gre

Noun (1)

gree (plural grees)

1. (obsolete) One of a flight of steps.
   • "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."1897, Bram Stoker, chapter 5, in Dracula
2. (obsolete) A stage in a process; a degree of rank or station.
   • He is a shepherd great in gree.1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “Iuly. Ægloga Septima.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Iohn Wolfe for Iohn Harrison the yonger, […], →OCLC
3. (obsolete) A degree.

Noun (2)

gree (countable and uncountable, plural grees)

1. (Scotland) Pre-eminence; victory or superiority in combat (hence also, the prize for winning a combat).
   • 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.1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book X

Noun (3)

gree (uncountable)

1. (archaic) Pleasure, goodwill, satisfaction.
   • Accept in gree, my lord, the words I spoke.1600, [Torquato Tasso], “(please specify |book=1 to 20)”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield...

See all 6 meanings of gree