Middle English Dictionary Entry
frēmen, -ien v.
Entry Info
| Forms | frēmen, -ien v. Also freamen, vreomien. |
| Etymology | OE fremian, freomian; fremode. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. fremmen.
1.
(a) To help (someone), to aid, advance, benefit, be profitable to, do good to; (b) to strengthen (someone); (c) intr. to avail, be effective, be helpful; ~ in, prevail against.
Associated quotations
a
- 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 al middæneard on his aȝene æht istreone, ȝif þe deofel nimæþ eft his sawle?
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)127 : Ne fremede us na þing þet he were iboren, buten he us alesde.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)40/422 : Ah þet eauer godd isið, þet ham wule freamien.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)285 : Us for to frourin & for to fremien.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2367 : He for his freolec firstede hire & fremede.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)34b : He hearmeð him & freameð [Nero: froemeð; Cleo: freomeð] þe.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)77a : Ȝef þu hauest..ei oþer þing þet ham walde freamien [Nero: ureomien].
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)173 : Him to fremen and do frame, He made on werlde al erue tame.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1245 : Ðor ghe gan fremen ysmael Wið watres drinc and bredes mel.
c
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)71.11/2 : Þisse wyrte sæd wel fremeð.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)72.12/4 : Seos silfe wyrt wel fremað.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)97.59/2 : Hit fremes micel.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)56/9 : Sanctus Paulus cwæð þæt þæt singale ibæd mycel fremode mid Gode.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)88.22 : Noghte freme in him [L proficiet in eo] sal þe faa.