verb. (old colloquial).—1. To thrash; TO DRESS DOWN (q.v.); (2) to afflict; to PUNISH (q.v.); and (3) to defile. Hence as subs. = a drubbing; a PICKLE (q.v.); a plight; ‘a pretty state of affairs.’
c. 1380. Sir Ferumbras, 417. A man heȝ of mod: Sarasynȝ to yule [= ill] ARRAYE.
1383. CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, ‘Wife of Bath’s Tale,’ 46.
| Thow stondest yet, quod sche, in such ARRAY, | |
| That of thy lyf hastow no sewerté. |
c. 1400. Beryn, 603.
| We wolde ARAY hym so | |
| That he [ne] shuld have legge ne foot, to-morow on to go. |
c. 1420. Palladius on Husbandry, i. 320.
| But uppon clay | |
| If thou wilt bilde an other is the ARRAY. |
1470–85. MALORY, History of King Arthur and the Quest of the Holy Grail (1816), ii. 399. ‘Aha! what ARRAY is this?’ said Sir Launcelot.
1481. Reynard the Fox, 85 (1844). I am so sore ARAYED, and sore hurte.
c. 1500. Lancelot of the Lak, 3270. Remembir the, how yhow haith ben ARAID … With love.
1509. HAWES, The Pastime of Pleasure, xviii. xxxix.
| Hath love suche myght for to ARAY you so | |
| In so short a space? |
d. 1529. SKELTON, The Tunnynge of Elynoure Rummynge, 163.
| Some have no mony— | |
| For theyr ale to pay; | |
| That is a shreud ARAY. |
c. 1530. BERNERS, Arthur of Lytell Brytayne (1814), 131. A! syr … thus hath ARAYED me two armed knightes.
1530. Calisto and Melibæa [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), i. 78]. Indeed age hath ARRAYED thee.
1530. PALSGRAVE, Langue Francoyse, 435. 2. I ARAYE or fyle with myer. Jemboue. Ibid., 436. 1. You have ARRAYED your gowne agaynst the wall.
1548. UDALL, Paraphrase of Erasmus, Luke xiii. 11. ARAYED with a disease both incurable & piteouse to se.
1568. Jacob and Esau [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), ii. 252]. Where are we now become? marry, sir, here is ARRAY.
1551. STILL, Gammer Gurton’s Needle, i. 2. Hodge. See so cham ARAYED with dablynge in the durt!
c. 1600. The New Notbroune Mayd [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, III. 17].
| Vyce … Whiche hathe hym so | |
| Encombered and ARAYED. |
