dretch

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Definitions (3)

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  1. To vex; trouble; oppress. This chanteclere gan gronen in his throte, As man that in his dreme is drecched sore. Chaucer, Nun's Priest's Tale, l. 67. “Truly,” said the bishop,“I saw the angels heave up Sir Launcelot towards heaven, and the gates of heaven opened against him.” “It is but dretching of swevens,” said Sir Bors, “for I doubt not Sir Launcelot aileth nothing but good.” Sir T. Malory, Morte d'Arthur, III. clxxv.
  2. To delay; linger. What shold I drecche, or telle of his array? Chaucer, Troilus, ii. 1264. Be than [by then] the Romaynez ware rebuykyde a lyttille, With-drawes theyme drerely and dreches no lengare. Morte Arthure (E. E. T. S.), l. 2154.

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Etymologies (2)

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  1. Middle English drechen, drecchen., later dretchen, from Anglo-Saxon dreccan, vex, trouble, afflict. Connection with dretch doubtful.
  2. = Scots dretch, dratch, linger, from Middle English drechen, drecchen, later dretchen, linger, delay (not in Anglo-Saxon in this sense). Perhaps = Middle High German trecken, German trecken = Dutch trekken = Danish trække, draw, pull (D. and Danish forms perhaps of HG. origin).
 

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