Middle English Dictionary Entry
frāmen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | frāmen v.(1) Also framien, freamien, frem(i)en, freomen. |
| Etymology | OE fremian, framian, -ode. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. frame, n. (1)
1.
To benefit or profit (someone); to do good to (someone); to strengthen or comfort (someone) spiritually; it frames litel, it profits little, is of no avail.
Associated quotations
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)44/32 : He bið gastlice ifremed.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)86/34 : Wilnung is þam men iȝefæn to wilniȝenne þa þing þe him fremiæð.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)132/25 : Hwæt fremæþ þam men, þeah he [etc.].
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)134/16 : Hwæt fræmeð þe þat þin cyst stonde ful of gode.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)40/422 : Ah þet eauer godd isið, þet ham wule freamien.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)42/439 : Þet tu understonde, hu lutel hit freameð ham.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2367 : He..firstede hire & fremede, þe hwile þæt ha buhe hire.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)34b : He hearmeð him & freameð [Tit: frames] þe.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)77a : Ȝef þu hauest..ei oþer þing þet ham walde freamien [vr. ureomien].
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)176 : Him to fremen and do frame, He made on werlde al erue tame.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11112 : Of þer childre hit seis þe names; To nemne hem here, litel hit frames.
2.
To refresh (someone with food or drink).
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1245 : Ghe gan fremen ysmael Wið watres drinc and bredes mel.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1642 : Oc at set time he sulden samen ðor [i.e. at the well] hem-self & here orf framen.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3146 : Ilc folc is to fode framen.