• Gree

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /ɡɹiː/

    Origin 1

    From Old French gré, from Latin gradum ("step"). Compare degree, grade.

    Full definition of gree

    Noun

    gree

    (plural grees)
    1. (obsolete) One of a flight of steps.
      • 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Chapter 5:"My grand-daughter doesn't like to be kept waitin' when the tea is ready, for it takes me time to crammle aboon the grees, for there be a many of 'em, and miss, I lack belly-timber sairly by the clock."
    2. (obsolete) A stage in a process; a degree of rank or station.
      • SpenserHe is a shepherd great in gree.
    3. (now Scotland) Pre-eminence; victory or superiority in combat (hence also, the prize for winning a combat).
      • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book X:bycause Sir Palomydes beganne fyrste, and never he wente nor rode oute of the fylde to repose hym, but ever he was doynge on horsebak othir on foote, and lengest durynge, Kynge Arthure and all the kynges gaff Sir Palomydes the honoure and the gre as for that day.
    4. (geometry, obsolete) A degree.

    Origin 2

    From (pre-reform) Scottish Gaelic gré, from Old Scottish Gaelic gray.

    Noun

    1. (now Scotland) Pre-eminence; victory or superiority in combat (hence also, the prize for winning a combat).
      • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book X:bycause Sir Palomydes beganne fyrste, and never he wente nor rode oute of the fylde to repose hym, but ever he was doynge on horsebak othir on foote, and lengest durynge, Kynge Arthure and all the kynges gaff Sir Palomydes the honoure and the gre as for that day.

    Origin 3

    From Old French gré ("pleasure, goodwill"), from Latin gratum, a noun use of the neuter of gratus ("pleasing").

    Noun

    gree

    (plural grees)
    1. (archaic) Pleasure, goodwill, satisfaction.
      • Late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale:And notified is þurȝout þe toun
        Þat every wiȝt, wiþ greet devocioun,
        Sholde preyen Crist þat he þis mariage
        Recyve in gree and spede þis viage.
      • FairfaxAccept in gree, my lord, the words I spoke.
      • 1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night. vol. 1:When it was the Second Night, said Dunyazad to her sister Shahrazad, "O my sister, finish for us that story of the Merchant and the Jinni;" and she answered "With joy and goodly gree, if the King permit me."

    Origin 4

    Verb

    1. (obsolete) To agree.
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