dere adj.

2022-08-24 dere

TR4.680 Bǔt ás měn séen ǐn tówne ǎnd ál ǎbóutě
TR4.681 Thǎt wómměn úsěn frénděs tó vǐsítě,
TR4.682 Sǒ tó Crǐséyde ǒf wómměn cóm ǎ róutě,
TR4.683 Fǒr pítǒus jóie, ǎnd wénděn híre dělítě;
TR4.684 Ǎnd wíth hǐre tálěs, déere y̌nóugh ǎ mýtě,
TR4.685 Thǐse wómměn, whích thǎt ín thě cítě dwélle,
TR4.686 Thěy sétte hěm dówn ǎnd séyde ǎs Í shǎll téllě.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): But, as can be seen in town and all around, women make a habit of visiting their friends, and so a crowd of women came to Criseyde out of well-meaning happiness, thinking to please her. And with their tales, not worth much at all, these women who lived in the city sat themselves down and spoke as I shall relate:
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 町や至る所でよく見られることだが、女性たちは友だちのもとをよく訪問する。そういうことでクリセイデのところに女性の一行がやって来て、善意によって思いやる嬉しさから、彼女を喜ばせようと考えた。彼女たちのおしゃべりは少しも値打ちがないけれど、この町に住んでいるこの女性たちは、腰を下ろして、次のように言い出した。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 正是人们常常见到妇女爱互相拜会，因此克丽西德家中也来了一群女客，坐下就信口开河，由哀怜中寻求欢兴，以为可以安慰她。一人说道，

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Narrator
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 4.80
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: small sum (mite)
Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: (Quoted) 3. (d) in proverbs and proverbial expressions (s.v. dẹ̄re, adj.(1))

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 226): deere ynough a myte: expensive enough at the cost of a myte
Fisher (1989: 487): dere ynowh a myte: i.e., too costly
Benson (1987: 547): deere ynough a myte: expensive enough at the cost of a myte, a small Flemish coin (i.e., worthless)
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975: 899): dere … mite: worth no more than a mite
Baugh (1963: 165): deere ynough a myte: dear enough at a mite

Possible Definitions

costly, expensive

Comments from the Editor

Hearing the news of the exchange, some women come to Criseyde’s place and endeavor to comfort her. Somehow, the description in this scene discriminates against women.