Middle English Dictionary Entry

samnen v.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. somnen v.
1.
(a) To gather together, meet, assemble; ppl. samned, assembled; (b) to assemble (people, an army, animals, ships), gather, collect; (c) refl. to gather, assemble; (d) to bring (people, God and man) together, unite; ~ to, unite (soul) with (Christ); (e) of an animal: to copulate with (another animal); ~ with, of a person: have sexual intercourse with (sb.); consort with (sb.).
2.
(a) To collect (sth.), amass (treasure); ~ of, fill (a room) with (furniture, etc.); (b) to construct (sth.); join (sth.), fasten; (c) to reckon (numbers) by addition or multiplication; add (one number to another); (d) of lines: to come together, join; (e) to give rise to (sth.), produce.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3757 : He wollde sammnenn An flocc off menn till Crisstenndom & till þe rihhte læfe.
  • Note: Closest to sense 1.(b) & (d) but no ~ til sense in gloss of either. The prep. seems to be similar to 1.(d) ~ to, unite (sb.) with (God) - perh. here unite (flock of men) with (Christendom and right belief).--per MJW