a. Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4 werische, 5–6 werysshe, weris(s)he, -ysh(e, wearysh(e, wear-, weerishe, weerysh, 6–7 werish, weerish, 9 dial. warish, werrish, 6– wearish. [Late ME. werische; of obscure origin. Cf. WERSH a. which is prob. a contracted form of this.
There is some resemblance in form and sense to the early mod. Du. wers, wars, warsch, ‘contrarius, adversus, malus’ (Kilian), mod. Du wars, disgusted, averse, weary of, Da. dial. warsig, Fris. wērzich disgusting; but etymological connection seems improbable.]
1. Destitute of savor, sickly-flavored, tasteless, insipid; unsalted. Cf. WERSH a. 1.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IV. ix. (Tollem. MS.). Flemme is an humouris kyndely colde and moyste, werische and unsauoury [L. insipidus].
c. 1425. St. Mary of Oignies, II. ii. in Anglia, VIII. 154. As any man … amonge many manere deynte metes wolde forsake an vnsauory and werysshe mete.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., v. in Ashm. (1652), 74. Also is Weerish tast called Unsavoury.
1530. Palsgr., 328/2. Werysshe as meate is that is nat well tastye, mal sauouré.
1531. Tindale, Expos. 1 John, Prol. (1538), 7 b. As the tayste of the sycke maketh wholsome and well seasoned meate bytter, weerysh, and unsauery.
1533. More, Debell. Salem, iv. Wks. 938/1. If the salt waxe ones freshe & werish, wherin shal ani thing be wel seasoned!
1538. Elyot, Dict., Inconditus … weryshe.
1607. Barley-Breake (1877), 28. When Hyems shall vpon them shake his lockes, Their grazing feast will haue a wearish tatch.
1828. Carr, Craven Gloss., Warish, unsavoury.
1881. Leic. Gloss., Werrish,… as applied to drinks, ‘small,’ weak, sickly, insipid.
b. fig. Void of relish, insipid, savorless; flat, futile, ineffectual.
1532. Tindale, Expos. Matt. v.–vii. (? 1550), 23 b. All werysh and vnsauerye ceremonies whyche haue lost theyr significations.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., Erasm. Pref. *vij b. In expressyng and vttreyng suche saiynges Xenophon seemeth to me somewhat weeryshe [mihi dilutior uidetur]. Ibid. (1548), Erasm. Par. Matt. v. 10–12. Beeyng ouerwhelmed with weryshe opinions and vayne desyres. Ibid., vii. 28, 29. They vsed to brynge furth certaine weryshe constitutions, of wasshyng their handes before meate, [etc.]. Ibid., Luke, Pref. (∴), iiij b. So werishe and vneffectual was ye vertue of the medicine of Physicke whiche thei brought [adeo Pharmacum quod adferebant uim habebat dilutam & inefficacem].
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. i. 9–20. The rude and wearysh preaching [sermo rudis et inconditus].
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. v. 523. Yeelding hir pleasures weerish, and hir amours tastelesse.
1650. H. Brooke, Conserv. Health, 4. A sickly, wearish, and momentany Delight.
2. Of persons and animals, their limbs, etc.: Sickly, feeble, delicate; lean, wizened, shriveled. Also, of a countenance: Sickly looking. Cf. WERSH a. 2.
1513. More, Rich. III., Wks. (1557), 54/1. Therwt he plucked vp hys doublet sleue to his elbow,… where he shewed a werish withered arme and small.
1566. Drant, Horace, Sat., II. v. H iij b. If thou canst spye a wealthie man, that hath a wearyshe chylde, There, shewe thy selfe officious.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 39. A countenance, not werishe and crabbed, but faire and cumlie.
1569. V. Skinner, trans. Montanus Inquis., 20 b. A full weake & wearish body, [L. corpore infirmo ac caduco].
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. 116 b. If they [the stallions] be to yong, they get but weake and wearish Coltes. Ibid., 137 b. A small and a weerysh Sheepe.
1579. Lodge, Def. Plays, 5. That they like good Phisitions should so frame their potions, that they might be appliable to the quesie stomaks of their werish patients.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., I 4 b. They haue hid a little weerish leane face vnder a broad French hat.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. v. 34. A wretched wearish elfe, With hollow eyes and rawbone cheekes forspent.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, VI. xxii. 784. The deepe red wine which is harsh and rough,… is profitable to comfort the loose & wearish stomacke.
1624. Burton, Anal. Mel. (ed. 2), Democr. to Rdr. 2. Democritus … was a little wearish [1621 wearyish] old man, very melancholy by nature.
1633. Ford, Love’s Sacr., V. i. A crooked leg,… a wearish hand, A bloodiesse lip.
1685. Burnet, Life Bp. Bedell, 257. It might often have been easily done, especially upon such a weakly and wearish Body.
1881. Leic. Gloss., Werrish, feeble; deficient in stamina; of a delicate constitution.
1888. Doughty, Trav. Arabia Deserta, I. v. 148. All the date-eaters are of a certain wearish visage.
b. Comb.: wearish-coloured, sickly hued, pale.
1548. Thomas, Ital. Gram., Dict. (1567), Pallida, pale, or wearishe coloured.
c. Lacking energy, languid.
1650. H. Brooke, Conserv. Health, 163. A wearish and impotent giving up of the spirits.
a. 1656. Ussher, Ann., VI. (1658), 328. At the first setting out they seemed to run exceeding well, but after a while, to grow somewhat wearish.
3. Dull-witted, stupid.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 52. A werisshe [L. insulsus] felowe made al this besynes.
1537. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. III. 103. My thyncke yt ys butt a weryshe persson to have any such lernyng of prophessye.
4. ? Peevish, cross-grained, crabbed.
a. 1585. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxvi. § 4 (1912), 317. Have any of you children, that be not sometimes cumbersome? Have any of you fathers, that be not sometime weerish? What, shall we … hate our children, or disobey our fathers?
Hence Wearishly adv., languidly, without energy; Wearishness, lack of savor.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. lii. (1495), 893. The nynthe sauour hyght werysshenesse and vnsauerynesse.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 106, marg. Beetes is an herbe … or whose excedyng weryshenesse and vnsauerynesse [etc.].
1633. Ames, Fresh Suit agst. Ceremonies, Pref. p. xvii. How wearishly & unwillingly goe they to the worke?
