Middle English Dictionary Entry

dẹ̄men v.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms dẹ̄men v. Also (rarely) deamen, di(e)men. Forms: p. dẹ̄mde, dẹ̄mede, dempte; ppl. i)dẹ̄med, dempt.
Etymology OE dēman

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) Law To pass judgment on (sb. or sth.); judge, adjudicate; (b) to render judgment, judge; -- with prep. phr.; (c) ~ dom, to pass judgment, render a verdict, impose a sentence; also, sit in judgment, hold court.
Show 17 Quotations
2.
(a) To judge (sb., sth.) adversely; criticize, censure, condemn; (b) to be critical or censorious, find fault.
Show 14 Quotations
3.
(a) To sentence (sb.), impose a penalty upon; condemn to death; doom (sb.); (b) ~ to dethe (bale), to sentence (sb.) to death (torture); ~ to mendes, sentence to make amends; ~ to dien (hongen), sentence to die (hang); etc.; (c) to impose or inflict (punishment on sb.); (d) fig. to condemn (sb.).
Show 23 Quotations
4a.
(a) To act as judge or arbiter; ~ after right, ~ truli, render fair judgment; (b) ~ dom, ~ right, to pronounce judgment, arbitrate; ~ laue, administer the law; (c) to judge (a contest); (d) to judge (contestants); try (sb.).
Show 18 Quotations
4b.
To rule (a people) under the law of the land.
Show 3 Quotations
5.
To decide or agree (that sth. be done); also, render a decision, arbitrate.
Show 8 Quotations
6.
Theol. Of Jesus: (a) to judge (mankind on Judgment Day); (b) to condemn or damn (sb.); ~ to helle; -- with to phr. or inf. phr.; (c) of God: to pass judgment upon (sb. or sth.), judge.
Show 23 Quotations
7a.
(a) To give an order or directions; order, direct; ~ decre; also, give permission [quot.Pearl]; (b) to order (that sth. be done), decree; order or ask (sb. to do sth.); (c) to request or suggest (sth.); pray (to God); (d) to advise (sb.).
Show 17 Quotations
7b.
To agree or consent (to do sth.).
Show 2 Quotations
8.
Of God or destiny: (a) to ordain; ordain (sth.); ordain (sth. for sb.); (b) to destine (sb.).
Show 10 Quotations
9.
(a) To prescribe or impose (a penalty); (b) to allot or assign (sth.); also, make an award (to sb.); (c) to prescribe (a treatment).
Show 11 Quotations
10.
(a) To form a judgment or opinion, exercise one's judgment, judge; ~ wel, judge properly; ~ the best; ~ kueadliche, to seem bad (to sb.); ~ of, make an inference from (sth.); (b) to judge (sth.), estimate; infer (sth.); also, criticize, censure.
Show 24 Quotations
11.
(a) To hold an opinion, assume, think; (b) to suppose or assume (sth.); presume, suspect, expect; think, believe, deem; (c) to expect or wish (sth.).
Show 23 Quotations
12.
To regard (sth. as good, as a sin, etc.); deem (sb. lost, etc.); -- (a) with adj. complement or for phr.; (b) with noun compl. or with as, for phr.; (c) with compl. inf.
Show 25 Quotations
13.
(a) To express an opinion about something, argue; say, tell, relate, or describe (sth.); ~ with, argue with (sb.); to ~ the soth, to tell the truth; (b) to give a name to (sth.).
Show 18 Quotations
14.
(a) To perceive (sth.); (b) to discern, conceive, or know (sth.); discriminate or distinguish (between things); resolve (a doubt); (c) to interpret (sth.); determine (meaning); conclude (sth.); (d) to think about (sth.), imagine.
Show 19 Quotations
15.
Ppl. Indicative, symptomatic.
Show 1 Quotation

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1400 Hit resteþ (Hrl 7322)2 : Hit [poverty] resteþ and hit quemeþ, hit richeþ and hit demeþ.
    • Note: New sense: to test a person's virtue or fortitude, strengthen a person by trial.--per KC

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.31ra (2.3) : Þe pouce is more certeyn to deme of in þe lefte wirste þan in þe riȝt wirste.
Note: ?New sense. Editor's gloss: ~ of 'to make a judgment about, to interpret'.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Correction: In sense 3.(b) in the phrase ~ to dethe, the entry form is deth (without final -e). The Cursor quot. has ded. If we maintain ded as a separate entry from deth, shouldn't the phrase ~ to ded be added?--per MJW
Note: Correction: in sense 11.(c), the gloss does not reflect the syntax. In both quots., the direct object of demen is an infinitive or an infinitive phrase: "demen to have victorie" and "demen himself to lij Bi ysaac," not a noun or pronoun, as (sth.) implies.--per MJW

©2025 Regents of the University of Michigan. For details about this collection's copyright see the MEC copyright statement and the U-M Library Copyright Policy. Data last refreshed Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 12:18:00.