eageradj.

Brit.

/ˈiːɡə/, U.S.

/ˈiɡər/

Forms: Middle English eegre, Middle English egree, Middle English egur, Middle English egyr, Middle English–1500s egir, Middle English–1500s eygre, Middle English–1500s (1800s English regional (northern)) aygre, Middle English–1600s egre, Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional (Dorset)) eiger, Middle English (in a late copy)–1600s (1800s English regional (Dorset)) eger, Middle English–1700s (1800s English regional (northern)) aigre, 1500s aeygre, 1500s ayger, 1500s eyger, 1500s–1600s aiger, 1500s–1600s eagar, 1500s–1600s eagre, 1500s–1600s egar, 1500s–1600s eigre, 1500s– eager, 1600s ægre, 1600s eagare, 1800s aager (English regional (northern)); also Scottish pre-1700 eger, pre-1700 eggyr, pre-1700 egyr; Welsh English (Pembrokeshire) 1900s– aiger, 1900s– yegger; Irish English (Wexford) 1800s aagar, 1900s– aager.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French egre, aigre.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman egre, eagre, aegre, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French aigre (French aigre ) (of a person) full of keen desire, impatient, impetuous (11th cent. in Old French; frequently in aigre de , aigre à , aigre pour ), (of sorrow or other emotions) keen, severe (early 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman, 14th cent. in continental French), (of an animal) fierce, savage (late 12th cent.), sharp-tasting, pungent, sour, acrid (late 12th cent.; frequently with reference to wine or vinegar (compare vinegar n.)), (of a hawk) hungry (late 14th cent.), (of pain) acute, severe (late 14th cent.), (of an action) characterized by or manifesting keen or impatient desire (14th cent.) < post-classical Latin acrus (4th cent.), variant of classical Latin acer sharp, pungent, swift, strenuous (see acrid adj.), with irregular phonological development in French (see discussion in Trésor de la langue française at aigre).Specific senses. In sense 6 after the corresponding specific sense of Middle French, French aigre (1567 in the passage translated in quot. 1579). Specific forms. The form yegger shows development of a palatal on-glide. For (limited) evidence for pronunciations with a short vowel in the first syllable in early modern English see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §8 474.

I. Senses relating to living beings or their attributes.

a. Of a person: full of keen desire or appetite; impatiently longing to do or obtain something.

(a) With infinitive expressing the desired action. Keen (to do something); impatiently longing (to do something).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > zeal or enthusiasm > [adjective]

needfulOE

anguishous?c1225

eager?a1300

throc1330

fierce1377

desirousc1386

affectuousa1400

yeverousa1400

inwardc1402

earnestful?1406

rathe?c1450

zealing1459

increc1480

affectual1483

zealous1526

affectioneda1533

jealous1535

heartyc1540

affectivec1550

earnest1563

pricking1575

forward1587

affectionate1598

passiveless1602

zealful1602

full-hearteda1616

wholehearted1644

intense1645

high1649

covetous1652

thorough-hearted1656

keen as mustard1659

fell1667

fervent1673

smirk1674

zealed1679

prest1697

strenuous1713

enthusiastic1741

enthusiastical1755

whole-souled1821

con amore1828

lyrical1875

mustard1919

gung ho1942

the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adjective] > eager

yevereOE

frecka1000

cofc1000

fousOE

sharpc1000

anguishous?c1225

eager?a1300

hardya1387

hetera1400

yeverousa1400

belivea1450

forthward1488

yapc1500

ertand1508

tite?a1540

high1649

fell1667

forwardeda1674

agog1683

enthusiastic1777

empressé1878

rearing1904

press-on1948

the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > strong or eager desire > [adjective]

yernc893

oflisteOE

courageousc1290

eager?a1300

greedya1300

keena1375

affectuousa1400

lickerousc1405

appetentc1420

affectual1483

gasping1517

zealous1531

avidious1534

avidous1542

affectivec1550

anxious1570

lickerish1579

solicitous1628

mantling1657

ambitioning1683

urgent1753

avid1769

agasp1800

concernable1886

yearnful1889

yevery1896

?a1300 Fox & Wolf l. 289 in G. H. McKnight Middle Eng. Humorous Tales (1913) 37 (MED) Fomen..Þat weren egre him to slete Mid grete houndes.

c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 472 (MED) Ful egre he was to fiȝte.

c1475 Guy of Warwick (Caius) l. 3009 (MED) So egre was heraude to slee Eskladar.

1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier sig. E^v Eager to catch him, as a dogge to take a beare by the eares in Parrish-garden.

1675 R. Head Miss Display'd 88 Being eager to put her Proposals in practice.

1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 132 Now Crowds on Crowds around the Goddess press, Each eager to present their first Address.

1883 Manch. Examiner 26 Nov. 4/2 Makers are not eager to book fresh orders.

1913 A. S. Peck S. Amer. Tour xxxiii. 361 The South Americans in general are not eager to trade with us.

1956 N. Coward Diary 26 Feb. (2000) 311 I feel that the humanitarians who are so eager to abolish it [sc. the gallows] are guilty of woolly thinking.

2015 Berwick Advertiser (Nexis) 11 Mar. Pupils are eager to learn and work hard in lessons.

(b) With for (also †after, †of). Full of keen desire or appetite (for something).

ΚΠ

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 58^v Menelay the mighty was..Auntrus in armys eger of wer.

1561 T. Norton & T. Sackville Gorboduc 1008 After bloud so eigre were thy thirst.

?1578 W. Patten Let. Entertainm. Killingwoorth 37 Ton very eager for purchas of pray, toother vtterly stoout for redemcion of liberty.

1646 R. Boothby & F. Lloyd Breife Discov. Madagascar 69 To eager for the apprehension before I well pondred to effect it.

1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur ix. 258 Eager of Fame, and of the promis'd Prize.

1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 153. ⁋5 Eager of any intelligence that might increase it.

1769 W. Robertson Hist. Charles V III. vii. 2 He was eager for war.

1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece III. xix. 106 They are..eager for foreign expeditions.

1841 I. D'Israeli Amenities Lit. III. 178 With a universal mind Rawleigh was eager after universal knowledge.

1910 W. H. Hudson Shepherd's Life ix. 120 Caleb was not so eager after rabbits.

1945 E. G. Boring Psychol. for Armed Services xix. 437 Men are eager for news, eager for action.

2010 S. Thirsk Not quite White (2011) 305 You've got Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, Poles all eager for work and money.

(c) With about (also in, †upon). Keen or impatient to set about (a task, matter, or concern); (in earlier use also) keenly interested in (a matter).

ΚΠ

1548 N. Udall in N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Pref. f. xvi^v Pharao was neuer more eagre in persecuting the people of God.

1575 U. Fulwell Flower of Fame f. 50 But Hammelton being meruaylous fierce and eager vpon the truth of his quarell, constrayned Newton to geeue grounde.

1608 E. Grimeston tr. J. F. Le Petit Gen. Hist. Netherlands xv. 1200 The said Lumsden hauing beene most eager about this practise, being condemned was executed at the Hage.

1644 J. Milton in tr. M. Bucer Ivdgem. conc. Divorce To Parl. sig. B3 A pervers age, eager in the reformation of names and ceremonies, but in realities as traditional and as ignorant as their forefathers.

1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 40 He..found others to be less eager in the pursuit of his Friendship.

1729 W. Law Serious Call xii. 189 He is eager upon it.

1793 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 177 I am not now so eager about your coming to town as I was.

1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 291 The enemy..being eager in plundering the baggage of the dead.

1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice I. xvi. 174 She soon grew..too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes.

1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xviii. 162 Neither one of us was particularly eager about rushing into that near smoking Babylon.

1933 H. Miller Let. 3 Mar. in A. Nin & H. Miller Literate Passion (1989) 135 Am eager about next week. You'll let me hear instanter , won't you?

1961 R. Heinlein Stranger in Strange Land xxvii. 275 Nor was he too eager in expanding his core group.

2011 J. L. Buller Academic Leadership Day by Day 134 What are the factors that cause students to remain eager about pursuing the opportunities that you offer?

(d) Without construction. Impatient, full of keen desire.

ΚΠ

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica vi. i. 278 Eager enquirers in what day of the month the world began.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 316 The Captain was so eager..that he could hardly have Patience to let him come so near, as to be sure of him.

1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. v. 146 How much of imperfection..the eyes of those eager builders could endure.

1866 S. B. James Duty & Doctr. (ed. 2) 49 A pushing, eager, pleasure-loving, world-loving, money-loving age!

1917 M. Ashmun Heart of Isabel Carleton ii. xi. 169 You didn't want to appear too eager.

2003 Austral. Financial Rev. (Sydney) 31 Oct. (Life & Leisure section) 12/1 Millions of dollars being pumped into the residential market every week by eager investors.

b. Of an action, gesture, look, etc.: characterized by or manifesting keen or impatient desire. Of desires or appetites: intense, impatient.In eager pursuit and similar collocations probably originally also with some connotation of sense 2a (i.e. ‘impetuous, fierce’).

ΚΠ

1578 T. Churchyard Disc. Queenes Entertainem. sig. F4^v Your eagre eyes, most greedie of such bayte.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. viii. sig. G6^v Eger greedinesse.

1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. viii. vii. 407/1 The English supposing the Normans to haue fled,..began in eager pursuit carelesly to vntwist, and display their rancks.

1615 S. Ward Coal from Altar 5 A zelot: who to all the obiects of his affections, is excessiuely and passionately disposed, his loue is euer feruent, his desires eager, his delights rauishing.

1618 T. D. Canaans Calamitie sig. D2 With that her little sonne with eager looke, Vnto his wofull mother crying came.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 90 Early Visitants, With eager Eyes devouring..The breathing Figures of Corinthian Brass.

1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. ii. xvi. 111 Those Gentlemen, who are called Men of pleasure from their eager pursuit of it.

1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. I. ii. 133 She had become acquainted with the eager and impatient temper of the nation.

1779 H. Cowley Albina i. 8 State, fortune, rank, with all The joys they bring, torn from my eager grasp.

a1853 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1876) 3rd Ser. xi. 131 An epistle abounding with the most earnest and eager controversy.

1866 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighb. (1878) xiii. 253 The unconsciously eager way in which he looked at the eatables.

1905 J. M. Forman Tommy Carteret (new ed.) xxi. 134/1 ‘On'y come!’ she said in an eager whisper.

1916 C. E. Long tr. C. G. Jung Coll. Papers Analyt. Psychol. 141 Here we are confronted by an energetic effort to sublimate the fear into an eager desire for knowledge.

2005 Irish Times (Nexis) 19 Oct. 3 We will keep an eager eye on developments.

†2.

a. Of a person, a person's state of mind, or an action: strenuous, ardent, impetuous; fierce, angry. Obsolete except as merged in sense 1b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adjective] > prompt to act

radeOE

yevereOE

snellOE

ratheOE

spacka1200

quickc1300

eagerc1325

readyc1330

tallc1374

smartc1380

desirousc1386

rifec1390

promptc1425

speedy?1504

nimblea1547

present1548

go-ahead1825

the mind > emotion > anger > furious anger > [adjective] > furiously angry

grim971

aweddeOE

woodlyc1000

anburstc1275

woodc1275

aburstc1300

eagerc1325

brotheful1330

brothely1330

furiousc1374

wroth as (the) wind1377

throc1380

fella1382

wrothlya1400

grindelc1400

raginga1425

furibund1490

bremit1535

outraging1567

fulminant?1578

wood-like1578

horn-mad1579

snuff1582

woodful1582

maddeda1586

rageful1585

furibundal1593

gary1609

fierce1611

wild1653

infuriate1667

hopping mad1675

maddened1735

sulphureous1751

savage1789

infuriated1796

bouncing mad1834

frenzy1859

furyinga1861

ropeable1870

furied1878

fulminous1886

livid1888

fit to be tied1894

hopping1894

fighting mad1896

tamping mad1946

up the wall1951

ravers1967

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 1786 Þis brutons were so egre..Þat þe romeins & hor king gonne fle atte laste.

c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 472 (MED) Amoraunt was ful egre of mode, & smot to Gij as he wer wode.

c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) l. 1361 (MED) He smot to him wiþ egre mode.

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 144 Roland answerede wyþ egre mod.

?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. vii. l. 4225 Þou sowest or plauntest a ful egre bataile in þi corage aȝeins euery fortune.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 29 With an egir countenans.

c1475 (?c1451) Bk. Noblesse (Royal) (1860) 21 Cruell and egre werre.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) ix. xi. 28 Egyr of thar willis.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 84^v Ymas yrfull eger of wille.

1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions Pref. 17 Echone contendeth with eigre mode and bitter dispute.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. ii. 137 His most ægre enemy.

1667 R. Allestree Causes Decay Christian Piety ix. 246 Glut the eagerest malice.

1733 G. Cheyne Eng. Malady ii. viii. 201 When the Conflict..is very hot, brisk and eager, we all agree to call it a Fever.

1752 W. Goodall Adventures Capt. Greenland II. vi. v. 258 Threatening the Captain with the most dreadful Effects of his eager Wrath and Revenge.

b. Of an animal: fierce, savage. Also: (of a wind) violent. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > by nature > [adjective] > wild or vicious

wildc725

wrothOE

keenOE

ramagec1300

fell?c1335

furiousc1374

fierce1377

ramageousa1398

eagerc1405

savage1447

naughtyc1460

criminal1477

ill1480

shrewd1509

mankind1519

roidc1540

mad1565

horn-mad1579

fierceful1607

man-keen1607

indomite1617

fellish1638

ferocious1646

ferousa1652

ferinea1676

kwaai1827

skelm1827

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Envoy l. 23 Egre as is a tigre.

a1450 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) (1810) l. 1080 The lyoun was hungry and megre, And bit his tayl for to be egre.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 311/1 Egar, fierce..as a wyld beest is.

1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 4 Thee southwynd merciles eager.

†3. Of a hawk: hungry. Also in extended use. Also: (of a person's eyes) hungry-looking. Obsolete.Apparently originally a technical term in falconry.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > hunger > [adjective] > hungry

hungryc950

hungering971

hollow1362

eagera1475

empty?1490

ahungrya1500

sharp-set1540

greedlya1546

anhungry1578

starveling1578

belly-pinched1608

mad-hungry1608

jejunea1620

sharp-bent1675

sharp1678

nithered1691

peckish1714

stomach-tight1718

yap1768

yaupish1789

picksome1847

a1475 Bk. Hawking in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 301 (MED) For sekenesse of swellyng..The hawke wol be egre and glettons [read glettous], and on the seke side lennor where the sikenes light.

1575 G. Turberville Bk. Faulconrie 160 When your Falcons be skowred and cleane, so as beyng sharp set, they may be called hungrie Hawkes, or (as Faulconers tearme them) eagre Hawkes.

1693 W. Robertson Phraseologia Generalis (new ed.) 516 Eager or sharp set, i.e. hungry.

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 266. ⁋2 Her eyes were wan and eager.

1766 C. Anstey New Bath Guide v. i. 34 Your Frenchman so eager, With all his Soup Meagre.

II. Senses relating to material things or physical conditions.

†a. Of words: biting, keen; harsh. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [adjective] > incisive

trenchanta1325

eagera1382

keena1400

tuant1672

tranchant1776

incisivea1850

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms cvi. 11 Thei maden egre [a1425 L.V. bitter; L. exacerbaverunt] the spechis of God.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Melibeus (Hengwrt) (2003) §209 Thow shalt rather..flee fro the swete wordes of flaterynge preiseres than fro the egre wordes of thy freend.

a1500 tr. A. Chartier Quadrilogue (Rawl.) (1974) 200 Though so be that feer takith away thyn hardinesse, yete there restith in the egir and prignaunte wourdis of detraccion ayeinst them that be bettir thanne thiself.

1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 ii. vi. 68 Vex him with eager words.

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. i. 49 The bitter clamour of two eger tongues.

1626 C. Potter tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Quarrels iv. 197 He adioyned thereunto of his owne some biting and eager words.

b. Of cold, a cold wind, or cold air: piercing, biting, raw.Perhaps now as a figurative use of sense 1.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > [adjective] > very intensely cold > nipping or piercing

snippinga1400

piercingc1425

sharpc1435

nipping1563

sneaping1598

eager1603

bittera1616

huncha1825

1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. iv. 2 It is an eager and An nipping winde.

1686 N. Crouch View Eng. Acquisitions in Guinea & E. Indies ii. 72 The heat in the Valleys is as intollerable as the eager cold upon the Mountains.

1702 Elysium 131 There are no extreams of intollerable Cold, or vehement Heat, no eager North Blasts, nor Sultry Scorching Winds.

1832 J. P. Kennedy Swallow Barn I. xi. 109 Imparted an eager chilliness to the atmosphere.

1882 R. L. Stevenson New Arabian Nights II. 4 The eager air of the seaside.

1909 T. Gallon in T. Catling Press Album 83 A typical Christmas of the best sort, with snow upon the ground and a biting eager wind to keep it unmelted.

1979 S. Bellow in Arizona Daily Star 1 Apr. h1/1 Despite the sunshine the wind was stiff, the thermometer stood at 45 degrees, a nipping and an eager air.

1986 T. Paulin Liberty Tree 35 It's those journeys tholed under the salt stars, in the eager wind that starves sentries and students in their long coats.

5. Having a marked effect on the taste or other senses.

†a. Pungent, acrid, keen; (of a medicine) sharp or violent in operation; (of a disease, pain, or sorrow) acute, severe. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > pungent

sharpc1000

hotc1175

poignantc1387

keen1398

angryc1400

eager?c1400

tartc1405

argutec1420

mordicative?a1425

mordificative?a1425

piperinea1425

pungitive?a1425

pikea1475

vehement1490

oversharpa1500

over-stronga1500

penetrating?1576

penetrative1578

quick1578

piercing1593

exalted1594

mordicant1603

acute1620

toothed1628

pungent1644

piquant1645

tartarous1655

mordacious1657

piperate1683

peppery1684

tartish1712

hyperoxide1816

snell1835

mordanta1845

shrill1864

piperitious1890

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > characteristics > [adjective] > violent or severe

grimc900

strongeOE

grievousc1290

burning1393

acutea1398

maliciousa1398

peracutea1398

sorea1400

wicked14..

malign?a1425

vehement?a1425

malignousc1475

angrya1500

cacoethe?1541

eager?1543

virulent1563

malignant1568

raging1590

roaring1590

furious1597

grassant1601

hearty1601

sharp1607

main1627

generous1632

perperacute1647

serious1655

ferine1666

bad1705

severe1725

unfavourable1782

grave1888

?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) i. pr. v. l. 610 A more myȝty and more egre [L. acrioris] medicine.

a1425 (a1349) R. Rolle Meditations on Passion (Uppsala) (1917) 42 (MED) Þat sore and longe and egre payne þat þou suffredist for us.

1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 156 A sorowe moche aygre and sharp.

?1543 T. Phaer tr. J. Goeurot Regiment of Lyfe ix. f. xlix Those dyseases are excedynge egre, sharpe, and almoste importable of peyne.

1574 T. Newton tr. G. Gratarolo Direct. Health Magistrates & Studentes 14 To mingle..sweete and toothsome with sower and eigre.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xix. v. 18 Of all this bulbous kind, the Sea-onyon Squilla is reputed chiefe..there is not any more ægre and biting than it.

1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets cxviii. sig. H^v To make our appetites more keene With eager compounds we our pallat vrge.

1691 E. Taylor in J. Behmen's Theosophick Philos. Answer 77 They generate a strong, stern, eager sting.

1780 tr. P. Sonnerat Acct. Voy. Spice-Islands 62 The fleshy outer covering [of the mace] has a sharp or eager taste, which..is eat with pleasure by the natives.

b. Esp. of wine or beer: sour, acid, tart. In later use English regional (northern and Dorset) and (now only) Welsh English.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective]

sourc1000

sourish1398

acetosea1400

eagerc1405

acetous?a1425

crabbed1565

sharpish1589

unsugared1592

flatten1594

Amerine1601

acetosous1605

acerba1616

acid1626

acidulous1674

salso-acid1697

acescent1707

sugarless1785

acidulent1800

blink1883

brut1891

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) §43 This Seed is egre and hoot.

?c1450 in Anglia (1896) 18 299 Eysyl or egyr wyn.

a1475 Bk. Quinte Essence (1889) 4 Corrupt wiyn, þat is, rotyn,..but not egre.

1575 Art of Planting 39 The wylde and eager Cherry tree.

1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft xii. xiv. 249 A charme against vineager. That wine wax not eager, write on the vessell, [etc.].

1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. v. 69 It..turnes the thinne and wholesome blood Like eager dropings into milke.

1663 J. Beale Let. 23 Feb. in R. Boyle Corr. (2001) II. 67 Eager & wild apples & peares..yield a wyny & sprightfull liquor.

a1718 T. Parnell Hermit (1751) 39 Bread of the coursest sort, with eager wine.

1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Brewing It was hard to brew Drink which would be fine before it was eager.

1764 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. I. (at Beer) Aigre Beer is used by callico-printers, chemists, lapidaries, scarlet-dyers, vinegar merchants, and white-lead men.

1775 London Evening Post 23 Dec. There was found in it only one quarter cask of eager Fial wine.

1862 C. C. Robinson Dial. Leeds & Neighbourhood 235 Aigre (pronounced Aager), sour. ‘Aager beer.’

1886 W. Barnes Gloss. Dorset Dial. Eger, Eiger, sharp, sour as cider.

1982 B. G. Charles Eng. Dial. S. Pembrokeshire 7/1 Aiger, eager, yegger, sharp, sour.

†6. Of a metal: imperfectly tempered, brittle. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > qualities of metals > [adjective] > type of imperfection

eager1579

blown1872

cup-and-cone1881

cuppy1925

1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 490 [The] iron coyne [of Sparta]..was so eager [Fr. aigre] and brittle by meanes of this temper, that they coulde no more conuert it to any other purpose.

1678 tr. M. Charas Royal Pharmacopœa iii. iii. lxxxv. 221 The substance of Bismuth is very hard, eager [Fr. aigre], and brittle.

1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iii. vi. 222 Gold..will be sometimes so eager..that it will as little endure the Hammer, as Glass it self.

1763 W. Lewis Commercium Philosophico-technicum 85 Iron or steel..render gold hard and eager.

1804 W. Nicholson tr. A.-F. de Fourcroy Gen. Syst. Chem. Knowl. VI. vi. xxi. 502 Arsenic renders it [sc. gold] eager, brittle, difficult to be filed.

†7.

a. Of a cutting instrument: sharp. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > sharpness of edge or point > [adjective]

sharpc825

bitel?c1200

keena1225

carving?c1225

fellc1330

trenchantc1330

snarpc1480

cuttinga1533

tart?a1534

undullc1540

steel-sharpa1560

teen1578

unrebated1579

unbated1604

biting1607

eager?1611

unblunted1656

shrewd1878

cutty1903

?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads x. 150 The eager razor's edge [Gk. ἐπὶ ξυροῦ..ἀκμῆς].

b. technical. Of a tool: able to cut easily into the material. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1833 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal II. 139 [The tool represented in the figure] is what the artisan calls an eager tool, and is used for roughing the work; it has a..semicircular edge, so formed as to bite keenly.

1848 G. F. Duckett Technol. Mil. Dict. (rev. ed.) 325/1 Schrothaken,..an eager-tool, or tool for roughing work, used generally in turning metals.

Compounds

C1.

a. Parasynthetic, as eager-eyed, eager-hearted; also adverbial, as eager-driven, eager-spoken.

ΚΠ

1598 R. Cleaver Godly Form Househ. Gouernement 60 Though a man be eager minded toward his busines, yet by vain & idle company he shall be drawne away to other delights.

1604 S. Grahame Passionate Sparke sig. P4 Thy eager-harted ventring Subiects stands Wayting that Gallant warriours word.

1681 Grand Question Resolved xxxii. 14 What is the issue and event of such eager thirsting desires?

1742 J. Winstanley Poems 126 Thus crafty Chloe tunes her Voice, When eager set for Game.

1805 W. Wordsworth Incid. Favourite Dog 11 Every dog is eager-hearted.

1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 85 The carved angels, ever eager-eyed.

1876 W. Morris tr. Virgil Æneids xii. 364 The eager-driven spear [L. incita..hasta] Smote on his helm, and shore away the topmost of his crest.

1891 S. O. Jewett Native of Winby 150 A busy, unselfish, eager-minded creature.

1900 Atlantic Monthly Nov. 593/2 The world was much with the major, and he was nothing if not eager spoken.

1957 Sunday Times Signal (Zanesville, Ohio) 7 Apr. iii. 1/7 Eager-faced crowds turn out to hear in person the music which has so captured the nation's fancy.

2010 Internat. Herald Tribune (Nexis) 13 Feb. 2 The archetypal American waiter today is no longer the eager-eyed college student.

b. Complementary, as eager-looking, eager-sounding.

ΚΠ

1786 B. Hill Henry & Acasto 18 He silence broke And thus to eager-looking Henry spoke: [etc.].

1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan II. 77 His eager-looking red eyes.

1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. xi. 237 It might be supposed that so eager-seeming a personality was unsuited to the publican's business.

1959 Times 12 Oct. 11/6 All this visiting and lecturing will be supported..by a steady output of eager-sounding booklets.

2007 Guardian (Nexis) 16 May 13 They are bright, shiny, eager-looking persons, mostly young.

C2.

† eager-dulce adj. [compare aigre-doux adj., agrodolce adj.] Obsolete acid and sweet.Only in Udall.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > sweet-sour

eager-dulce1548

eager-sweet1600

sour-sweet1601

dulcacid1656

dulcoacid1657

dulcoamare1657

acidulcis1682

sweet and sourc1879

agrodolce1894

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > sour or sweet

eager-dulce1548

eager-sweet1600

sour-sweet1601

dulcoacid1657

dulcoamare1657

sweet and sourc1879

1548 N. Udall in N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Pref. f. v^v If wyth vinegre it be made eagredoulce.

1548 N. Udall in N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke Pref. f. 3 The eagredulce sauce of the paraphrase.

eager-sweet adj. [originally after Middle French, French aigre-doux aigre-doux adj.] now rare †(a) acid and sweet (obsolete); (b) full of desire and sweetness.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > sweet-sour

eager-dulce1548

eager-sweet1600

sour-sweet1601

dulcacid1656

dulcoacid1657

dulcoamare1657

acidulcis1682

sweet and sourc1879

agrodolce1894

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > sour or sweet

eager-dulce1548

eager-sweet1600

sour-sweet1601

dulcoacid1657

dulcoamare1657

sweet and sourc1879

1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique iii. xlix. 536 As concerning Cyders..the eager sweete [Fr. les aigre-doux] are much better..then the harsh sweete.

1613 T. Lodge tr. Seneca Epist. lxiii, in tr. Seneca Wks. (1614) 267 Apples eager-sweet [L. suaviter aspera] are tastefull vnto vs.

1866 A. Webster Dramatic Stud. 53 No, though thy voice Were thrice and thrice as eager-sweet.

1948 D. F. Bailey Devil make Third xii. 118 He let his hands drift down her body until they touched her hips and felt the slow welcome heaviness drag into his loins as she moved closer with a half-frightened, eager-sweet quickening.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	eager
释义	eageradj. Brit. /ˈiːɡə/, U.S. /ˈiɡər/ Forms: Middle English eegre, Middle English egree, Middle English egur, Middle English egyr, Middle English–1500s egir, Middle English–1500s eygre, Middle English–1500s (1800s English regional (northern)) aygre, Middle English–1600s egre, Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional (Dorset)) eiger, Middle English (in a late copy)–1600s (1800s English regional (Dorset)) eger, Middle English–1700s (1800s English regional (northern)) aigre, 1500s aeygre, 1500s ayger, 1500s eyger, 1500s–1600s aiger, 1500s–1600s eagar, 1500s–1600s eagre, 1500s–1600s egar, 1500s–1600s eigre, 1500s– eager, 1600s ægre, 1600s eagare, 1800s aager (English regional (northern)); also Scottish pre-1700 eger, pre-1700 eggyr, pre-1700 egyr; Welsh English (Pembrokeshire) 1900s– aiger, 1900s– yegger; Irish English (Wexford) 1800s aagar, 1900s– aager. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French egre, aigre. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman egre, eagre, aegre, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French aigre (French aigre ) (of a person) full of keen desire, impatient, impetuous (11th cent. in Old French; frequently in aigre de , aigre à , aigre pour ), (of sorrow or other emotions) keen, severe (early 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman, 14th cent. in continental French), (of an animal) fierce, savage (late 12th cent.), sharp-tasting, pungent, sour, acrid (late 12th cent.; frequently with reference to wine or vinegar (compare vinegar n.)), (of a hawk) hungry (late 14th cent.), (of pain) acute, severe (late 14th cent.), (of an action) characterized by or manifesting keen or impatient desire (14th cent.) < post-classical Latin acrus (4th cent.), variant of classical Latin acer sharp, pungent, swift, strenuous (see acrid adj.), with irregular phonological development in French (see discussion in Trésor de la langue française at aigre).Specific senses. In sense 6 after the corresponding specific sense of Middle French, French aigre (1567 in the passage translated in quot. 1579). Specific forms. The form yegger shows development of a palatal on-glide. For (limited) evidence for pronunciations with a short vowel in the first syllable in early modern English see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §8 474. I. Senses relating to living beings or their attributes. 1. a. Of a person: full of keen desire or appetite; impatiently longing to do or obtain something. (a) With infinitive expressing the desired action. Keen (to do something); impatiently longing (to do something). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > zeal or enthusiasm > [adjective] needfulOE anguishous?c1225 eager?a1300 throc1330 fierce1377 desirousc1386 affectuousa1400 yeverousa1400 inwardc1402 earnestful?1406 rathe?c1450 zealing1459 increc1480 affectual1483 zealous1526 affectioneda1533 jealous1535 heartyc1540 affectivec1550 earnest1563 pricking1575 forward1587 affectionate1598 passiveless1602 zealful1602 full-hearteda1616 wholehearted1644 intense1645 high1649 covetous1652 thorough-hearted1656 keen as mustard1659 fell1667 fervent1673 smirk1674 zealed1679 prest1697 strenuous1713 enthusiastic1741 enthusiastical1755 whole-souled1821 con amore1828 lyrical1875 mustard1919 gung ho1942 the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adjective] > eager yevereOE frecka1000 cofc1000 fousOE sharpc1000 anguishous?c1225 eager?a1300 hardya1387 hetera1400 yeverousa1400 belivea1450 forthward1488 yapc1500 ertand1508 tite?a1540 high1649 fell1667 forwardeda1674 agog1683 enthusiastic1777 empressé1878 rearing1904 press-on1948 the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > strong or eager desire > [adjective] yernc893 oflisteOE courageousc1290 eager?a1300 greedya1300 keena1375 affectuousa1400 lickerousc1405 appetentc1420 affectual1483 gasping1517 zealous1531 avidious1534 avidous1542 affectivec1550 anxious1570 lickerish1579 solicitous1628 mantling1657 ambitioning1683 urgent1753 avid1769 agasp1800 concernable1886 yearnful1889 yevery1896 ?a1300 Fox & Wolf l. 289 in G. H. McKnight Middle Eng. Humorous Tales (1913) 37 (MED) Fomen..Þat weren egre him to slete Mid grete houndes. c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 472 (MED) Ful egre he was to fiȝte. c1475 Guy of Warwick (Caius) l. 3009 (MED) So egre was heraude to slee Eskladar. 1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier sig. E^v Eager to catch him, as a dogge to take a beare by the eares in Parrish-garden. 1675 R. Head Miss Display'd 88 Being eager to put her Proposals in practice. 1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 132 Now Crowds on Crowds around the Goddess press, Each eager to present their first Address. 1883 Manch. Examiner 26 Nov. 4/2 Makers are not eager to book fresh orders. 1913 A. S. Peck S. Amer. Tour xxxiii. 361 The South Americans in general are not eager to trade with us. 1956 N. Coward Diary 26 Feb. (2000) 311 I feel that the humanitarians who are so eager to abolish it [sc. the gallows] are guilty of woolly thinking. 2015 Berwick Advertiser (Nexis) 11 Mar. Pupils are eager to learn and work hard in lessons. (b) With for (also †after, †of). Full of keen desire or appetite (for something). ΚΠ c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 58^v Menelay the mighty was..Auntrus in armys eger of wer. 1561 T. Norton & T. Sackville Gorboduc 1008 After bloud so eigre were thy thirst. ?1578 W. Patten Let. Entertainm. Killingwoorth 37 Ton very eager for purchas of pray, toother vtterly stoout for redemcion of liberty. 1646 R. Boothby & F. Lloyd Breife Discov. Madagascar 69 To eager for the apprehension before I well pondred to effect it. 1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur ix. 258 Eager of Fame, and of the promis'd Prize. 1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 153. ⁋5 Eager of any intelligence that might increase it. 1769 W. Robertson Hist. Charles V III. vii. 2 He was eager for war. 1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece III. xix. 106 They are..eager for foreign expeditions. 1841 I. D'Israeli Amenities Lit. III. 178 With a universal mind Rawleigh was eager after universal knowledge. 1910 W. H. Hudson Shepherd's Life ix. 120 Caleb was not so eager after rabbits. 1945 E. G. Boring Psychol. for Armed Services xix. 437 Men are eager for news, eager for action. 2010 S. Thirsk Not quite White (2011) 305 You've got Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, Poles all eager for work and money. (c) With about (also in, †upon). Keen or impatient to set about (a task, matter, or concern); (in earlier use also) keenly interested in (a matter). ΚΠ 1548 N. Udall in N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Pref. f. xvi^v Pharao was neuer more eagre in persecuting the people of God. 1575 U. Fulwell Flower of Fame f. 50 But Hammelton being meruaylous fierce and eager vpon the truth of his quarell, constrayned Newton to geeue grounde. 1608 E. Grimeston tr. J. F. Le Petit Gen. Hist. Netherlands xv. 1200 The said Lumsden hauing beene most eager about this practise, being condemned was executed at the Hage. 1644 J. Milton in tr. M. Bucer Ivdgem. conc. Divorce To Parl. sig. B3 A pervers age, eager in the reformation of names and ceremonies, but in realities as traditional and as ignorant as their forefathers. 1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 40 He..found others to be less eager in the pursuit of his Friendship. 1729 W. Law Serious Call xii. 189 He is eager upon it. 1793 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 177 I am not now so eager about your coming to town as I was. 1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 291 The enemy..being eager in plundering the baggage of the dead. 1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice I. xvi. 174 She soon grew..too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes. 1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xviii. 162 Neither one of us was particularly eager about rushing into that near smoking Babylon. 1933 H. Miller Let. 3 Mar. in A. Nin & H. Miller Literate Passion (1989) 135 Am eager about next week. You'll let me hear instanter , won't you? 1961 R. Heinlein Stranger in Strange Land xxvii. 275 Nor was he too eager in expanding his core group. 2011 J. L. Buller Academic Leadership Day by Day 134 What are the factors that cause students to remain eager about pursuing the opportunities that you offer? (d) Without construction. Impatient, full of keen desire. ΚΠ 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica vi. i. 278 Eager enquirers in what day of the month the world began. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 316 The Captain was so eager..that he could hardly have Patience to let him come so near, as to be sure of him. 1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. v. 146 How much of imperfection..the eyes of those eager builders could endure. 1866 S. B. James Duty & Doctr. (ed. 2) 49 A pushing, eager, pleasure-loving, world-loving, money-loving age! 1917 M. Ashmun Heart of Isabel Carleton ii. xi. 169 You didn't want to appear too eager. 2003 Austral. Financial Rev. (Sydney) 31 Oct. (Life & Leisure section) 12/1 Millions of dollars being pumped into the residential market every week by eager investors. b. Of an action, gesture, look, etc.: characterized by or manifesting keen or impatient desire. Of desires or appetites: intense, impatient.In eager pursuit and similar collocations probably originally also with some connotation of sense 2a (i.e. ‘impetuous, fierce’). ΚΠ 1578 T. Churchyard Disc. Queenes Entertainem. sig. F4^v Your eagre eyes, most greedie of such bayte. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. viii. sig. G6^v Eger greedinesse. 1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. viii. vii. 407/1 The English supposing the Normans to haue fled,..began in eager pursuit carelesly to vntwist, and display their rancks. 1615 S. Ward Coal from Altar 5 A zelot: who to all the obiects of his affections, is excessiuely and passionately disposed, his loue is euer feruent, his desires eager, his delights rauishing. 1618 T. D. Canaans Calamitie sig. D2 With that her little sonne with eager looke, Vnto his wofull mother crying came. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 90 Early Visitants, With eager Eyes devouring..The breathing Figures of Corinthian Brass. View more context for this quotation 1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. ii. xvi. 111 Those Gentlemen, who are called Men of pleasure from their eager pursuit of it. 1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. I. ii. 133 She had become acquainted with the eager and impatient temper of the nation. 1779 H. Cowley Albina i. 8 State, fortune, rank, with all The joys they bring, torn from my eager grasp. a1853 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1876) 3rd Ser. xi. 131 An epistle abounding with the most earnest and eager controversy. 1866 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighb. (1878) xiii. 253 The unconsciously eager way in which he looked at the eatables. 1905 J. M. Forman Tommy Carteret (new ed.) xxi. 134/1 ‘On'y come!’ she said in an eager whisper. 1916 C. E. Long tr. C. G. Jung Coll. Papers Analyt. Psychol. 141 Here we are confronted by an energetic effort to sublimate the fear into an eager desire for knowledge. 2005 Irish Times (Nexis) 19 Oct. 3 We will keep an eager eye on developments. †2. a. Of a person, a person's state of mind, or an action: strenuous, ardent, impetuous; fierce, angry. Obsolete except as merged in sense 1b. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adjective] > prompt to act radeOE yevereOE snellOE ratheOE spacka1200 quickc1300 eagerc1325 readyc1330 tallc1374 smartc1380 desirousc1386 rifec1390 promptc1425 speedy?1504 nimblea1547 present1548 go-ahead1825 the mind > emotion > anger > furious anger > [adjective] > furiously angry grim971 aweddeOE woodlyc1000 anburstc1275 woodc1275 aburstc1300 eagerc1325 brotheful1330 brothely1330 furiousc1374 wroth as (the) wind1377 throc1380 fella1382 wrothlya1400 grindelc1400 raginga1425 furibund1490 bremit1535 outraging1567 fulminant?1578 wood-like1578 horn-mad1579 snuff1582 woodful1582 maddeda1586 rageful1585 furibundal1593 gary1609 fierce1611 wild1653 infuriate1667 hopping mad1675 maddened1735 sulphureous1751 savage1789 infuriated1796 bouncing mad1834 frenzy1859 furyinga1861 ropeable1870 furied1878 fulminous1886 livid1888 fit to be tied1894 hopping1894 fighting mad1896 tamping mad1946 up the wall1951 ravers1967 c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 1786 Þis brutons were so egre..Þat þe romeins & hor king gonne fle atte laste. c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 472 (MED) Amoraunt was ful egre of mode, & smot to Gij as he wer wode. c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) l. 1361 (MED) He smot to him wiþ egre mode. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 144 Roland answerede wyþ egre mod. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. vii. l. 4225 Þou sowest or plauntest a ful egre bataile in þi corage aȝeins euery fortune. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 29 With an egir countenans. c1475 (?c1451) Bk. Noblesse (Royal) (1860) 21 Cruell and egre werre. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) ix. xi. 28 Egyr of thar willis. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 84^v Ymas yrfull eger of wille. 1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions Pref. 17 Echone contendeth with eigre mode and bitter dispute. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. ii. 137 His most ægre enemy. 1667 R. Allestree Causes Decay Christian Piety ix. 246 Glut the eagerest malice. 1733 G. Cheyne Eng. Malady ii. viii. 201 When the Conflict..is very hot, brisk and eager, we all agree to call it a Fever. 1752 W. Goodall Adventures Capt. Greenland II. vi. v. 258 Threatening the Captain with the most dreadful Effects of his eager Wrath and Revenge. b. Of an animal: fierce, savage. Also: (of a wind) violent. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > by nature > [adjective] > wild or vicious wildc725 wrothOE keenOE ramagec1300 fell?c1335 furiousc1374 fierce1377 ramageousa1398 eagerc1405 savage1447 naughtyc1460 criminal1477 ill1480 shrewd1509 mankind1519 roidc1540 mad1565 horn-mad1579 fierceful1607 man-keen1607 indomite1617 fellish1638 ferocious1646 ferousa1652 ferinea1676 kwaai1827 skelm1827 c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Envoy l. 23 Egre as is a tigre. a1450 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) (1810) l. 1080 The lyoun was hungry and megre, And bit his tayl for to be egre. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 311/1 Egar, fierce..as a wyld beest is. 1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 4 Thee southwynd merciles eager. †3. Of a hawk: hungry. Also in extended use. Also: (of a person's eyes) hungry-looking. Obsolete.Apparently originally a technical term in falconry. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > hunger > [adjective] > hungry hungryc950 hungering971 hollow1362 eagera1475 empty?1490 ahungrya1500 sharp-set1540 greedlya1546 anhungry1578 starveling1578 belly-pinched1608 mad-hungry1608 jejunea1620 sharp-bent1675 sharp1678 nithered1691 peckish1714 stomach-tight1718 yap1768 yaupish1789 picksome1847 a1475 Bk. Hawking in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 301 (MED) For sekenesse of swellyng..The hawke wol be egre and glettons [read glettous], and on the seke side lennor where the sikenes light. 1575 G. Turberville Bk. Faulconrie 160 When your Falcons be skowred and cleane, so as beyng sharp set, they may be called hungrie Hawkes, or (as Faulconers tearme them) eagre Hawkes. 1693 W. Robertson Phraseologia Generalis (new ed.) 516 Eager or sharp set, i.e. hungry. 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 266. ⁋2 Her eyes were wan and eager. 1766 C. Anstey New Bath Guide v. i. 34 Your Frenchman so eager, With all his Soup Meagre. II. Senses relating to material things or physical conditions. 4. †a. Of words: biting, keen; harsh. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [adjective] > incisive trenchanta1325 eagera1382 keena1400 tuant1672 tranchant1776 incisivea1850 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms cvi. 11 Thei maden egre [a1425 L.V. bitter; L. exacerbaverunt] the spechis of God. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Melibeus (Hengwrt) (2003) §209 Thow shalt rather..flee fro the swete wordes of flaterynge preiseres than fro the egre wordes of thy freend. a1500 tr. A. Chartier Quadrilogue (Rawl.) (1974) 200 Though so be that feer takith away thyn hardinesse, yete there restith in the egir and prignaunte wourdis of detraccion ayeinst them that be bettir thanne thiself. 1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 ii. vi. 68 Vex him with eager words. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. i. 49 The bitter clamour of two eger tongues. View more context for this quotation 1626 C. Potter tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Quarrels iv. 197 He adioyned thereunto of his owne some biting and eager words. b. Of cold, a cold wind, or cold air: piercing, biting, raw.Perhaps now as a figurative use of sense 1. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > [adjective] > very intensely cold > nipping or piercing snippinga1400 piercingc1425 sharpc1435 nipping1563 sneaping1598 eager1603 bittera1616 huncha1825 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. iv. 2 It is an eager and An nipping winde. 1686 N. Crouch View Eng. Acquisitions in Guinea & E. Indies ii. 72 The heat in the Valleys is as intollerable as the eager cold upon the Mountains. 1702 Elysium 131 There are no extreams of intollerable Cold, or vehement Heat, no eager North Blasts, nor Sultry Scorching Winds. 1832 J. P. Kennedy Swallow Barn I. xi. 109 Imparted an eager chilliness to the atmosphere. 1882 R. L. Stevenson New Arabian Nights II. 4 The eager air of the seaside. 1909 T. Gallon in T. Catling Press Album 83 A typical Christmas of the best sort, with snow upon the ground and a biting eager wind to keep it unmelted. 1979 S. Bellow in Arizona Daily Star 1 Apr. h1/1 Despite the sunshine the wind was stiff, the thermometer stood at 45 degrees, a nipping and an eager air. 1986 T. Paulin Liberty Tree 35 It's those journeys tholed under the salt stars, in the eager wind that starves sentries and students in their long coats. 5. Having a marked effect on the taste or other senses. †a. Pungent, acrid, keen; (of a medicine) sharp or violent in operation; (of a disease, pain, or sorrow) acute, severe. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > pungent sharpc1000 hotc1175 poignantc1387 keen1398 angryc1400 eager?c1400 tartc1405 argutec1420 mordicative?a1425 mordificative?a1425 piperinea1425 pungitive?a1425 pikea1475 vehement1490 oversharpa1500 over-stronga1500 penetrating?1576 penetrative1578 quick1578 piercing1593 exalted1594 mordicant1603 acute1620 toothed1628 pungent1644 piquant1645 tartarous1655 mordacious1657 piperate1683 peppery1684 tartish1712 hyperoxide1816 snell1835 mordanta1845 shrill1864 piperitious1890 the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > characteristics > [adjective] > violent or severe grimc900 strongeOE grievousc1290 burning1393 acutea1398 maliciousa1398 peracutea1398 sorea1400 wicked14.. malign?a1425 vehement?a1425 malignousc1475 angrya1500 cacoethe?1541 eager?1543 virulent1563 malignant1568 raging1590 roaring1590 furious1597 grassant1601 hearty1601 sharp1607 main1627 generous1632 perperacute1647 serious1655 ferine1666 bad1705 severe1725 unfavourable1782 grave1888 ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) i. pr. v. l. 610 A more myȝty and more egre [L. acrioris] medicine. a1425 (a1349) R. Rolle Meditations on Passion (Uppsala) (1917) 42 (MED) Þat sore and longe and egre payne þat þou suffredist for us. 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 156 A sorowe moche aygre and sharp. ?1543 T. Phaer tr. J. Goeurot Regiment of Lyfe ix. f. xlix Those dyseases are excedynge egre, sharpe, and almoste importable of peyne. 1574 T. Newton tr. G. Gratarolo Direct. Health Magistrates & Studentes 14 To mingle..sweete and toothsome with sower and eigre. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xix. v. 18 Of all this bulbous kind, the Sea-onyon Squilla is reputed chiefe..there is not any more ægre and biting than it. 1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets cxviii. sig. H^v To make our appetites more keene With eager compounds we our pallat vrge. View more context for this quotation 1691 E. Taylor in J. Behmen's Theosophick Philos. Answer 77 They generate a strong, stern, eager sting. 1780 tr. P. Sonnerat Acct. Voy. Spice-Islands 62 The fleshy outer covering [of the mace] has a sharp or eager taste, which..is eat with pleasure by the natives. b. Esp. of wine or beer: sour, acid, tart. In later use English regional (northern and Dorset) and (now only) Welsh English. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] sourc1000 sourish1398 acetosea1400 eagerc1405 acetous?a1425 crabbed1565 sharpish1589 unsugared1592 flatten1594 Amerine1601 acetosous1605 acerba1616 acid1626 acidulous1674 salso-acid1697 acescent1707 sugarless1785 acidulent1800 blink1883 brut1891 c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) §43 This Seed is egre and hoot. ?c1450 in Anglia (1896) 18 299 Eysyl or egyr wyn. a1475 Bk. Quinte Essence (1889) 4 Corrupt wiyn, þat is, rotyn,..but not egre. 1575 Art of Planting 39 The wylde and eager Cherry tree. 1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft xii. xiv. 249 A charme against vineager. That wine wax not eager, write on the vessell, [etc.]. 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. v. 69 It..turnes the thinne and wholesome blood Like eager dropings into milke. 1663 J. Beale Let. 23 Feb. in R. Boyle Corr. (2001) II. 67 Eager & wild apples & peares..yield a wyny & sprightfull liquor. a1718 T. Parnell Hermit (1751) 39 Bread of the coursest sort, with eager wine. 1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Brewing It was hard to brew Drink which would be fine before it was eager. 1764 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. I. (at Beer) Aigre Beer is used by callico-printers, chemists, lapidaries, scarlet-dyers, vinegar merchants, and white-lead men. 1775 London Evening Post 23 Dec. There was found in it only one quarter cask of eager Fial wine. 1862 C. C. Robinson Dial. Leeds & Neighbourhood 235 Aigre (pronounced Aager), sour. ‘Aager beer.’ 1886 W. Barnes Gloss. Dorset Dial. Eger, Eiger, sharp, sour as cider. 1982 B. G. Charles Eng. Dial. S. Pembrokeshire 7/1 Aiger, eager, yegger, sharp, sour. †6. Of a metal: imperfectly tempered, brittle. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > qualities of metals > [adjective] > type of imperfection eager1579 blown1872 cup-and-cone1881 cuppy1925 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 490 [The] iron coyne [of Sparta]..was so eager [Fr. aigre] and brittle by meanes of this temper, that they coulde no more conuert it to any other purpose. 1678 tr. M. Charas Royal Pharmacopœa iii. iii. lxxxv. 221 The substance of Bismuth is very hard, eager [Fr. aigre], and brittle. 1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iii. vi. 222 Gold..will be sometimes so eager..that it will as little endure the Hammer, as Glass it self. 1763 W. Lewis Commercium Philosophico-technicum 85 Iron or steel..render gold hard and eager. 1804 W. Nicholson tr. A.-F. de Fourcroy Gen. Syst. Chem. Knowl. VI. vi. xxi. 502 Arsenic renders it [sc. gold] eager, brittle, difficult to be filed. †7. a. Of a cutting instrument: sharp. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > sharpness of edge or point > [adjective] sharpc825 bitel?c1200 keena1225 carving?c1225 fellc1330 trenchantc1330 snarpc1480 cuttinga1533 tart?a1534 undullc1540 steel-sharpa1560 teen1578 unrebated1579 unbated1604 biting1607 eager?1611 unblunted1656 shrewd1878 cutty1903 ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads x. 150 The eager razor's edge [Gk. ἐπὶ ξυροῦ..ἀκμῆς]. b. technical. Of a tool: able to cut easily into the material. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1833 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal II. 139 [The tool represented in the figure] is what the artisan calls an eager tool, and is used for roughing the work; it has a..semicircular edge, so formed as to bite keenly. 1848 G. F. Duckett Technol. Mil. Dict. (rev. ed.) 325/1 Schrothaken,..an eager-tool, or tool for roughing work, used generally in turning metals. Compounds C1. a. Parasynthetic, as eager-eyed, eager-hearted; also adverbial, as eager-driven, eager-spoken. ΚΠ 1598 R. Cleaver Godly Form Househ. Gouernement 60 Though a man be eager minded toward his busines, yet by vain & idle company he shall be drawne away to other delights. 1604 S. Grahame Passionate Sparke sig. P4 Thy eager-harted ventring Subiects stands Wayting that Gallant warriours word. 1681 Grand Question Resolved xxxii. 14 What is the issue and event of such eager thirsting desires? 1742 J. Winstanley Poems 126 Thus crafty Chloe tunes her Voice, When eager set for Game. 1805 W. Wordsworth Incid. Favourite Dog 11 Every dog is eager-hearted. 1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 85 The carved angels, ever eager-eyed. 1876 W. Morris tr. Virgil Æneids xii. 364 The eager-driven spear [L. incita..hasta] Smote on his helm, and shore away the topmost of his crest. 1891 S. O. Jewett Native of Winby 150 A busy, unselfish, eager-minded creature. 1900 Atlantic Monthly Nov. 593/2 The world was much with the major, and he was nothing if not eager spoken. 1957 Sunday Times Signal (Zanesville, Ohio) 7 Apr. iii. 1/7 Eager-faced crowds turn out to hear in person the music which has so captured the nation's fancy. 2010 Internat. Herald Tribune (Nexis) 13 Feb. 2 The archetypal American waiter today is no longer the eager-eyed college student. b. Complementary, as eager-looking, eager-sounding. ΚΠ 1786 B. Hill Henry & Acasto 18 He silence broke And thus to eager-looking Henry spoke: [etc.]. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan II. 77 His eager-looking red eyes. 1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. xi. 237 It might be supposed that so eager-seeming a personality was unsuited to the publican's business. 1959 Times 12 Oct. 11/6 All this visiting and lecturing will be supported..by a steady output of eager-sounding booklets. 2007 Guardian (Nexis) 16 May 13 They are bright, shiny, eager-looking persons, mostly young. C2. † eager-dulce adj. [compare aigre-doux adj., agrodolce adj.] Obsolete acid and sweet.Only in Udall. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > sweet-sour eager-dulce1548 eager-sweet1600 sour-sweet1601 dulcacid1656 dulcoacid1657 dulcoamare1657 acidulcis1682 sweet and sourc1879 agrodolce1894 the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > sour or sweet eager-dulce1548 eager-sweet1600 sour-sweet1601 dulcoacid1657 dulcoamare1657 sweet and sourc1879 1548 N. Udall in N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Pref. f. v^v If wyth vinegre it be made eagredoulce. 1548 N. Udall in N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke Pref. f. 3 The eagredulce sauce of the paraphrase. eager-sweet adj. [originally after Middle French, French aigre-doux aigre-doux adj.] now rare †(a) acid and sweet (obsolete); (b) full of desire and sweetness. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > sweet-sour eager-dulce1548 eager-sweet1600 sour-sweet1601 dulcacid1656 dulcoacid1657 dulcoamare1657 acidulcis1682 sweet and sourc1879 agrodolce1894 the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > sour or sweet eager-dulce1548 eager-sweet1600 sour-sweet1601 dulcoacid1657 dulcoamare1657 sweet and sourc1879 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique iii. xlix. 536 As concerning Cyders..the eager sweete [Fr. les aigre-doux] are much better..then the harsh sweete. 1613 T. Lodge tr. Seneca Epist. lxiii, in tr. Seneca Wks. (1614) 267 Apples eager-sweet [L. suaviter aspera] are tastefull vnto vs. 1866 A. Webster Dramatic Stud. 53 No, though thy voice Were thrice and thrice as eager-sweet. 1948 D. F. Bailey Devil make Third xii. 118 He let his hands drift down her body until they touched her hips and felt the slow welcome heaviness drag into his loins as she moved closer with a half-frightened, eager-sweet quickening. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022). eagerv. Brit. /ˈiːɡə/, U.S. /ˈiɡər/ Forms: Middle English eger (in a late copy), Middle English egre, 1500s–1800s eager. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion; perhaps modelled on a French lexical item. Etymon: eager adj. Etymology: < eager adj., perhaps after Anglo-Norman egrir, Middle French aigrir (French aigrir ) to embitter (a person) (13th cent. or earlier in Old French), to vex, irritate (a person) (late 15th cent.) and Middle French aigrier to vex, irritate (a person), to incite (a person or animal, especially a horse) (both 12th cent. in Old French). Compare eneager v. †1. transitive. To excite, irritate, provoke, incite. Also: (reflexive) to become exasperated. Obsolete.In quot. 1581: to irritate physically. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > anger > irritation > become irritated or lose patience [verb (reflexive)] eager?a1400 impatient1813 the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate stirc897 putOE sputc1175 prokec1225 prickc1230 commovec1374 baitc1378 stingc1386 movea1398 eager?a1400 pokec1400 provokea1425 tollc1440 cheera1450 irritec1450 encourage1483 incite1483 harden1487 attice1490 pricklea1522 to set on1523 incense1531 irritate1531 animate1532 tickle1532 stomach1541 instigate1542 concitea1555 upsteer1558 urge1565 instimulate1570 whip1573 goad1579 raise1581 to set upa1586 to call ona1592 incitate1597 indarec1599 alarm1602 exstimulate1603 to put on1604 feeze1610 impulse1611 fomentate1613 emovec1614 animalize1617 stimulate1619 spura1644 trinkle1685 cite1718 to put up1812 prod1832 to jack up1914 goose1934 the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disordered sensation > cause disordered sensation [verb (transitive)] > irritate eager1581 irritate1674 ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 9957 Arthure..þam egred so with sawe for schame þat non mot þam withdrawe. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. vi. l. 4060 Þe nature of som man is so..vncouenable þat..pouerte..myȝt[e] raþer egren [L. exacerbare] hym to done felonies. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 113 He angurt hym full euyll & egerd hym with. 1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xvii. 76 They that be gawled or byled within, may neither runne nor wrastle. For eagering the inward. 1685 P. Fowke tr. Phocion in J. Dryden tr. Plutarch Lives IV. 363 Afflictions and publick Calamities naturally eagering and sowring the Minds and Manners of men. 1747 W. Stith Hist. Virginia Pref. p. iv His Mind was somewhat eagered by the Neglects shewn him. 1887 T. Darlington Folk-speech S. Cheshire 178 Eager on, to incite, hark on. Less common form of Egg on. 2. intransitive. To have a strong wish or desire for something; to feel or show eagerness or excitement. Usually with after, for, or infinitive. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > be willing [verb (intransitive)] > be eager tickle1542 to leap ata1616 to leap to be or do (something)a1616 to be on for1847 eager1860 1860 Extracts Fathers, Historians, & Other Writers of Church 5 The people eagered after the name of king. 1911 Rudder Sept. 97/2 Instead of shrinking from the unfamiliar he eagers to close with it. 1951 J. Kerouac On the Road: Orig. Scroll (2007) 242 Suddenly I saw him eagering on the flying bridge. 1970 tr. M. Stelmakh in Stories of Soviet Ukraine 196 A wave of insane hope caught me up and carried me off into the deep end one both fears and eagers for. 2002 M. F. Harris Distant Place 198 After entering college, I eagered to have a part-time job. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.?a1300v.?a1400
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eageradj.

Compounds

eagerv.