Middle English Dictionary Entry
fōmen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | fōmen v. Also famen. |
| Etymology | OE fāmgian, -ode. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. femen.
1.
To foam at the mouth, to slaver; ~ at mouth; ?to give off dross or refuse [quot.Medulla].
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)82a/a : De Epilencia vt de morbo caduco. He fel doun to þe erþe fomeinge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)278a/b : His tonge hongeþ oute & his mouþ dryueleþ and fomeþ.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2541 : Þis Achilles, like as he were wood, Armed hym, fomynge as a boor.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2440 : Myn hors..Fomyng ful whit on euery side.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mark 9.17 : He fometh [WB(1): frothith] and betith togidir with teeth and wexith drye.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)62a/a : Spumo: to fome or scome.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.50/10 : At the laste, fomynge at the moweth, aftyr many sighyngis, a litill she toke breith.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)780 : A blake bustous bere..wyth fomaunde lyppez.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)99/33 : Whan þe deuyl took hym, þe man..fomyd out at his mowth.
2.
Of blood: to gush or spurt forth; to flood or cover (with blood); fomen of blod.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)1628 : Als Ihesus þare bi-for þam stode, ffra heued to fote all famed of blode.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)87b/a : Blood comeþ..many tyme fro þe longen and þanne þe blood fomeþ wiþ kouȝe & trauaile and ache in þe riȝt pappe.
- c1410 Medit.SSelf (UC 97)442 : It ne fomede ful of þi precious blode.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)571 : Þe blode fomed hem fro in þe flasches aboute.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2233 : Thus he..Fighttez with Florennt..Till þe fomande blode till his fyste rynnes.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)959 : The bore..bygan tothes to wette..Til hys mouthe famed of blode.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2974 : With þat he brochis his blonke þat þe blode fames.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)361 : He bote hymself with his byll þat alle his breste bledde, And all his feyre federes fomede vpon blode.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3441 : Syr lucan..Lay dede and fomyd in the blode.
3.
(a) To become foamy, to foam or froth; (b) to cause (a liquid) to froth, to turn (something) into foam.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)159a/a : For liȝtnesse of air þat is so yclosid, water fomeþ and þe fome fleteþ aboue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)156b/b : Þe see is..alweie mevyng and sounyng and fomyng.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jude 2.13 : Wawis of the woode see fomynge [WB(1): frothinge] out her confusiouns.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)60/11 : Þe fomynge wawes of the adiacente see were stowndemele enhawsed so hiȝe [etc.].
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)158b/b : Some hatte spuma and hath þat name for it is yfomed [L spumatur] oþer yskemede, as ysider seith.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450(a1400) Titus & V.(Add 36523)2101 : We hym [Christ] bounde To a peler of marbell rounde Þere we hym beten and hyrte With longe scourges and with smerte Tyl þat he fomede all on blode.
Note: New sense