a. and adv. Obs. Forms: 1 strengra, (strencra, strængra), 3 strengre, 3–5 strenger, 4–5 -ere, 4 strengor. [OE. stręngra (neut. -re):—OTeut. *straŋgizon- compar. of *straŋgo- STRONG a.] A. adj. Stronger (in various senses: see STRONG a.).
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxiv. § 3. We wenað ðæt mon bio þy strencra [Bodl. MS. strængra] þe he bið micel on his lichoman. Ibid., xxxii. § 1. Þeah ðu nu wære … strengra þonne leo.
a. 1225. Ancr. R. 326. Þe wunde þet euer wurseð an hond, & strengre is forte helen.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4298. Hert o stele, and bodi o brass, Strenger þen euer sampson was.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., I. 523. Ofte we seon the strengor falle Thorw him that feblore was.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 8260. I am nat strengere than dauyd was.
B. adv. More strongly.
1340. Ayenb., 170. Þe ilke þet, is … ine þise viȝtinge: heþ more strenger to done … him-zelue to werie.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xxxix. 19. That the coope and the breest broche streyt myȝten be knyt togidere to the girdil, and with rynges strengere cowplid.
Hence † Strengerly adv., more strongly.
a. 1390. Prol. Job, in Wyclif Bible, II. 671. As if thou woldest an eel … holde with streite hondis, how myche strengerli thou thristis, so myche the sunnere it shal sliden awey.
