Obs. Forms: 1 fréfran, -ian, fróf(e)rian, 2–3 fréfrian, -en, 2–3 freuren, -in, 2–4 frou(e)ren, -in, south. vrouren, vroæfrien, (3 froðeren). Also 1–2 ȝefréfran, -ian, 2 ifréfran, 3 ifrófren. [OE. fréfrian, frófrian, also ȝefréfran, ȝefréfrian, f. frófor, FROVER sb. Cf. OS. fróbrean, OHG. fluobiren.]

1

  trans. To comfort, console. Const. for, of.

2

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., V. v. (1890), 396. Cwæð he þæt ȝewunelice word þæra frefrendra.

3

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John xi. 19. Hiȝ woldon hi frefrian for hyra broðor þingon.

4

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 97. He ifrefrað þa droriȝan.

5

c. 1200.  Ormin, 150. Forr þatt he wollde himm frofrenn.

6

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 119. Bidde we nu þe holigost … þat he … freure us of alle soreȝe.

7

c. 1205.  Lay., 19545. Þat [ich] on þissen felde mote beon ifroured.

8

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 465/104. Pouere Men þare-with to freueri.

9

c. 1315.  Shoreham, 7. Frevereth thorwe his body man.

10

c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 889. Of þulke [grace] þat alle [con] frouere.

11

  Hence † Frovering vbl. sb.

12

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 117. Ich wile ȝiu senden þe heuenliche frefringe wið-innen a lit daȝes.

13

c. 1300.  Harrow. Hell, 166. We hopeth wel thourh thy comyng Of oure sunnes haven froryng.

14