Middle English Dictionary Entry
entāmen v.
Entry Info
Forms | entāmen v. Also (?error) untame, (error) untayne. |
Etymology | OF entamer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. attamen.
1.
(a) To wound or injure, lay open (the flesh, bone, etc.); to aggravate (a wound) [last quot.; ?possibly to be construed as 'to excite' as if from tamen v.(1)]; to do injury or violence (to one's conscience); fig. to touch or open (a wound anew); (b) entamen neue, re-open or resume (a discussion).
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3699 : Ac þe helm was so hard y-wroȝt þat he miȝt entamy him noȝt.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.709 : Thou thi conscience Entamed hast.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1160 : Þay ware fayne þat þey fande no flesche entamede.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2203 : The riche kynge..Cleues hym with Collbrande clenlyche in sondyre..And at the bake of the blonke þe bewelles entamede.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12387 : Þe swerd..entamed boþe his bryn Þat al þe skyn heng ouer hys eyn.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)79 : Lat not my foo no more my wounde entame.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)p.225 : Pro rancore vel tumore vulnerum..ȝyf þe bon [is] entamed [etc.].
- c1450 Chaucer ABC (Cmb Ff.5.30)79 : Now queen of comfort [Mary], sithe þou art þat same To whom j seeche for my medicyne, Lat not my foo no more my wounde vntame [vrr. vntaame, vntayne; Riverside: entame]; Myn hele in to þin hand al j resyne.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3482 : Tho was here tale newe entamed.