a. Obs. Forms: 1 fýren, 2–3 furen, (3 fern), 3–5 firen, fyren (-in, -un). [OE. fýren, OHG. fiurîn (MHG. viuren):—OTeut. *fûirîno-, f. *fûir, OE. fýr, FIRE sb.] Consisting of or containing fire; flaming with fire.

1

971.  Blickl. Hom., 43. Þonne bið he ȝeteald to þære fyrenan ea.

2

c. 1000[?].  Martyrologium, 4 (1894). Ond Romanen ȝesawon fyren cleowen ȝefeallan of heofonum.

3

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 89. Wes iseȝen biforan heore elche swilc hit were furene tungen.

4

c. 1205.  Lay., 18863.

        Of his eȝene scullen fleon
furene gleden.

5

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 22675 (Cott.).

        Quen all þe stanes þat are made
Vnder þe lift in werld brade,
Aboue þe erth and beneþen,
Right vn[t]o þe abime fra heþen,
Sal smitt togedir wit sli maght,
Als thoner dos wit firen slaght.

6

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Kings ii. 11. Loo! the fijren chaare and the fijren hors deuyden euer either.

7

c. 1400.  An Apology for Lollard Doctrines, 98. Taking þe scheld of þe feiþ, in þe wilk we may sleckun all þe firun dartis of the enemy.

8

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well (E.E.T.S.), 157. Þat prince of deuelys wolcomyd derely, & ȝaf hym drynken of a fyren cuppe brynnyng drynk wyth brymston.

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