verduren.
/ˈvəːdʒə/, /ˈvəːdjə/, U.S. /ˈvərdʒər/ I. Senses relating to greenness or vegetation.
1. figurative.a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 390 A spark of Fire,..If it falls..into green Wood or watery places,..does no harm. Penitent Tears, and the verdure of Humility prevent such flames, and extinguish the quarrel.
a. The fresh green colour characteristic of flourishing vegetation; greenness, viridity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > [noun]
greennessOE
green?c1225
greenheada1325
greenshipc1390
verdurec1400
viridityc1430
sinople1489
flourish1594
deep green1601
verdour1610
verdancy1631
verdue1641
zinnober green1879
vernality1896
virescence1904
verd1915
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 161 Alle his vesture uerayly watȝ clene verdure.
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iv. i. 58 This appel was..borne fro the grene tree and put vpon the drye tre for to restoren this drye tree to verdure and to fresshenes.
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 212 The large feeldys shulde be bareyn, No corn up growe nor greyn in his verdure.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 87 He was The Iuy which had hid my princely Trunck, And suckt my verdure out on't. View more context for this quotation
1639 N. N. tr. J. Du Bosc Compl. Woman ii. 67 We see the Ivy full of Verdure, on the most withered tree.
a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 404 Ingratitude..cuts off the Soul like a branch from the root that gave it life and verdure.
1709 M. Prior Carmen Seculare (new ed.) in Poems Several Occasions 165 Let twisted Olive bind those Laurels fast, Whose Verdure must for ever last.
1765 Museum Rusticum 4 229 When the snow lay very thick upon the burnet, that part of it which was above the snow had all the verdure of spring.
1836 J. Murray Hand-bk. for Travellers on Continent 155/2 Another valley..clothed with meadows of the brightest verdure.
1910 19th Cent. & After Feb. 285 The perennial verdure of cypress and pine, ilex and box was invaluable.
b. With a and plural. A shade or tint of green.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > [noun] > shade or tint of green
verdure1523
verdour1555
1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell 776 A cronell of lawrell with verduris light and darke I haue deuysyd for Skelton.
1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie i. iii. 10 Most vegitables, so long as they flourish, are beautified with this verdure: and is a colour most wholsome and pleasant to the eie.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) I. p. xxv The fir..clothed with leaves stiff, filiform, and of a dark verdure.
2. figurative.1818 J. Keats Endymion iii. 114 At this a surpris'd start Frosted the springing verdure of his heart.in combination.1912 Blackwood's Mag. Sept. 316/1 Around us were the precipitous verdure-clad cliffs.† c. plural. Green plants or herbs. Obsolete.
a. Green vegetation; plants or trees, or parts of these, in a green and flourishing state.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by good growth > [noun] > flourishing vegetation or verdure
greennesseOE
tapetc1380
verdurea1400
verdour?a1513
tire1594
attire1610
greenth1753
a1400–50 Alexander 4979 A ferly faire tre..void of all hire verdure & vacant of leues.
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 140 Som ran for to gadre of the grene herbes & verdure for to caste a long on the waye.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. lxxxxv The tyme of Wynter which Trees doth deface And causyth all verdure to a voyde quyte.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 832 Then shall this Mount..by might of Waves be moovd Out of his place,..With all his verdure spoil'd. View more context for this quotation
1729 T. Cooke Tales 115 To him who longest shall maintain the Field This blooming Verdure on my Brows I yield.
1775 S. Johnson Let. 26 July (1992) II. 256 I can look into Lucy's Garden... I believe she has had hardly any fruit but Gooseberries, but so much verdure looks pretty in a town.
a1822 P. B. Shelley tr. P. Calderon Scenes from Magico Prodigioso in Posthumous Poems (1824) 385 Voluptuous vine,..To the trunk thou interlacest [thou] Art the verdure which embracest.
1832 H. Martineau Homes Abroad i. 2 Flourishing young plantations put forth their early verdure.
1886 M. F. Sheldon tr. G. Flaubert Salammbô 14 The fire spread from tree to tree, until the tall mass of verdure resembled a volcano beginning to smoke.
b. esp. Green grass or herbage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > herb or herbaceous plant > [noun] > herbage or grass
grasseOE
turfc890
herbc1384
herbage1390
herberiea1400
verdure1447
summer grass1531
1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) Introd. 3 In may was neuer no medews sene Motleyd with flours on hys verdure grene.
?1518 A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Av What time the verdure, of ground and euery tre By frost and stormes, is pryuate of beaute.
1638 A. Cowley Loves Riddle iv. sig. D8 [Thoughts] and the pleasant verdure of the fields Made me forget the way.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. xiii. 329 The Earth will not appear painted with Flowers, nor the Fields covered with Verdure, whenever he has a Mind to it.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho I. iii. 80 Along the bottom of this valley the most vivid verdure was spread.
1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire I. i. i. 172 The Cheviot hills are..distinguished by their fine green verdure.
1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 52 Praising still That soft tread on velvet verdure, as it wound through hill and hill.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > [noun] > green plant
verduresc1475
verdoire1586
vert1648
chlorophyte1882
c1475 Partenay 3824 She lepte the fenestre vppon, Aboue beheld she uerdures flouresshing.
1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 12 In wodes ben the verdures, Brembles bremble beries.
1632 A. Townshend Tempe Restord 4 All this second story seem'd of Silver worke mixt with fresh Verdures.
1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner ii. vi. vi. 198 Parsley..is comprehended under the Title of Verdures or green Pot-herbs.
1719 G. London & H. Wise J. de la Quintinie's Compl. Gard'ner (ed. 7) ix. 282 May. It is now the time of the flourishing reign of all Verduers and green things.
1722 W. Wollaston Relig. of Nature ix. 206 He might perhaps now and then meet with a little smooth way,..or be flattered with some verdures and the smiles of a few daisies on the banks of the road.
3. A rich tapestry ornamented with representations of trees or other vegetation. Now Historical.Common c1525–1550 after French usage: see also verder n.1 1, verdour n.1 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > [noun] > tapestry > ornamented with trees or vegetation
verdour1480
verder1500
verdure1513
verder1522
verdoy1542
verderer1581
1513 Inventory in State Papers Henry VIII (P.R.O.: SP 1/4) f. 37v A Counterpoynt of paly verdure..an old counterpoint of Redde verdures.
c1555 Manifest Detection Diceplay sig. Avv Diuers wel trimmed chambers, ye worst of them appareled with verdures.
1582 Rates Custome House (new ed.) sig. Eviij Tappistry with wul or Verdure the flemish elle xii.d.
1934 Burlington Mag. Feb. 65/2 The work of the oldest tapestry factory in England... A ‘verdure’, a type very popular with Worcestershire weavers.
1977 Anc. Tapestries from Belgium (Nat. Arts Centre, Ottawa) 77 Oudenarde was famous for its ‘verdures’ (tapestries representing trees or foliage).
II. Freshness or sharpness of taste or condition, and related uses.† 4. figurative.a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1958) IX. 226 Every word in them [sc. the Scriptures] hath his waight and value, his taste and verdure.† b. Sharpness, tartness, or unpleasantness of taste. Obsolete.In last quot. 1626 perhaps only a contextual application of the general sense of ‘taste’: see 4a.† 5. Smell; odour. Also figurative. Obsolete.
a. Freshness or agreeable briskness of taste in fruits or liquors; also simply, taste, savour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [noun]
smacka1000
savour?c1225
relesec1330
tastea1382
sentimentc1400
smatchc1400
taragec1407
tangc1440
weffec1440
tallage14..
sapor1477
verdurea1513
verdour1526
relish1530
verder1532
gustc1540
waft1542
smacker1549
talent1550
tack1602
tache1607
tincture1610
twang1611
foretaster1632
flavour1693
gusto1713
goût1751
saporosity1794
gustativeness1827
savouring1840
sipidity1880
palate1973
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. vi. sig. c.i A swete tree bryngeth forth..Swete fruyte and delycyous, in tast and verdure.
?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. 216 Being parched and brent..it engenderethe the verdure and taste of salte.
1574 R. Scot Perfite Platf. of Hoppe Garden (1578) 6 That Ale..boroweth the Hoppe, as without the which it wanteth his chiefe grace and best verdure.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 424 Upon such a chaunce and unhappie accident it [new wine] looseth the verdure and quicke tast.
1612 J. Speed Theatre of Empire of Great Brit. i. xxiv. 47/1 The very wines made thereof..being little inferiour in sweet verdure to the French Wines.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [noun]
sharpnessc1000
sournessc1050
sourheada1400
eagerness?a1425
verdure1508
tartness1530
acetosity1599
acidity1615
sourfulness1617
tetricity1623
tetritude1656
tartarousness1657
acidness1660
sourishness1670
fieriness1675
acescency1756
1508 J. Stanbridge Vulgaria (W. de W.) B v b This wyne is of verdure. Hoc vinum est acre.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 152 The wines which by age and long keeping, lay downe their verdure and become sweet.
1626 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. VIII. O.T. xxi. 512 Something they must haue to complaine of, that shall giue an vnsauory verdure to their sweetest morsels.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [noun]
smacka1000
breathOE
smella1175
irea1300
weffea1300
thefa1325
relesec1330
odour?c1335
incensea1340
flair1340
savoura1350
smellingc1386
flavourc1400
fumec1400
reflairc1400
air?a1439
scent?1473
taste?c1475
verdure1520
senteur1601
waft1611
effluvium1656
fluor1671
burning scent1681
aura1732
fumet1735
snuff1763
olfacient1822
odouret1825
waff1827
gush1841
sniff1844
tang1858
nose1894
1520 R. Whittington Uulgaria sig. D.iiij This wyne drynketh of a good verdoore..delicati odoris.
1589 R. Greene Ciceronis Amor 43 Let lillies wither on the stalke and weare violets in thy hand, the one faire and vnsauorie, the other blacke but of sweete verdure.
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits (1616) 309 What is the cause, that the excrements of brute beasts haue not so vnpleasant a verdure, as those of mankind?
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 377 The good Baulme..in smell..should have an harsh verdeur.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 429 The Oile-oliue..hath of all other the best verdure, and in tast excelleth the rest.
1716 M. Davies Athenæ Britannicæ II. 351 The powerful Verdures of the foresaid Allium, Cepa, &c.
6. figurative. Fresh or flourishing condition.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [noun] > good health > thriving
thriftc1230
verdour1447
proof1574
verdurec1595
thrivage1610
the world > action or operation > prosperity > [noun] > flourishing condition
statea1387
verdour1447
virtuec1450
thrivingc1460
provinga1529
prospering?1567
verdurec1595
flourish1597
efflorescency1649
efflorescence1672
flourishing1717
flourishment1724
booming1881
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxi. 29 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 87 Doe [MSS K, χ; MS A: No] not then now age assaileth, Couradge, verdure, vertue faileth, Do not leaue me cast away.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. i. 49 Euen so by Loue, the yong, and tender wit Is turn'd to folly, blasting in the Bud, Loosing his verdure, euen in the prime. View more context for this quotation
1619 J. Donne Lett. (1651) 222 Whatsoever I should write now, of any passages of these days, would lose the verdure before the letter came to you.
a1664 K. Philips Poems (1667) 44 In Youth she did attract (for she The Verdure had without the Vanity).
1670 Earl of Clarendon Contempl. & Reflexions upon Psalms in Coll. Tracts (1727) 653 If he discontinues to give, all his former bounties have lost their verdure, and wither away.
1726 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xix. 149 My lord's protecting hand alone wou'd raise My drooping verdure, and extend my praise.
1754 H. Walpole Lett. (1846) III. 67 I am in no fear of not finding you in perfect verdure.
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Disowned I. x. 165 Those years make the prime and verdure of our lives.
7. figurative. Signs of gullibility. Cf. green adj. and n.1 Phrases 5b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > unaffectedness or naturalness > [noun] > innocence or inexperience
viridity1825
to see any green in one's eye1842
verdancy1849
verdure1861
1861 H. C. Pennell Puck on Pegasus 75 Perceiv'st thou verdure in my eye?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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