Meanings
teare1
plural teares
- obsoleteObsolete spelling of tear.
Pray, madam, pray: From those faire eyes one penetentiall teare Would force whole legions of heavens brightest Sa[ints] If they have power to intercede for earth To beg for mercy for you.
1882-89, Various, A Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. II1 more example
Emongst the rest a gentle nymph was found, Hight Astery, excelling all the crewe In curteous usage and unstained hewe. 120 Who, being nimbler ioynted than the rest, And more industrious, gathered more store Of the fields honour than the others best; Which they in secret harts envying sore, Tolde Venus, when her as the worthiest 125 She praisd', that Cupide (as they heard before) Did lend her secret aide in gathering Into her lap the children of the Spring, Whereof the goddesse gathering iealous feare,-- Not yet unmindfull how not long agoe 130 Her sonne to Psyche secrete love did beare, And long it close conceal'd, till mickle woe Thereof arose, and manie a rufull teare,-- Reason with sudden rage did overgoe; And, giving hastie credit to th'accuser, 135 Was led away of them that did abuse her.
1591, Edmund Spenser, The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5
- obsoleteObsolete spelling of tear.
These bloudy hands shall teare his triple Crowne, And fire accursed Rome about his eares.
1594, Christopher Marlowe, Massacre at Paris1 more example
Then am I enjoyned, therewith to open her accursed body, and teare out her hard and frozen heart, with her other inwards, as now thou seest me doe, which I give unto my Hounds to feede on.
1913, Edward Hutton, Ravenna, A Study
Teare2
Origin
Reduced form of McIntyre.
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
teare. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/teare
“teare.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/teare. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “teare,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/teare.
Source: teare on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.