释义 |
heart of gracen.Origin: Of uncertain origin. Etymology: Origin uncertain, as is the original form of the expression. Compare to take (in early use †nim) heart at heart n., int., and adv. Phrases 3k(a), but compare also hart of grease at hart n. b. It seems possible that the expression could originally have been heart of grace , hart of grace , hart of grease , or hart of grass (i.e. showing either heart n. or hart n. and either grace n., grease n., or grass n.1; for the medial preposition compare of prep., a prep.2, at prep.). Some of the variants almost certainly result from folk-etymological reinterpretation, but it is unclear what the original form was, and the direction of any change. It seems to have been uncertain what the correct form was even in the mid 16th cent.: compare quot. 1555 at sense 1aγ. .On evidence for 16th-cent. variant pronunciations of grace n. with a short vowel, hence as a homophone of grass n.1, see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §6. Although grace n. and grease n. are unlikely to have been homophones for particular individuals, the Great Vowel Shift changes in progress in the long vowel system in this period could have led to considerable ambiguity between the usage of different people. Compare Middle French prendre cueur en pance , apparently ‘to take heart in one's belly’ (compare paunch n.1), although this does not appear to be attested other than in quot. 1530 at sense 1aβ. . Now rare. 1. the mind > emotion > courage > encouragement > pluck up courage [verb] α. c1520 tr. Terence Andria iv. ii, in sig. C.iiiiv This mynd saue deth no man shall take me fro I take hart agrace [L. resipisco]. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus I. Matt. xxii. 106 They takyng hart of grace agayne. 1640 J. Howell 197 He took heart of grace to court one of the youngest sprayes of the Imperiall Cedar for his Consort. 1673 R. Head 141 His wife..took heart a-grace. 1712 J. Arbuthnot iv. iv. 19 He was afraid to venture himself alone with him: At last he took heart of Grace. a1734 R. North (1740) ii. v. §10 321 The Loyallists began to chear up, and to take Heart-a-grace. 1823 W. Scott I. vi. 127 The peasants, who at first shrunk from him in horror..took heart of grace as he got to a distance. 1861 T. Hughes III. i. 3 In a day or two, however, Tom began to take heart of grace, and to find himself oftener at Mary's side, with something to say. 1939 2 Feb. 17/4 Take heart of grace. Don't be too disappointed in your daughter and don't be discouraged. 1970 18 Sept. 9/5 I hope that Mr. Maudling and the government take heart of grace, and reflect that London organs of opinion..do not reflect the silent majority. 2008 (Nexis) 12 Feb. The problem facing Ma boils down to whether the great majority of islanders would accept him as ‘one of us’, just like Obama... Both can take heart of grace, though. β. 1530 J. Palsgrave 748/1 I take herte a gresse, as one doth that taketh a sodayne courage upon hym, je prens cueur en pance.γ. 1555 J. Heywood sig. B.iii Thou takest hart of grasse, wyfe, not hart of grace. Cum grasse, cum grace, syr, we grase both in one place.1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello f. 182v He..confirmed eftsones his consent, willinge the desolate louer to take harte at grasse and repose himselfe chiefely vpon the aide of hys frendshippe.1567 J. Maplet f. 43 The Fir tree..being cut, eyther hindred or hurt..it by and by taketh hart a grasse, and groweth..a little beneath his top.1600 P. Holland tr. Livy 115 The Commons should take heart of grasse and hold up head againe.1631 J. Weever 866 Animated by his manly prowesse, they tooke heart to grasse, as the prouerbe is.?1663 (single sheet) 1 But taking heart a Grass I spake To him whose Neck was long as Snake.δ. 1564 T. Becon New Catech. in i. f. cccccxvi They [sc. evil wives] shame not to answer... They haue bene made dolts and foles long inough: it is now high time to take hart of grease vnto them.the mind > emotion > courage > encouragement > pluck up courage [verb] 1581 P. Wiburn f. 60 Why dyd not you and your felowes make this sute, when the matter was fresh in memorie, the thing was not then ripe, haue you now firste gotten hart of grace. 1587 W. Baldwin et al. in J. Higgins (new ed.) iii. Burdet xv By our losses they gate heart of grasse. 1612 R. Johnson sig. E4v When beasts do gather heart of grasse, and fish in water flotes. 1726 (ed. 3) I. 21 She then recover'd heart of grace, and did to him reply. 1856 E. K. Kane II. xxi. 213 But they kept heart of grace. 1870 W. Morris 297 She gathered heart of grace to meet The few words they might speak together. 1902 ‘C. E. Craddock’ vii. 156 ‘Do you want to tell how you saw the play?’ ‘Yes, sir,’ said Ned, plucking up heart of grace. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular medicinal plants or parts > [noun] > unidentified types of plants 1609 W. M. sig. Bv After I had eaten a little heart a grasse, which grew at my feete, I feared not. the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > urge on or incite > by encouragement 1539 R. Taverner tr. W. Capito sig. I.viii Geue vs hart of grace, restore vs oure lyfe, that we..thy people maye alwayes reioyse in the. 1591 J. Harington tr. L. Ariosto xxi. xxxix. 165 His absence gaue him so much heart of grace. a1640 W. Fenner (1657) 284 God forbid that any man should be discouraged in praier..God hath given me a good heart of grace to call upon him. 1832 Apr. 478 There is in these investigations what ought to..give heart of grace to those who see in every new province..a pledge for the security and future increase of her aggregate power. 1920 G. B. Rodney iv. 47 Several empty cars standing on the rails inside the room gave Jim heart of grace. At least there would be no delay now for lack of cars. the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [noun] > loving kindness > kind heart 1597 E. Hoby tr. B. de Mendoza 96 If they within the towne with a new harte of grace, should make anie salie out of the same breach, [etc.]. 1620 W. Loe sig. F4 Those fruits of thine, Which thou with hart of grace, & loue Dost knowe of erst were mine. 1703 R. Wilkinson iv. 44 I will hide my self in thy Bosom, and be not far from thy Heart of Grace. 1776 Nov. 381 Bear a heart of grace, lad, and let your sweet muse flourish away. 1830 tr. in 56 So with heart of grace I can step along, And tread, like my betters, a burgher down. 1883 15 Dec. 163/2 Those..victims were beginning to bestir themselves with heart of grace, for it was Christmas Eve. 1893 M. E. Wemyss 181 Arnold now cast off his heart of grace together with the last shred of his tarnished honour, and stood before his wife, a pitiable spectacle of naked treachery and demoralised manhood. 1904 10 212/1 It [sc. a flower] had done its part with heart of grace, unmindful of the hard conditions of its environment. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.c1520 |