Middle English Dictionary Entry
glēm n.
Entry Info
| Forms | glēm n. Also gleam. |
| Etymology | OE glǣm |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A beam or radiance of emitted light; ~ of the sonne, sonne ~, a sunbeam; (b) a linear section of the luminous tail of a comet; (c) fires ~, ?a ray of firelight, ?tongue of flame; (d) a reflected gleam or sparkle; (e) the light of day or dawn; dai ~, heven ~; (f) radiance emanating from an angel, a god, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)20/32 : Semde as þah a scharp sweord of his muð scheate, þe glistnede ase gleam deð.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)26/247 : Aȝein þe brihtnesse & te liht of his leor, þe sunne gleam is dosc.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)45b : Ȝe beon swifte as þe sunne gleam.
- a1275 Stod ho (Tan 169*)34 : So gleam glidis þurt þe glas, of þi bodi born he was.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2122 : So stod ut of his mouth a glem, Rith al swilk so þe sunne-bem.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2236 : At a wyndowe come yn a beme, And yn þe shynyng he saghe a gleme.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)79 : Glem of glodez agaynz hem glydez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)604 : Al [the harness] glytered & glent as glem of þe sunne.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)135/272 : Als þe gleme in þe glasse gladly þow glade.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)8252 : An hermet segh a sunne-beme & aungels comyng and going ay Gloriousely aftur that gleme.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)116b/b : Cometa is a sterre biclippid wiþ brennynge glemes, as Bede seiþ.
c
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)343/1544 : Two dragons..Þat on is whyt..Þat oþir is red so fuyres glem.
d
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10971 : Alle þaire colouris by corse were of cleane white, As the glyssenond glemes þat glenttes on þe sknowe.
e
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)946 : Erly, er any hevenglem, þay to a hil comen.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1094 : Ryȝt as þe maynful mone con rys Er þenne þe day glem dryue al doun.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2044 : Begynnys sone in þe gray day as any gleme springis [Dub: when þe gleme spronge], And so to sett of þe son sesid þai neuire.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)294/30 : Now se I..A gloryous gleme to make vs glad.
f
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.614 : When Gij was waked of þat drem, Of an angel he seiȝe a glem.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)218 : Þaȝ þe feloun [Lucifer] were so fers for his fayre wedez And his glorious glem þat glent so bryȝt.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)164 : For sikerly his [the god of Love's] face shon so bryghte That with the glem astoned was the syghte; A furlong-wey I myhte hym not beholde.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)191/186 : Hic descendunt nubes, Pater in nube..Whedir is þis glorious gleme al gone?
2.
Fig. (a) A ray or emanation of spiritual light; (b) a source of spiritual radiance; (c) a type of what is evanescent or fleeting; (d) maken a ~, to make a deceptive show.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)12b : Te soðe sunne haueð utewið forculet ow, & swa wiðuten as ȝe beoð unseowlich imaket ow þurh gleames of his grace.
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)126 : Ihesu crist..on þe holi meidan he sende list ant glem.
b
- a1350 Suete ihu king (Hrl 2253)13 : Suete Ihesu, myn huerte gleem, bryhtore þen þe sonnebeem.
c
- c1390 In a Pistel (Vrn)28 : Riht as a glentand glem hit geth.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)380 : Beleue nouȝt moche yn no dremys, For many be nat but gleteryng glemys.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3493 : There cam An hand..Oute of the water..And sythe, as gleme, A-way it glente.
d
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.96 : The bisshop of Durham..Of falsehede to make a gleam, þe wrong vnto þe right [F par grant descayt], For he & oþer fele sent vnto Robert [etc.].