Middle English Dictionary Entry
grimlī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | grimlī adj. Sup. grimlokkest. |
| Etymology | OE grimlīc |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Fierce, cruel; (b) of looks, words, the mind, etc.: angry, stern, harsh; (c) as noun: a fierce warrior.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Lytel wotyt (Hrl 2253)6 : Þe loue of him [Jesus] vs haueþ ymaked sounde, Ant ycast þe grimly gost to grounde.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)144 : Ther londed many a grymlye gome.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26460 : Heo up leopen mid grimliche lechen.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)81 : Seint matheu specð..of þe grimliche wordes þe ure helende..gaf to andswere þe unbilefde iudeuisshe men.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)171 : Hie shulen cnowen ure demendes wraððe bi his grimeliche lete and bi his eifulle speche.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)312/220 : Þe kyng com in wiþ grimli mood.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.22 : Quen criste hauid said this grimli sau.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5466 : Thei thoght him scle with grymly loke.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)226/158 : Thy glyfftyng is so grymly þou gars my harte growe.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)532 : He..behelde me wiþ grymly look.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)280/28 : All the knyghtes spake to hym with grymly voyces.
c
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)839 : Many A grymly died on the playn.
2.
(a) Terrifying in appearance, hideous, horrible; (b) pitiful, miserable.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 PMor.(Jes-O 29)141 : Swiþe grimlych stench þer is and wurþ wyþ-vten ende.
- c1330 KTars (Auch)37/168 : Þer miȝt men se a strong bateyle, þat grimli [Vrn: grislych] was of siȝt.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1876 : Ys berd was long, & al whyt hor; a was [a] grymly freke.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1386 : Y sagh a brygge..A grymly watyr was þer vndyr, Blak and depe & ful stynkyngge.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)127/983 : He bote his lippes and schoke his berde, That grymly was to see.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.4 : These knyȝtes ar vncurtas..That thus haue laft me allone..With on the grymlokkest [Thrn: gryselyeste] gost that euer herd I grete.
- c1450 Kynge of grace (Trin-C B.11.24)14 : Hytt shall be as red as any blod, Ouyr all þe worlle a grymly flod.
- c1450 Kynge of grace (Trin-C B.11.24)139 : The rayn bowe Iwryyd schalle be, Grymlyche In syȝth for to see.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)75/2 : He Saw..a bore amonge ham, mych and grymly [Dub: grysly] ouer al other.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)1038 : Thys smythis were grymly on to loke.
b
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1511 : The quene of dethe was sore A-drade, That grymly terys gone she lete.
3.
(a) Dangerous, formidable; deadly; (b) of wounds, pains: severe; (c) of weather:?inclement, ?threatening.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Horn Child (Auch)213 : He brouȝt..Wele fif þousende to grounde Wiþ his grimly gare.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)539 : Al day þou makest bost; Wer al þyng soþ þat þou saist here, þou were a grymly gost.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5030 : Wiþ grymly launse þey hem grette.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)500/24 : A naked man rescowed hym frome the grymly gyaunte sir Tauleas.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.400 : Ȝif ich hadde don half þe dede For him þat on rode gan blede Wiþ grimly woundes sare.
- c1330 KTars (Auch)37/176 : Þe soudan & his folk..Hewe adoun wiþ grimli wounde Mani a frely fode.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1188 : But sone he was besette..Wiþ grimly woundes sare.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)145/1307 : Þe batells bygane to smytte With many a grymly [Cmb: greuys] wonde!
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.22 : Thenne grette Dame Gaynour..For grefe of Sir Gauan grimliche wouundes.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)372/3 : She had many grymly throwys.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)189/1121d : Edere gave oder grymly wounde.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)727 : Thay wolde hym make blody syde..with grymly woundes and grete.
c
- a1325 Prov.Hend.(Cmb Gg 1.1)st.34 : In morwintide growith grime, Sterne and grimlich in sum tyme.