Middle English Dictionary Entry
āme n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | āme n.(1) Also aime, aume. |
| Etymology | OF aesme & esme |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. amen.
1.
(a) Evaluation, guess, opinion; bi ~ of hand, by guess; (b) plan, intention.
Associated quotations
a
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7088 : Ector, be ame of his speche, Knew hym for his cousyn.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2965 : Þis sandisman..Is Alexander him awen self, or all myn ame faillis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2987 : Bot Alexander, at myn ame [Dub: ayme], þaire aȝe is a-schapid.
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.400 : That his weyghtes be sised & sealed and true beme, and þat he sell by no hernes, nor by ayme of hande.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2484 : Riȝt as Sexis was slayn..So ettild ȝe ser Alexander, bot þare ȝoure ame [Dub: kast] failes.
- c1450 Page SRouen (BodeMus 124)p.62 : Theroff had owre kynge an awme..To the Erle..[he] rade And ther he ordeyned hys devyse.
2.
(a) An aim or purpose; (b) maken ~, take aim.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)128 : Schomely to schort he schote of his ame.
b
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)25425 : Kyng Boors made awme ageyn his qwarter..and tornede his strok vnto his hed thanne.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)5959 : To cleue his heid the king made ame.