Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A preterit of dare.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • imperative of dare. See dare, v. i.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb archaic Simple past of dare.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • I thanked him for his zeal and affection, but never a word durst I say of what had passed, nor the reason why I came back without my hatchet and cords.

    The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Volume 01 Anonymous

  • I thanked him for his zeal and affection, but not a word durst I say of what had passed, nor the reason why I came back without my hatchet and cords.

    Fairy Tales from the Arabian Nights E. Dixon

  • Strict discipline was indeed established, and no one again durst break his rank; but the younger men greatly hated Manlius for his severity, and gave him no credit for the agony he had concealed while giving up his gallant son to the wellbeing of Rome.

    A Book of Golden Deeds 1864

  • I thanked him for his zeal and affection, but not a word durst I say of what had passed, nor of the reason why I came back without my hatchet and cords.

    The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Complete Anonymous 1791

  • From that time ever since, the sad friends of Truth, such as durst appear, imitating the careful search that Isis made for the mangled body of

    Areopagitica 2007

  • From that time ever since, the sad friends of Truth, such as durst appear, imitating the careful search that Isis made for the mangled body of

    Areopagitica 2007

  • To guide a Nauie to this damned fight, Of Hulks and Fly-boats such as durst to dare.

    The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation 2003

  • From that time ever since, the sad friends of Truth, such as durst appear, imitating the careful search that Isis made for the mangled body of Osiris, went up and down gathering up limb by limb still as they could find them.

    The Principles of English Versification Paull Franklin Baum

  • From that time ever since, the sad friends of Truth, such as durst appear, imitating the careful search that Isis made for the mangled body of Osiris, went up and down gathering up limb by limb, still as they could find them.

    Plea for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing 1906

  • I fail mine own knight and he be such as durst defend himself of murder, but and if he hath no will to do this, then well may I allow that right be done upon him.

    The High History of the Holy Graal Anonymous 1869

Comments

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  • "MENENIUS: 'Tis Aufidius,

    Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment,

    Thrusts forth his horns again into the world;

    Which were inshell'd when Marcius stood for Rome,

    And durst not once peep out."

    - William Shakespeare, 'The Tragedy of Coriolanus'.

    August 29, 2009