enhorten

Middle English

Alternative forms

• enorten, enhurten

Etymology

From Old French enorter, from Latin inhortārī (“to incite, instigate”).

Verb

enhorten (third-person singular simple present enhorteth, present participle enhortende, enhortynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle enhorted)

1. to exhort
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Knẏghtes Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 37, verso:

     Deeth is an ende of euery woꝛldly sooꝛe
     And ouer al this yet seyde he muchel mooꝛe
     To this effect ful wyſly to enhoꝛte
     The peple that they sholde hem recomfoꝛte

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

References

• “enhō̆rten, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.