Middle English Dictionary Entry
femen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | femen v. Also vemen. |
| Etymology | OE fǣman, ā-fǣman. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. fomen.
1.
To foam at the mouth; to rage; ~ at mouth.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)671 : Þe reue..set te balefule beast..þet grunde his tuskes ant fen on to feamin ant gristbeatien grisliche up o þis meoke meiden.
- c1300 S.Leg.Faith(1) (LdMisc 108)36 : Þe Iustise bi-heold þat Maide..he grennede and femde touward hire riȝht ase he wod were.
- c1300 SLeg.Geo.(1) (LdMisc 108)56 : Þo Dacian iheorde þis, he grennede and femde faste.
- c1300 SLeg.MPChr.(LdMisc 108)223 : It wolde..grenny with is teth and feme.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4233 : He vemde & grunte & stod aȝen as it were a strong bor.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1572 : Þe froþe femed at his [the boar's] mouth vnfayre bi þe wykez.
2.
To flow or gush forth; to be flooded or covered (with blood).
Associated quotations
- c1390(a1325) Ipotis (Vrn)444 : Cristes bodi, þer hit stod, I-femed al in his oune blod.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7261 : He choppit to Achilles with a chere felle..þat the fas in the fell hast femyt on blode.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8043 : Hir faire fyngurs with forse femyt of blode.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1133 : With þat þe femand flode flasshed in hys eghen.