Middle English Dictionary Entry
frēme n.
Entry Info
| Forms | frēme n. Also vreme, freame, freome. |
| Etymology | OE fremu. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. fremmen.
1.
Benefit, profit, advantage; don ~, to do good to (someone).
Associated quotations
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)38/216 : Ðuss hire is Marthen geswyncfulle lif eall ætbroigden, and to hire freome.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)2/38 : Þeo he ær freome dude.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)195 : Ðe man..erneð after his soule freme.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)674 : He deð him selua freoma þa helpeð his freondene.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)47/30 : Non ne mai bien wiðhealden te none freme ne te none gode.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)34a : Þu dest me freame [Cleo: freome; Nero: god], & hearmest te seoluen.
- (1258) Procl.Hen.III in PST (1881)173* : Vre redesmen..habben idon..for þe fr[e]me of the loand.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)94 : Grat ureme þer comþ his uor to habbe, blisse, worþssipe, and lyf eurelestinde.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)117 : We wylleþ wel þet we by yuonded, vor hit is oure ureme ine uele maneres.