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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Engreve, Engreif, v. Also: engrewe, engreiff, -grefe. [ME. engreve (c 1400), OF. engrever.]

1. tr. To do hurt or harm to (one); to injure. 1375 Barb. xiii. 210 (E).
The Scottis archeris … Schot amang thaim sa deliuerly, Engrewand [C. ingrevand] thaim sa gretumly Ib. xx. 200.
For it, he said, mycht nocht releve, And mycht thaim rycht gretly engreve [C. engreif] 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccx.
The party feland him engrefit sal ask the thingis to be refourmit and amendit at the tothir c1420 Ratis R. 1334.
Quha thaim engrevys, in ony thinge, He dois to bounte defowlinge 1513 Doug. x. xii. 68.
Nane of all the huntmen thar present Hym to engreif has strenth or hardyment 15.. Clar. ii. 1811.
He hes ane false and feindlie fact conspyrit … Quhilk tham engreifit oft in grit maneir

b. absol. To do hurt or harm. 1375 Barb. xi. 504.
Thame thoucht that na myscheif mycht be … that suld swa engreiff, That na hys vorschip suld thame releif c1420 Wynt. viii. 5302.
[He] that most engrewyt there, Suld have the grettast prys, wyth thi That he engrewyt honestly a1500 Rauf C. 617.
Lat him in glaidly, it may not engreif

2. tr. To annoy. Also absol., to be annoyed. a1500 Rauf C. 601.
He saw the King was engreuit, and gat furth glaid a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 975.
All engreuit the grome, with ane bright brand, And delt thairwith doughtely mony derf dynt 1513 Doug. x. xiii. 19.
Bot pryncipaly Mezentyus all engrevyt … Went brangland throu the feild