Middle English Dictionary Entry
ǧemme n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ǧemme n. Also geme, jemme, iem(m)e, gemb. |
| Etymology | L gemma & OF geme, gemme. Some forms show influence of earlier yimme n. (OE gim), which was replaced by ǧemme. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A precious stone, gem; (b) fig. a precious thing, a virtue; (c) fig. an illustrious or precious person.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.17 : A stoon þat hatte gagates..is blak as gemmes [L nigro-gemmeus] beeþ.
- c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)473 : Ȝoure bestis gone honourid wiþ gemmys..and jewelis, ande oure sidis bene nakid.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.254 : Gemmes set in gold and in asure.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1441 : Þe jueles..wyth gemmes ful bryȝt Bi þe syde of þe sale were semely arayed.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1468 : Alle þe blomes of þe boȝes wer blyknande perles, And alle þe fruyt in þo formes of flaumbeande gemmes.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)118 : Vche a pobbel in pole þer pyȝt Watz emerad, saffer, oþer gemme gente.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)219 : Pyȝt..Wyth whyte perle, and non oþer gemme.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.27.16 : Thei puttiden forth in thi market..gemme [L gemma] and purpur.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.344 : Wo worth the faire gemme vertulees! Wo worth that herbe also that dooth no boote! Wo worth that beaute that is routheeles!
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.5.53 : Gemmes drawen to hemself a litel of the laste beaute of the world.
- (1433) Will York in Sur.Soc.3044 : Unam peciam argenti coopertam cum uno gemb in pede.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1368 : Gemys ne gewellis.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10585 : Þai tild vp a toure, triedly wroght..With Jemmes & iuwells, & other ioly stonys.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)1.38 : A croune..With gemmes and juellis joyned to-gedir.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1077 : The Sardius, that maketh men hardy; The sonnys Gemme, full of beames bryght; The Selenite, that in loue hath hys myght.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.32.79a : A ring of good gold receyvith the gemme and neuere refusith it.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)2935 : Botlers..broght vp þe wynez In grete goblettes..grathyd fulle of gemmys.
b
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)163 : Þis ilke ston..Maydenhod i-cleoped is; Hit is o derewurþe gemme.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.17.8 : Most kinde iemme [WB(2): preciouse stoon; L gemma], the abiding of the abidere; whider euere he turneth hymself, prudentli he vnderstant.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1799 : This gemme of chastitee..Ther he with throte ykoruen lay vpright, He Alma redemptoris gan to synge.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.274 : O deere wyf, o gemme of lustihed..Now lystow deed.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)289 : 'Jueler,' sayde þat gemme clene, 'Wy borde ȝe men?'
- (?a1430) Hoccl.MG (Hnt HM 111)106 : Marie & Ion, heuenely gemmes tweyne!
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.1193 : This Calistenes..The noble gemme & the most precious flour Of philosophie.
- c1450 Marion ABC (Arun 168)84 : Mary, mayde and wif..Lanterne of light, Ieme of chastite!
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.85 : Egelredus, kynge of Ynglonde, mariede in this yere Emma the gemme of Normandy, doȝhter of the firste Richarde.
2.
(a) A bud or sprout; (b) a drop of resin; gum; (c) rock salt [see sal-gemme].
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Num.17.8 : Moyses..foond that the ȝerde of Aaron..hadde buriowned; and swellynge, the gemmes [WB(2): knoppis] breken out flowres.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.166 : Too gemmes, vppon erthe eke for to sprynge, To leue is good.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.4 : De..vineis..Suspect vntil ther gemmes [Gloss.: boddes; L gemma] gynne be, Now is hit tyme hem graffed forto se.
b
- (1309) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.363 : xx barellos gemme, pr. £ vi, cust. xviii d.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4974 : Þare ware..trees..Þar trekild doun of þa teres of iemmes, Boyland out of þe barke, bawme & mirre.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)206b/b : Salt þat hatte gemma, and haþ þat name ffor he is cleere as precious stoon.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3148 : Þis coroune he þee sent Of gold and ȝymmes to present.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6684 : Ich wil ȝiue þee ȝymmes and biȝes, Ten þousande carreyes.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8669 : Stones precious & ȝimmes, Gold & siluer þer were inne.
Note: =NF