to wear to death.

c. 1534.  in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 193. Ells they [the Irish] shall never be woren out, but increas more and more.

1577.  Wolton, Cast. Christians, F ij b. Peruerse affections, which doo euen weare awaye, and consume vs.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., I. ii. 109. You that haue worne your eyes almost out in the seruice, you will bee considered.

1607.  Norden, Surv. Dial., V. 241. A weed that groweth commonly upon grounds ouertilled, and worne out of heart.

1672.  W. Walker, Parœm., 56. They win by wearing their enemies out.

1691.  Sir T. P. Blount, Ess., 165. In most of these Places the old Inhabitants, or their Breed, are quite wore away.

1701.  Collier, M. Anton. (1726), 8. That she may not live too fast, wear up her constitution, and destroy the capacities of enjoyment.

1729.  Law, Ser. Call, xi. 169. She tells you that her patience is quite wore out.

1735.  Johnson, Lobo’s Abyssinia, Voy., viii. 42. The concern they shew’d at seeing us worn away with Hunger, Labour, and Weariness. Ibid. (1783), Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 23 July. Do not let your mind wear out your body.

1803.  Beddoes, Hygëia, IX. 105. At the close of the season in London women appear worn down, haggard and spent.

1840.  Arnold, Hist. Rome, II. 344. With these missiles [they] endeavoured to wear down the mass of their enemies.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, lxiv. This poor little Marchioness has been wearing herself to death!

1847.  W. E. Forster, in Reid, Life (1888), I. vi. 190. Found my father … pretty well, but worn up and worn down.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xiv. And still you go hanging on to my sister, who’ll fling you off like an old shoe, when she’s wore you out.

1872.  Dasent, Three to One, x. He always looks well when he doesn’t wear himself down dancing all night.

1881.  Jowett, Thucyd., I. 230. They carried on uninterrupted war against the new settlers until they completely wore them out.

1886.  ‘Sarah Tytler,’ Buried Diamonds, xviii. To-night, when one is worn off one’s feet already, with this miserable ball.

1904.  M. Hewlett, Queen’s Quair, III. xi. 500. She wore herself to thread, padding up and down the room.

1912.  World, 7 May, 700/1. As the soil … becomes worn out the farmers have to buy more artificial manure.

  11.  fig. With object a quality, condition, activity, disease, etc.: To cause to weaken, diminish or disappear gradually. Chiefly with adv. or advb. phr. (as above). To wear out: to efface, destroy, exhaust, abolish, by gradual loss or the lapse of time.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 33. The world … welnyh is wered oute.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 2930. Oure wages are werede owte, and thi werre endide.

1586.  A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, I. vi. (1595), 18. But that custome … is long since worne out.

1657.  in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 59. That acquaintance with you which time and far distance hath worne something out of our memories.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. i. 47. We grant, although he had much wit, H’ was very shie of using it, As being loath to wear it out.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 6. All other Themes that careless Minds invite, Are worn with Use, unworthy me to write.

1705.  Addison, Italy, Venice, 100. By the Pompousness of the whole Phrase to wear off any Littleness that appears in the particular Parts that compose it. Ibid. (1711), Spect., No. 39, ¶ 1. Diversions of this kind wear out of our Thoughts every thing that is mean and little.

1751.  F. Coventry, Pompey the Little, I. x. 91. When he had a little wore of the Relish of Pleasure.

1831.  G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, xxii. As the fire wore away the strength of the wood.

1857.  B. Taylor, Northern Trav., xii. (1858), 124. When the novelty of the thing is worn off.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., IV. xvi. As if Time alone could quite wear her injury out.

1871.  Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. xviii. 145. He did not strike a blow till all the powers of diplomacy had been thoroughly worn out between himself and his rival.

1899.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 846. Repeated operations with the idea of ‘wearing out’ the disease.

  b.  To wear down: to blunt the force of and overcome by steady resistance or counter-attack. Also, to get gradually ahead of (a competitor in a race) by superior endurance.

1843.  R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xix. 221. These medicines … remove the aguish fits … gradually, and as it were, by wearing down the paroxysms.

1851.  Dixon, W. Penn, viii. (1872), 66. The young Quaker … strove to wear down malice by his patient and forgiving mood.

1889.  Rider Haggard, Allan’s Wife, 20. Be a man, and wear it down.

1895.  Daily News, 27 Sept., 3/2. Macbriar … gradually wearing down Balm of Gilead, won by three-quarters of a length.

  † c.  To wear out: to forget, lose mental hold of, through disuse or lapse of time. Obs.

a. 1676.  Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., To Rdr. My application to another Study and Profession, rendred my skill in that Language of little use to me, and so I wore it out by degrees.

1708.  Swift, Sent. Ch-of-Eng. Man, § 2 Misc. (1711), 131. When these Doctrines began to be Preached among us, the Kingdom had not quite worn out the Memory of that unhappy Rebellion.

  12.  To form or produce by attrition.

1597.  Drayton, Heroic. Ep., Chas. Brandon, 17. That Nectar-stayned way, The restlesse sunne by trauailing doth weare.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, IX. 520. Few Paths of Humane Feet, or Tracks of Beasts, were worn.

1726.  Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 74/1. Ants, with constant passing up and down, will wear traces even in flints.

1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, IV. vii. Wish I had not come now; wore a hole in my shoe.

1834.  Pringle, Afr. Sk., vi. 203. A steep and rugged path, worn by the boors’ cattle.

  III.  intr. To suffer waste or decay by use or by lapse of time.

  13.  Of persons or living things, activities, qualities, etc.: To lose strength, vitality, keenness, sharpness or intensity, by the decay of time; to waste, diminish or fade by gradual loss.

c. 1275.  Serving Christ, 68, in O. E. Misc., 92. Þer wereþ vre wlite in wurmene won.

1530.  Palsgr., 780/1. All thyng weareth save the grace of God.

1589.  R. Robinson, Gold. Mirr. (1851), 28. Tyme is my name, young once I was, Though now, I weare and wast alas.

1595.  Daniel, Civ. Wars, IV. viii. [V. vii.]. How blessed they that gaine what neuer weares.

a. 1600.  Montgomerie, Misc. P., xii. 10 (Laing MS.). My eyes with tereis dois weir.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. II. § 5. It … refresheth their reputation, which otherwise would weare.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, liv. The deaf old man … muttered to himself … that the sexton was wearing fast.

1864.  Browning, Jas. Lee’s Wife, IV. vii. Yet this turns now to a fault … That I … wait too well, and weary and wear.

  b.  most commonly with adv., as away, off, out, or advb. phr.

1377.  in Polit. Poems (Rolls), I. 215. Alle thing weres and wasteth away.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 16. Bot whan god wole, it [the schism] schal were oute, For trowthe mot stonde ate laste.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Test. Cress., 467. All Welth in Eird away as Wind it weiris.

1547.  Boorde, Brev. Health, ccclxxix. (1557), 121 b. Were before the eyes a pece of blacke sarcenet … and it [‘a blast in the eye’] wyll were awaye.

1574.  trans. Marlorat’s Apoc., 28. To the intent these things myght neuer weare out of minde.

1611.  Bible, Exod. xviii. 18. Thou wilt surely weare away…: for this thing is too heauy for thee.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. 282. I found that my strength increased, and my Dropsy wore off.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 247. In a little Time, however, no more Canoes appearing, the Fear of their Coming wore off.

1720.  S. Payne, Bp. R. Cumberland’s Sanchon., Pref. p. xiv. His usual Reply was, A Man had better wear out than rust out.

1742.  Kames, Decis. Court Sess., 1730–52 (1799), 49. Hence the strict way of interpreting such clauses … wore by degrees out of use.

1759.  R. Brown, Compl. Farmer, 111. If clover is apt to wear out of your ground.

1789–96.  Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 398. Many persons conjecture that the Cape [Cod] is gradually wearing away.

1798.  [see LAND sb. 3 c].

1821.  Byron, Sardanap., I. ii. 112. Till summer heats wear down.

1842.  Dickens, Amer. Notes, ii. When its novelty had long worn off.

1843.  R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxviii. 362. He … seldom got any relief until the attacks were wearing off.

1859.  H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xx. Her anger, so far from wearing out, grew on what fed it.

1872.  Black, Adv. Phaeton, ix. The chill of driving through the fogs of the plain had worn off.

1889.  S. Walpole, Ld. John Russell, xxi. II. 98. The strange distrust which had so frequently separated Sir Robert Peel and Lord John began visibly to wear away.

  c.  with predicative adj. rare.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. IV. viii. The chorus is wearing weak; the chorus is worn out.

1875.  Swinburne, Ess. & Stud., 334. An old man of great strength now wearing weak.

  † d.  To wear out, forth, of something that holds good for a limited time: To determine, expire. Obs.

1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 2420. Whan þe trews þat þei had take Wer werid oute.

c. 1420.  Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. 1682. Neuirþeles he was in dowt, Or his condyte was worne out.

1472.  Paston Lett., III. 73. I gat a lycence of hym for a yere, and it is nyghe woryn ought.

1525.  in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 1527, 97/2. Gif ony feman of the said craft pass furth of the toun or his band of his service be worne furth.

1530.  Palsgr., 780/1. I weare out, as thynges do after their tyme prefyxed is passed, je me faulx.… The pardons shall weare out within these thre dayes.

  14.  Of clothing and other material things: To suffer gradual destruction, loss or decay from attrition or use.

1402.  Jack Upland, 45. Maketh youre habit you men of religion, or no? If it do, than, ever as it weareth, your religion weareth; and, after that the habit is better, is your religion better.

1414.  Brampton, Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.), 38. As clothys doth were with wedyr and wynde.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 522/2. Weryn or wax olde and febyl [by] vse, veterasco.

1530.  Palsgr., 780/1. I weare, as a garment or any other thyng weareth and consumeth with the tyme, je me vse.

1582.  N. T. (Rheims), Luke xii. 33. Make to you purses that weare not [Vulg. qui non veterascunt].

1587.  Turberv., Trag. Tales, 33. By lingring, loue she made his monie mealte, As waxe doth weare against the flaming fire.

1836.  Penny Cycl., VI. 380/1. These milk-teeth … gradually wear and fall out, and are replaced by the second and permanent teeth.

  b.  with intensifying adv. or advb. phr., as away, down, off, out, † on or to the thread.

1414.  Brampton, Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.), 38. Alle erthely thynges schul were owte; Castellys and towrys schul bende and breste.

1530.  Palsgr., 780/1. I weare awaye, as a scrypture, or thyng made for remembraunce weareth awaye with the weather or with the tyme, je me oblitere.

1566.  A. Edwards, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1599), I. 358. When it [cloth] commeth to weare on the threed, it renteth like paper.

1601.  Offic. Papers Sir N. Bacon (Camden), 117. Jettyes and pyles … to defend theis mershes and bankes from wearing awaye by the rage of the sea.

1643.  Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 104. Our flesh wears off quickly in the grave.

1687.  Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. My Suit begins to wear out.

1793.  [Earl Dundonald], Descr. Estate of Culross, 22. Many of the old established Collieries in the Firth are wearing fast out.

1836.  wear off [see c].

1860.  W. W. Reade, Liberty Hall, II. 38. The gilt beginning to wear off.

1882.  [see THREAD sb. 2 b].

1886.  Manch. Exam., 22 Feb., 6/1. When their carts wear out they need the services of the wheelwright.

1886.  Besant, Childr. Gibeon, II. xxiii. Her scanty wardrobe would wear out.

  c.  with predicative adj., as wide, flat, thin.

1641.  Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 7. Teeth blacke, wearinge wide.

1836.  Penny Cycl., VI. 380/1. After six years old the edges of the teeth begin to wear flat, and as they wear off the root of the tooth is pushed up in the socket.

1896.  Housman, Shropshire Lad, xxxiv. Where the standing line wears thinner and the dropping dead lie thick.

  IV.  15. intr. To last or hold out in use or with the lapse of time; to resist (well or ill) the attrition or waste of use and age; also, to stand the test of experience, criticism, etc.

a. 1568.  Satir. Poems Reform., xlviii. 19. I haif Quhyt off grit delyt,… Weill werand Reid, quhill ȝe be deid.

1687.  Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. This Stuff wears very well.

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 208, ¶ 1. The Flattery with which he began, in telling me how well I wore, was not disagreeable.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar W., i. I … chose my wife, as she did her wedding-gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well.

1771.  Junius Lett., liv. 286. These praises … will wear well, for they have been dearly earned.

1788.  Monthly Mag., March, 183. The natives [of New York] … do not appear to wear so well as the English.

1816.  Byron, Siege Cor., xiv. Tyrant and slave are swept away, Less form’d to wear before the ray.

1833.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Mr. Minns. How are you, Minns? ’Pon my soul you wear capitally!

1875.  H. James, R. Hudson, i. Rowland examined the statuette at his leisure…. He discovered its weak points, but it wore well.

1905.  Mabel Barnes-Grundy, Vacill. Hazel, 96. I am tired of old-fashioned, made-to-wear-for-ever clothes.

  † 16.  trans. To wear out: to come safe through, ‘weather’ (a storm, an attack of sickness). Obs.

1617.  in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 252. She has fallen into it [the ague] again … but … I hope she may wear it out.

1645.  Bp. Hall, Rem. Discontent., 63. The poor man … when hee foresees a storm to threaten him, puts into the next Creek; and wears out in a quiet security that Tempest, wherein he sees prouder Vessels … fatally wracked.

  V.  In reference to time, change, endurance, etc.

  17.  In pa. pple., of time, a period of time, a season: Past, spent, passed away. Also with adv., as out, † by, † forth. Now chiefly poet.

  This use is found earlier than senses 18 and 19, and the vb. may here be regarded as either trans. or intr.

c. 1400.  Beryn, 1090. Fawnus lyvid wyfles [till] thre yeer wer werid.

c. 1420.  Wyntoun, Cron., II. 1301. Qwhen hir tyme was werit [Wemyss worne] out.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, IX. 659. Off tym that is by worn.

1472.  in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 1476, 258/1. Eftir the termes of 5 yeris are worne furth and bipassit.

a. 1547.  Surrey, ‘The soote season,’ 12, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 4. Winter is worne that was the flowers bale.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 221 b. Mornyng in continuall sorowe, not so much for her selfe and her husbande, whose ages were almost consumed and worne, but for the losse of prince Edward her sonne.

1557.  Tusser, 100 Points Husb., § 83. Share not thy lammes, till mid July be worne.

1587.  Turberv., Trag. T., 55. And there he staied vntill such time as all his yere was worne.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., IV. i. 187. And for the morning now is something worne, Our purpos’d hunting shall be set aside.

1842.  Tennyson, Love & Duty, 69. Till now the dark was worn, and overhead The lights of sunset and of sunrise mix’d In that brief night.

1890.  Hall Caine, Bondman, II. vii. The year was far worn towards winter.

  18.  trans. To spend, pass (one’s time, a period of time). Chiefly poet. Cf. WARE v.² b.

1567.  Fenton, Trag. Disc., xii. 263 b. She weard her youth in dule in steade of ioye.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 31. To shew the place, In which that wicked wight his dayes doth weare.

c. 1750.  Shenstone, Elegy, i. 45. Where with Œnone thou hast worn the day.

a. 1777.  T. Warton, Suicide, v. 26. He wore his endless noons alone, Amid th’ autumnal wood.

1809.  Campbell, Gert. Wyom., II. ix. A deep untrodden grot Where oft the reading hours sweet Gertrude wore.

1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 18. Spinning long stories, wearing half the day.

1875.  Morris, Æneids, XII. 398. He … speeding of a silent craft, inglorious life would wear.

  b.  with adv., as away, out, † by, † forth.

1535.  Coverdale, Job xxxvi. 11. They shall weere out their dayes in prosperite.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, I. end (1598), 95. She, perceiuing the song had alreadie worne out much time.

1625.  Donne, Serm., lxvi. (1640), 665. Let me wither and weare out mine age in a discomfortable … prison.

1669.  in Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., a 4 b. No novel Romance, nor no paultry Plays, To wear out Time with, and mis-spend our Days.

1769.  E. Bancroft, Guiana, 384. They … thus wear out a life of solitude.

1773.  Life N. Frowde, 150. In this Manner we wore away near seven Months.

1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, VII. vii. (Rtldg.), 25. We wore away a good part of the night in laughing and drinking.

1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 174. There they their games … pursue, With chuck and marbles wearing Sunday through.

1842.  Manning, Serm., xxi. (1848), I. 315. They wore out with patience the years of this toilsome life.

1852.  M. Arnold, A Farewell, xiii. And though we wear out life, alas!… In seeking what we shall not find.

  c.  To enable (a person) to last or hold out through a given period. Sc.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., xxiv. She should have a pint bottle o’ brandy and a pound o’ tobacco to wear her through the winter.

  19.  intr. Of time, a period of time: To pass on or advance gradually to its conclusion; to pass away. Also, to wear late, † short.

1597.  E. S., Discov. Knts. Poste, B 4. The day weares, and I haue farre to go.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., V. i. 8. Away I say, time weares.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett. (1664), 197. Your after-noon will wear short, and your sun fall low and goe down.

1763.  Foote, Mayor of G., II. i. Well said, Master Mug; but come, time wears.

1837.  J. E. Murray, Summer in Pyrenees, II. 213. It was now wearing late in the day.

1842.  Lever, J. Hinton, xix. As the evening wore late, the noise and uproar grew louder.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. xiii. Without that aid they would have known how the night wore, by the falling of the tide.

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., III. II. 376. But time went on, and still the days did wear With little seeming change.

  b.  with adv., as away, on, out, through.

1525.  Tindale, Luke ix. 12. The daye began to weare awaye [so 1611, 1882; Gr. κλίνειν].

1600.  E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 183. The short season for galleies to liue in that sea began to weare away.

a. 1764.  Lloyd, Milk-maid, Poet. Wks. 1774, II. 51.

1834.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Steam Excurs. The time wore on; half-past eight o’clock arrived.

1853.  Kingsley, Hypatia, xxii. And so the week wore out, in dull and stupified despair.

1865.  H. Phillips, Amer. Paper Curr., II. 89. Three years had now worn away in the unequal conflict.

1872.  Black, Adv. Phaeton, ix. The afternoon is wearing on apace.

1879.  Meredith, Egoist, xlix. The night wore through.

  c.  To wear on, of an action or activity: To be prolonged or continued.

1886.  R. C. Temple, in Folk-Lore Jrnl., IV. 193. What follows is meant to be merely the expression of my ideas for the time being, subject to modification as the discussion wears on.

  20.  a. To pass gradually into (a condition, etc.).

1555.  Watreman, Fardle Facions, I. v. 68. Estiemed but a villaine, vntill with his forwardnes and wel doyng, he could weare into estimacion again.

1805.  Foster, Ess., II. vi. 205. The mind should not be allowed, if I may so express it, to wear into a conclusion, by a slow imperceptible inclination.

  b.  trans. To bring (a person) gradually into (a habit or disposition). Also to instil (a view or opinion) gradually into the mind.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxi. § 69. Trials … by Repetitions wear us into a liking of what possibly, in the first Essay, displeas’d us.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 409, ¶ 8. A Man who has any Relish for fine Writing … naturally wears himself into the same manner of Speaking and Thinking.

1871.  Morley, Crit. Misc., Carlyle, 225. Mr. Carlyle has done much to wear this just and austere view into the minds of his generation.

  VI.  With reference to movement in space.

  21.  intr. To go, proceed, advance; with adv. or advb. phr. indicating the direction. Usually of a slow or gradual movement. Chiefly Sc.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, X. 355. Byschop Beik com with sic force and slycht, The worthy Scottis weryt fer on bak.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, I. 7. Pallas away she weares, She leaues the Greekes, to Gods aloft in Heauen she repaires.

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 70. I think I see’t my sell, we’ll wear in by, Gin we get there.

1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 210. [The bee] wearing home on heavy wing.

1821.  Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Wallace, xxxiv. And mazy waters, slyly seen, Glancing thro’ shades of Alder green, Wore eastward from the sight to distance grey. Ibid., Malcolm’s Heir, xxix. Faint, doleful music struck his ear, As if waked from the hollow ground. And loud and louder still it grew, And upward still it wore.

1876.  Black, Madcap Violet, xxi. The sun was wearing round to the west.

  b.  quasi-trans. To move over (a space or distance). poet.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. ix. 19. Thus many miles they two together wore.

1623.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Discov. by Sea, A 8 b. Thus we our weary Pilgrimage did weare.

  † 22.  trans. To cause to fly or flutter out. Sc.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Test. Cress., 165. His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir.

  23.  Sc. To conduct (sheep or cattle) gradually to the fold or other inclosure. Also with in, up.

a. 1724.  The Ew-Bughts, Marion, 2, in Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. Will ye gae to the ew-bughts, Marion, And wear in the sheip wi’ mee?

1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. [She] bade me hound my dog, To wear up three waff ewes stray’d on the bog.

1767.  in R. S. Craig & A. Laing, Hawick Tradition (1898), 246. He … thereby wore in the sheep and nolt … so that they could not get to the Common. Ibid., 247. Weiring his sheep and nolt from the Common.

1790.  A. Wilson, Poems, Sheph. Dream. She … wore them homewards to the fold.

1827.  Ann. Reg., Chron., 48/1. Some [shepherds] perished in wearing their flocks from the weather-side of the hills.

1828.  W. M‘Dowall, Poems Galloway Dial., 23.

1912.  A. McCormick, Words fr. Wild-wood (ed. 2), iii. 47. Or it may be the bark of a dog or the voice of a shepherd as they ‘wear’ the sheep down the mountain sides to the rees for the clipping.