yeveryadj.

Brit.

/ˈjɛv(ə)ri/, U.S.

/ˈjɛv(ə)ri/, Scottish English

/ˈjɛv(ə)rɪ/

Forms: Scottish pre-1700 ȝevery, 1700s aevery, 1800s eevery, 1800s evrie, 1800s yevery, 1800s yevri, 1800s–1900s aiverie, 1800s–1900s every, 1800s– yivvery Scottish English

/ˈjɪvəri/, 1900s– yivverie; English regional (Northumberland) 1800s yeovery, 1800s yuvvery.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: yever adj., -y suffix¹.

Etymology: < yever adj. + -y suffix¹. Compare earlier yeverous adj.With yevrisome adj. at Derivatives compare English regional (northern) giversome greedy, gluttonous, covetous (1869 or earlier: see discussion at yever adj.).

Scottish and English regional (Northumberland). Now rare.

1. Very hungry; ravenous.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > greedy or voracious

yevereOE

greedy971

reavingOE

fretewil?c1225

ravissantc1300

ravishingc1350

ravenous?1387

raveningc1390

ravisablea1425

eating1483

yeverous1483

savourousa1492

yevery1531

vorax1535

gluttonisha1586

falconish1587

ravin1615

vulturous1623

ravened1627

gorb?1635

esurine1687

voracious1693

gastrolatrous1694

tigerantica1704

gutsy1803

bulimious1816

polyphagian1825

yevrisome1825

edacious1829

polyphagous1837

tigerocious1874

bulimic1886

hyperphagic1943

1531 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Chron. Scotl. (1941) II. xii. vii. 160 Vtheris, quhilkis wer moir ȝevery and tvme.

?1775 (a1600) Dick o Cow (Percy) xxv, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1889) III. vi. 465/1 The lads, that hungry and aevery was.

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Aiverie, very hungry..; a term nearly obsolete.

1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words II Yeovery, hungry. Northumb.

1923 G. Watson Roxburghshire Word-bk. Aiverie..Very hungry.

1931 W. Williams in Sc. National Dict. I. 43/1 The cat hasna seen maet for a week. It's a peer yivverie cratur.

2. Greedy; eager, anxious.

ΘΚΠ

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

1896 G. Williams in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1898) I. 34/2 Aiverie is a very well known word meaning not very hungry, but eager to get at food, &c. They are a' yevery to be fed. Dinna eat sae yivvery like [greedily].

1929 H. Marwick Orkney Norn (at cited word) Yivvery, desirous of, yearning, anxious for.

1999 J. Robertson tr. D. Bochanan Day O Judgement 15 He hauds a thoosan thunners ready Tae connach an destroy his faes, Trummlin an yivvery in his grup.

Derivatives

† yevrisome adj. Obsolete permanently hungry; having a ravenous appetite. Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this word as still in use in Kirkcudbrightshire in 1900.

ΘΚΠ