Middle English Dictionary Entry
gersum(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gersum(e n. Also gersom, -sone, -summe, gærsume, -summe, gæirsume, garsum(e, -son, (error) gesumme & gerizoun, garesome, garisume, -som, -soumme, -soun & (Latinate) gersum(m)a, etc. Pl. gersumes, etc. & girssins. |
| Etymology | OE gærsama, gersuma (from ON); cp. OI görsemi, gersemi & OSwed. gärsimi, görsimi. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A treasured object, valuable possession; also, a gift or reward; (b) coll. treasure, valuables, movable possessions; (c) gold and ~, etc. [See also gold n., sense 2.]
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1070 : Hi namen þære swa mycele gold & seolfre & swa manega gersumas on sceat & on scrud & on bokes, swa nan man ne mæi oðer tællen..þa com an mycel storm & to dræfede ealle þa scipe þær þa gersumes wæron inne.
- 1122 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1122 : Se fir..for bearnde ealle þe minstre & ealle þa gersumes þe þær binnen wæron for uton feawe bec.
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1128 : Se kyng..micele gersumes him geaf on gold & on silure.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)697 : Sir Gallerone weddid his wyfe..Withe gyftis and gersomes [vrr. gersums, garsons] of Sir Gawayne.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)165 : Þou sall haue gersoms full grett, þat gayne sall þe euere.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1070 : Syððon geden heom to scipe, ferden heom to Elig, betæhtan þær þa ealla þa gærsume..þa ferdon þa Dænesca menn ut of Elig mid ealle þa foren spræcena gærsume.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)9/16 : Nu liþ þin [tung]e stille on ful colde denne; Nafest þu gærsume þe mo.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)101 : Ða ileaffullen brohton heore gersum and leiden heo et þere apostlan fotan.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)883 : Ich hine wille freoien, ȝif he me ȝefeð gersume, [Otho: garisom]: gold & seoluer, alle his maðmas.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3548 : Ich þe wulle bi-tache..peniȝes..an hundrad punda; Ich bi-tæche þe anne hængest..to læden þis garisume to leuene mine fadere.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6562 : He somnede to-gædere gærsumme muchele.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)94b : Þe gode pilegrim..ne bereð na gersum [Nero: garsum] bute his speonse gnedeliche.
- ?a1300 Sayings St.Bede (Dgb 86)104 : Þis monekes weneþ soumme, þat gedereþ garisoumme [vr. gersumme], þat hoe hit shulen brouke.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)94/405 : Þureȝ gersume, Þe porter is his man bicume.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6753 : If theif na gersum [Frf: gode] has ne gifte, þat he mai yeild again his thift, He sal be saald.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25471 : Bot stedfast hope and trout right, And ert clene and eien sight, Oþir gersum ask i nan.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)245 : I trow, & ȝe were þe kyngis palfrey-man, A goode horse xulde be gesumme.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)939 : We beon iquemed gold & garsume.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10575 : Hi to scolden comen for golde and gæirsume.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15417 : For gold & for gærsume [Otho: garesome].
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)269 : Summe gold and Gersum and ahte of þis worlde makes luued and heried.
- ?c1335 Earth(1) (Hrl 913)3/61 : Erþ gette on erþ gersom and gold; Erþ is þi moder, in erþ is þi mold.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5693 : And among hem departeþ þanne Of þat gold & of þat geryzoun þat he fond on þe tour & on þe toun.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1729 : Þe valyaunt prynce..has..Gifen vs gersoms and golde.
- a1500 Awntyrs Arth.(Dc 324)664 : Here I gif sir Gawayne, with gersone and golde, Al þe Glamergane londe..Þe worship of Wales..Withe Criffones Castelles.
2.
A manorial rent; a payment made by the tenant to his lord (usually on a special occasion, such as receiving an estate or inheritance, marriage, etc.); -- also used in pl.
Associated quotations
- (c1180) MSS Middleton in HMC18 : Et pro hac donatione et concessione, predictus Ywanus dedit mihi v marcas argenti de gersum.
- (1222) Domesday Bk.St.Paul in Camd.69127 : x solidos dederunt eis in gersumma.
- (1252) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100356 : Dat talliagium, merchetum, leyrwytum, gersumam, herietum.
- (1278-9) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 78254 : Pro decem marcis argenti, quas michi dederunt pre manibus in gersumma.
- (1367) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.6p.lxxiv : Et de xiij s. iiij d. receptis de Thoma Mareschall de Pitington de gersuma.
- a1400(a1130) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.1136 : Statimque in primo anno dedit ei viginti solidos de gersume, daturusque ecclesiae Ramesensi per singulos annos, tam ipse quam sui heredes.
- (a1447) Invent.Monk-Wear.in Sur.Soc.29app.242 : The saide Priour..suld haue..other tendis, agistmentz, gyrssyns, [etc.].
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)209/16 : For the seyde Reynolde..warantysyd the seyd londe..to the seyd H., he yaf..for thys yft & graunt v Marke of syluer in gerssum.