Middle English Dictionary Entry
fermen v.(3)
Entry Info
| Forms | fermen v.(3) Also firmen. |
| Etymology | OF fermer & L firmāre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To bind (something) fast; to make firm, strengthen; to set bounds to (something), restrain; (b) to confirm or establish (love, friendship); confirm (someone in love, faith, loyalty, etc.); ~ in beleve (feith); (c) to confirm (a statement, a doctrine).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.5.63 : Thow governour..fastne and ferme [L firma] thise erthes stable with thilke boond by which thou governest the hevene that is so large.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)26a/b : If ouer þat þat þe boilyng & putrefaccioun be firmed [L finiatur], it is cause of cancrene & of estiomeni.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)55a/b : Suture seruatyue..is not made bot for to mayntene þe lippez vnto þe wounde be fermed [*Ch.(2): made fast] or sadde.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)117b/a : And ete he cheches & ribes to þat þat þe inward þinges be fermed [*Ch.(2): strengþede].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)13a/b : Fermynge [*Ch.(1): festenyng; L firmans] & susteynynge alle the forsaide boones.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1369 : And þat he fiches & firmes [Dub: feghys & fermes] sa fast to þe wall.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2113 : & cussede isame an haste, To fermye loue bytwene hem two.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9888 : God ȝyue vs grace..yn þe beleue to ferme vs ryȝt.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)92 : Þat is tokyn of a gret hert and an old þat is assuryde and wel fermyd [OF affermé] in his rutte.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.74 : Þat folke is nouȝte fermed in þe feith.
- (1433) RParl.4.423a : And ye hertis of ye peple yer noght so fermid, stablisshid and assurid in affection, love and trouth to ye Kyng.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)15507 : Wyues þey toke, þer loues to ferme.
c
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2615 : Yf eny of hem sey a thing, they cry all attonys, And ferm it for a soth.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)48 : Sir Nicol pope..haþ fermid to me þe bred and wyne, þat are putt in þe auter, to be..verrey body and blod of our Lord.