Middle English Dictionary Entry
dimmen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | dimmen v. Also demmen. P.ppl. i)dimmed. |
| Etymology | OE dimmian |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To become less light, grow dark; to lose brightness or luster, fade; (b) to dim or darken (sth.), make less bright; (c) fig. to dull (a cause), obscure (prowess); (d) to cast (sb.) into darkness.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)196a/a : Firste bryȝtnesse dymmeþ som & som and bycomeþ as it were rustye.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23695 : Mani flurs..Þat neuermar sal dime ne duine.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)31.74 : And whanne..that the Sonne hadde lost his lyht, It wax to dymmen & to becomen to Nyht.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)531 : Doust drof vpon lofte; dymedyn alle aboute.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6016 : The day was done, dymmet the skyes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)561 : Þan slike a dreknes [read: derknes] þar drafe, & demyd þe skewys.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.411 : He was i-late blood þat dymmede [L obnubilavit] þe sonne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)201a/a : Stones..ben y dymmed wiþ þair owne þikkenes.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.3.3 : The sterre, ydymmed, paleth hir white cheeres by the flambes of the sonne.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)18346 : The dowst so thykke was..that hit dymmed the Eyr.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)55/11 : Phebus þe sonne..muste..þan dymmen and durken owre Emysperie bi absence of his liȝt.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9636 : That day was full derke, dymmyt with cloudes.
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)580 : Dew diskid adoun and dymmyd the floures.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.173 : Dethe..schulde haue..ydymmed with his sodeyn schoures The gret prowes of thise conquerouris.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1984 : Þe cause was dymmed wiþ dirknesse.
d
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)104.26 : He sent merkenesses, and dimmed [L obscuravit] þa.
2.
(a) Of the eyes, sight: to become dim; (b) to obscure the vision of (eyes), dim (the sight).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)1/17 : Him deaueþ þa æren, him dimmeþ [þa] eiȝen.
- ?c1335 Loke to þi louerd (Hrl 913)7 : His fair lere falowiþ and dimmiþ is siȝte.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.200 : Whon he drouh to þe dore, þen dimmede his eiȝen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)297b/b : Þe lusard..lotieþ in wynter in dennes and chynnes and his sighte dymmeþ.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)149b/b : Here siȝt is I dymmed.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)302a/a : Hire yhen be dymmed.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)68.28 : Dimmed be þair eghen, þat þai ne se.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.29vb (2.3) : In reume þe humores ar desturbede and þe spiritz ar enfecte, i. dymhede and dulhede & al dismaihede, and so þe vryn takeþ a maner of blohede.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.35va (2.3) : By cause of swyche poyntes ar oþerwhile þe spirites and þe kynd hete dirked & dymhede & enfecte & feblisschede, and so is blohede in vryn oþerwhile causede.
Note: Additional quots. New spelling (p. ppl.): dymhede. Editor's gloss dymhede, v. pa. ppl. 'dimmed, darkened (influenced by spelling of abstract noun dymhede)'.