hearsen.
/həːs/, U.S. /hərs/ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > implement (general) > candleholder > [noun]
trendle1423
paschal1426
shaft?c1450
pan1511
trestle1523
strestell1531
hearse1563
Jesse1706
menorah1886
hanukkiah1939
1287 Synod of Exeter xii, in D. Wilkins Conc. (1737) II. 139 Vas ad aquam benedictam. Hercia ad tenebras.]
1563 Inv. Chr. Ch., Canterb. (Chapter Libr. Canterb.) Item a heade for the hearse of coper and gylte to carrye the iij. lyghts to the fier vppon Estereuen.
2.
a. An elaborate framework originally intended to carry a large number of lighted tapers and other decorations over the bier or coffin while placed in the church at the funerals of distinguished persons; also called castrum doloris, chapelle ardente, or catafalco.
ΘΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > funeral equipment > [noun] > elaborate framework
hearsec1368
1291 Acct. Executors Queen Eleanor in J. H. Parker Gloss. Terms Archit. (1845) I. 199 Pro meremio ad hercias Dominæ Reginæ, apud Westmonasterium.]
c1368 G. Chaucer Compl. Pite 15 Adown I fell when I sawe the herse, Dede as stone.
1399 Test. Rich. II in Rymer Fœdera VIII. 75 Ita..quod, pro prædictis Exequiis, iv Herciæ..per Executores nostros congrue præparentur.]
a1450 Le Morte Arth. 3532 By-fore a tombe, that new was dyghte..There-on an herse, sothely to saye, Wyth an C tappers lyghte.
1485 in J. T. Fowler Acts Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1875) 277 That there be byrnyng on herse v serges, ilkoone of a pownde of waxe.
1526 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/4) Payd for strykyng of iiij tapers for the herst jd.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 8753.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. jv The body was taken out, and caried into the Quire, and set vnder a goodly Herce of waxe, garnished with Banners, Pencelles, & Cusshions.
a1678 A. Marvell Wks. III. 510 And starrs, like tapers, burn'd upon his herse.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles Concl. 275 That one poor garland, twined to deck thy hair, Is hung upon thy hearse, to droop and wither there!
1849 D. Rock Church our Fathers II. vii. 495 There used to be put up in the church a ‘hearse’, which was a lofty framework of wood..with four or eight posts..and ceiled.
1896 Peacock in Andrews Church Gleanings 218 It was the custom in the case of rich families to erect one of these hearses in every church where it [the body] rested for the night.
b. A permanent framework of iron or other metal, fixed over a tomb to support rich coverings or palls, often adapted to carry lighted tapers.
ΘΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > monument > [noun] > over tomb > type of
hearse1552
heroon1601
altar tomb1631
turbeh1687
1552 in W. Money Parish Church Goods Berks. (1879) 10 A herse of Irone.
1846 J. H. Parker Conc. Gloss. Terms Archit. 129 There is a brass frame..over the effigy of Richard, earl of Warwick, in the Beauchamp chapel at Warwick, which is called a herse in the contract for the tomb.
1851 T. H. Turner Some Acct. Domest. Archit. I. v. 242 The Sheriff of Southampton is commanded to repair the herces in the king's chapel.
1866 E. Peacock Eng. Church Furnit. 128 A very graceful iron hearse of this kind..in Tanfield Church.
c. A temple-shaped structure of wood used in royal and noble funerals, after the earlier kind ( 2a) went out of use. It was decorated with banners, heraldic devices, and lighted candles; and it was customary for friends to pin short poems or epitaphs upon it.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > funeral equipment > [noun] > temple-shaped framework
hearsec1575
c1575 J. Hooker Life Sir P. Carew in Archaeologia (1840) 28 145 The nexte daye his herse was sett vpe, beinge made after the forme of a felde bedd, covered with blacke..garnyshed with scogeons and with yelowe pynyons full of blacke lyons.
1598 R. Barnfield Remembrance Eng. Poets ii, in Encomion Lady Pecunia sig. E2v Whose Fame is grav'd on Rosamonds blacke Herse.
1623 W. Browne Epit. C'tess Pembroke in W. Camden Remaines 340 Vnder this Marble Hearse Lyes the subiect of all Verse.
1640 tr. J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Reserata (new ed.) xcvii. §962 Grave-stones [toombs] and herses are reard up, and epitaphs..written on them.
1656 A. Cowley Poems i. 18 Be this my latest verse With which I now adorn his Herse.
1659 T. Pecke Parnassi Puerperium 119 Shall I to pin upon thy Herse, devise Eternal Praises; or weep Elegies?
1898 W. Andrews Church Treasury 280 The last herse used in this country was the one under which her effigy [that of Mary II] was placed.
3. A light framework of wood used to support the pall over the body at funerals. It fitted on to the parish bier, and was probably adapted to carry lighted tapers.
ΘΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > funeral equipment > [noun] > light framework over coffin or bier
hearse1566
1566 in E. Peacock Eng. Church Furnit. (1866) 36 Item a hearse—sold to John Banton..who hathe put it to prophane use.
1896 Peacock in Andrews Church Gleanings 216 Of these hearses, not a single example is known to have come down to our time.
ΘΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > funeral equipment > [noun] > pall
pallc1400
mortcloth1497
hearse-cloth1522
hearse1530
pall cloth1541
bier-cloth1549
coffin-cloth1625
grave-cloth1646
death cloth1699
hearse-cover1885
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 230/2 Herce for a deed corse of silke, poille.
1581 Compendious Exam. Certayne Ordinary Complaints i. f. 4 All other Marchaundize that we buy from beyond the Sea..and all Hearses, & Tapestry.
1610 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes (ed. 2) 1200 This coffin of this great Sultan..couered with a rich hearce of cloth of gold downe to the ground.
5. A bier; a coffin; vaguely, a tomb, grave. Obsolete or archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > grave or burial-place > [noun]
buriels854
througheOE
burianOE
graveOE
lairc1000
lair-stowc1000
lich-restc1000
pitOE
grass-bedOE
buriness1175
earth housec1200
sepulchrec1200
tombc1300
lakec1320
buriala1325
monumenta1325
burying-place1382
resting placea1387
sepulturea1387
beda1400
earth-beda1400
longhousea1400
laystow1452
lying1480
delfa1500
worms' kitchen?a1500
bier1513
laystall1527
funeral?a1534
lay-bed1541
restall1557
cellarc1560
burying-grave1599
pit-hole1602
urn1607
cell1609
hearse1610
polyandrum1627
requietory1631
burial-place1633
mortuary1654
narrow cell1686
ground-sweat1699
sacred place1728
narrow house1792
plot1852
narrow bed1854
the world > life > death > obsequies > funeral equipment > [noun] > bier
bier1387
feretoryc1400
byre1467
coffin1526
horse1597
fercule1606
hearse1610
sandapile1623
wheel-bier1898
handy1909
1610 G. Fletcher Christs Victorie 13 One touch would rouze me from my sluggish hearse.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iii. ii. 163 Stand from the Hearse, stand from the Body. View more context for this quotation
1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expositor Hearse, a buriall coffin couered with blacke.
1623 W. Lisle in tr. Ælfric Saxon Treat. Old & New Test. Ded. xxix But, wheth'r I live, or be first laid on herse.
1625 W. Lisle tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Noe in tr. Part of Du Bartas 132 As thou my cradle wert, so wilt thou be my herse.
1651 W. Davenant Gondibert i. v. (R.) When she with flowres lord Arnold's grave shall strew..She on that rival's hearse will drop a few.
1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Meleager & Atalanta in Fables 117 Ah! hadst thou dy'd, my Son, in Infant-years, Thy little Herse had been bedew'd with Tears.
1849 H. W. Longfellow Blind Girl iii Decked with flowers a simple hearse To the churchyard forth they bear.
Π
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Nov. 60 O heauie herse [gloss. Herse, is the solemne obsequie in funeralles].
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Nov. 70 The earth now lacks her wonted light, And all we dwell in deadly night, O heauie herse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > dead body > [noun]
lichc893
dust?a1000
holdc1000
bonesOE
stiff onea1200
bodyc1225
carrion?c1225
licham?c1225
worms' food or ware?c1225
corsec1250
ashc1275
corpsec1315
carcass1340
murraina1382
relicsa1398
ghostc1400
wormes warec1400
corpusc1440
scadc1440
reliefc1449
martc1480
cadaverc1500
mortc1500
tramort?a1513
hearse1530
bulk1575
offal1581
trunk1594
cadaverie1600
relicts1607
remains1610
mummya1616
relic1636
cold meat1788
mortality1827
death bone1834
deader1853
stiff1859
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 230/2 Herce, a deed body, corps.
1609 T. Heywood Troia Britanica iii. lxxxvi. 72 Bold Archas pierses Thrugh the mid-hoast and strewes the way with herses.
1633 T. May Reigne Henry II v. 775 Her hearse at Godstow Abbey they enterre.
8.
a. A carriage or car constructed for carrying the coffin at a funeral. (The current use.)
ΘΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > funeral equipment > [noun] > hearse
hearse1650
mourning carriage1710
meat wagon1934
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > other vehicles according to specific use > [noun] > funeral vehicles > hearse
hearse1650
mourning carriage1710
meat wagon1934
1650 N. Ward Discolliminium 2 It is hung about with as many..trappings, as Coll. Rainsboroughs Herse and horse were at his fine Funerals.
1672 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 245 Thomas Moor hath a hearse..for the carrying of dead corps to any part of England.
1706 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 4 Dec. He was very decently interr'd, being carried in a Hearse, and the Company in Mourning Coaches.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 27 They saw Herses, and Coffins.
1850 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 128 A hearse too, with plenty of plumes, and many black coaches.
1881 W. Besant & J. Rice Chaplain of Fleet I. xiv. 294 A hearse..stopped before our door.
b. transferred. A vehicle for carrying pianofortes.
Π
1812 S. T. Coleridge Lett. II. 584 Musical Instrument Manufacturers, whose grand pianoforte hearses he [a horse] now draws in the streets of London.
Compounds
C1. hearse-cloth n.
hearse-driver n.
Π
1829 G. Griffin Collegians III. xxxiii. 60 ‘'Twill be a great funeral,’ said the hearse-driver.
1841 J. S. Buckingham Amer. II. 322 The Whig authorities of New-Haven, have removed Mr. Willoughby..from the place of hearse~driver, and appointed another person in his place.
1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick xcix. 482 The old hearse-driver, he must have been.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xv. [Circe] 562 Sober hearsedrivers a speciality.
hearse-light n. (See 1, 2.)
Π
1555 in J. Nichols Illustr. Antient Times Eng. (1797) 141 For making the herse lyghtes.
1566 in E. Peacock Eng. Church Furnit. (1866) 127 The sepulcre and herse lightes wt all the bookes of papistrie rent and burned.
hearse-man n.
Π
1893 J. W. Barry Stud. in Corsica 170 It [the corpse] is..abandoned to the hearseman.
hearse-plume n. (In sense 8.)
Π
1848 E. Cook Lines among Leaves viii. 3 Like hearse-plume waved about.
C2.
hearse-cover n. a pall.
ΘΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > funeral equipment > [noun] > pall
pallc1400
mortcloth1497
hearse-cloth1522
hearse1530
pall cloth1541
bier-cloth1549
coffin-cloth1625
grave-cloth1646
death cloth1699
hearse-cover1885
1885 R. W. Dixon Hist. Church Eng. III. 451 Three hearse-covers..eight stall-cloths.
hearse-house n. a dead-house; a building in which a hearse is kept.
ΘΠ
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > preparation or treatment of corpse > [noun] > mortuary
lich-housec1200
coffin-house1611
dead-house1812
dead-room1835
funeral house1850
mortuary1864
hearse-house1870
slumber room1936
1870 F. R. Wilson Archit. Surv. Churches Lindisfarne 101 A vestry, with a hearse-house beyond it..has been built in modern times.
1895 Pryce Burden of Woman 91 The hearse-house or dead-house of the church (the lowest room of a tower where in old days the bodies of strangers who had lost their way and perished were placed for possible identification pending burial).
hearse-like adj. like a hearse; mournful.
Π
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 23 If you Listen to Davids Harpe, you shall heare as many Herselike Ayres, as Carols.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 303 It steals Hearselike and thieflike round the universe.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
hearsev.
1.
Thesaurus »
a. transitive. To lay (a corpse) on a bier or in a coffin; to bury with funeral rites and ceremonies.
b. (in later use) To carry to the grave in a hearse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > [verb (transitive)] > carry corpse > in hearse
hearse1854
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 83 Would she were hearst at my foote, and the ducats in her coffin. View more context for this quotation
1606 No-body & Some-body sig. E4v We will forbeare our spleene..till you have hearsd Your husbands bones.
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xviii. 199 Then the Grecians spritefully drew from the darts the corse, And hears'd it, bearing it to fleet, his friends with all remorse Marching about it.
1827 R. Pollok Course of Time II. vii. 67 Richly hearsed, With gloomy garniture of purchased wo.
1854 Gilfillan Life Blair in Beattie's, Blair's, etc. Wks. 126 He lashes the proud wicked man whom he sees pompously hearsed into Hell.
1859 R. C. Singleton tr. Virgil Aeneid vi, in tr. Virgil Wks. II. 81 In his own resting place consign him first, And hearse him in the grave.
c. To enclose or contain as in a bier or tomb; to entomb.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > confinement > confine [verb (transitive)]
beloukOE
loukOE
sparc1175
pena1200
bepen?c1225
pind?c1225
prison?c1225
spearc1300
stopc1315
restraina1325
aclosec1350
forbara1375
reclosea1382
ward1390
enclose1393
locka1400
reclusea1400
pinc1400
sparc1430
hamperc1440
umbecastc1440
murea1450
penda1450
mew?c1450
to shut inc1460
encharter1484
to shut up1490
bara1500
hedge1549
hema1552
impound1562
strain1566
chamber1568
to lock up1568
coop1570
incarcerate1575
cage1577
mew1581
kennel1582
coop1583
encagea1586
pound1589
imprisonc1595
encloister1596
button1598
immure1598
seclude1598
uplock1600
stow1602
confine1603
jail1604
hearse1608
bail1609
hasp1620
cub1621
secure1621
incarcera1653
fasten1658
to keep up1673
nun1753
mope1765
quarantine1804
peg1824
penfold1851
encoop1867
oubliette1884
jigger1887
corral1890
maroon1904
to bang up1950
to lock down1971
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > bury or entomb [verb (transitive)] > said of the earth or tomb
tomba1586
wrap1602
sepulchre1608
inhume1621
intera1631
hearse1796
1608 J. Day Humour out of Breath sig. E2 Please you suruey the Cell, go in and see, I'me hearst, and none but sorrowe lies with me.
1763 C. Churchill Epist. to W. Hogarth 22 Worth may be hears'd, but Envy cannot die.
1796 W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. 2 489 Shall marble hearse them all?
1819 J. H. Wiffen Aonian Hours (1820) 160 Murmurs deep, not loud, Swelled in the gale when earth thy relics hearsed.
2. figurative. To furnish with something hearse-like.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > surround or lie around [verb (transitive)] > surround with
begirdc890
belayc893
bitrumc1000
umbegoc1300
vironc1440
compass1481
beset1578
entour1623
to fabricate about with1634
surround1635
hearse1646
gird1667
round1698
entwine1796
1646 R. Crashaw Sospetto d'Herode xliv, in Steps to Temple 65 The house is hers'd about with a black wood, Which nods with many a heavy headed tree.
1864 H. W. Longfellow Hawthorne vi The hill-top hearsed with pines.
Derivatives
hearsed adj. placed on, in, or under a hearse.
ΚΠ
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. iv. 28 Say why thy canonizd bones hearsed in death Haue burst their ceremonies.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
<
n.c1368
v.1600