Etymology From Middle English tiren, tirien, teorien, from Old English tȳrian, tēorian (“to fail, cease, become weary, be tired, exhausted; tire, weary, exhaust”), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *teuʀōn (“to cease”), which is possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dews- (“to fail, be behind, lag”). Compare Ancient Greek δεύομαι (deúomai, “to lack”), Sanskrit दोष (dóṣa, “crime, fault, vice, deficiency”).
1
To become sleepy or weary.
As Moldova understandably tired after a night of ball chasing, Everton left-back Baines scored his first international goal as his deflected free-kick totally wrong-footed Namasco.2012 September 7, Phil McNulty, “Moldova 0-5 England”, in BBC Sport:
Ne spared they to strip her naked all. / Then when they had despoild her tire and call, / Such as she was, their eyes might her behold.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
men like apes follow the fashions in tires, gestures, actions: if the king laugh, all laugh […]., New York Review of Books 2001, p.66
6
A covering for the head; a headdress.
And on her head she wore a tyre of gold,1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 144:
In posture to displode their second tire / Of thunder.1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
tire
verb
Etymology From Middle English tire, from Old French tirer (“to draw or pull”), akin to English tear (“to rend”).
1
Obsolete To seize, pull, and tear prey, as a hawk does.
Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast, / Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh, and bone.1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC:
I grieve myself / To think, when thou shalt be disedged by her / That now thou tirest on, how thy memory / Will then be pang'd by me.1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], lines 94–97:
1 more example
Ye dregs of baseness, vultures amongst men, / That tire upon the hearts of generous spirits.1612–1613, Nathan Field, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Honest Mans Fortune”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act II, scene v:
2
Obsolete To seize, rend, or tear something as prey; to be fixed upon, or engaged with, anything.
and now doth gaſtly death With greedie talients gripe my bleeding hart, And like a Harpye tires on my life.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vii:
Thus made she her remove, / And left wrath tyring on her son.1616, George Chapman, Iliad:
1 more example
Upon that were my thoughts tiring.c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):