Middle English Dictionary Entry
hem pron. (plural)
Entry Info
| Forms | hem pron. (plural) Also heme, hemme, em, heom, hoem, heon, hom(e, huem, hum, him, ham(e, ȝam, am. |
| Etymology | OE heom, him, hym. Forms with -a- are prob. due to influence of OE demonstrative pronouns. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. he pron.(3).
1.
As direct or indirect object of a verb, object of a prep. or inf.: them.
Associated quotations
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.963 : He nam up Sca. Kyneburh & S. Kynesuið þe lægen in Castra..& brohte heom to Burch.
- 1123 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : Þa bed se cyng heom þæt hi scoldon cesen..swa hwam swa swa hi woldon, & he hem hit wolde tyþian.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)82/10 : Ac uten..bidden heom..þæt heo wið us specan.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)34/16 : Ðu ne miht heom na of ðissere stowe læden.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)5/13 : Heo wulleþ mid holi watere beworpen ec þeo w[æde], Bletsien hem ȝeorne.
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)48 : An tre he am forbede.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)21177-8 : Nu fusen we hom to, & stærcliche heom [Otho: ȝam] leggen on.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)57 : Er þanne he hem forlete and shewe em his prest and nime shrifte þeroffe.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)3/20 : Swo swo fader deþ his bearn ðonne he hum gram byð..& his æhte heon ne an.
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)54/460 : Þu..feddestam fowrti ȝer iþe wildernesse.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1517 : Þat maidenes beoþ of þine imunde, Mid heom þu holdest & heom bi werest.
- (1258) Procl.Hen.III in PST (1868)21 : We..hoaten þæt alle vre treowe heom healden deadliche ifoan.
- ?a1300(a1250) Harrow.H.(Dgb 86)122 : If þou were houndbounden among men, Almest woldest þou bireuen me hem.
- ?a1300 Fiftene toknen (Dgb 86)162 : Alle þe stones..shulen smiten..Þat brigt fuir shal from hoem go.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)91 : He cam to his breþren & grettem eueruchon.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)341 : Lettres he i-seiȝ þare-on i-write, he bi-gan heom to rede.
- a1350 Sayings St.Bern.(Hrl 2253)130 : Huere lyf al wiþ ioie y-lad, Me knelede huem by-fore.
- c1330(?c1300) Reinbrun (Auch)p.654 : Let hym in: Þai scholle be serued wel afyn.
- (a1333) Herebert Louerd shyld me (Add 46919)11 : Thylke reste that ever last, loverd, thow hoem sende!
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2393 : He wold abide wiþ þe barn þe bliþer hem to make.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2650 : A schrewed lessoun scholde þey lere somme of ȝam sone þas.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3098 : Alle þat þai þan alacche miȝt þer na ascapedem non.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2052-3 : He..hem in bothe hise armes kepte And keste hem bothe fot and hond.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)2734 : Abraham led him [Frf: ham; Vsp: þam; Göt: þaim] inwey.
- (1423) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)267 : A masse of Requiem be seid every day among hom for my soule.
- (1439) LRed Bk.Bristol2.152 : To ouersee the seid ordenaunce..and hem to approve..and ham to putte vnder dew execucion.
- (?1440) Paston2.45 : I hope ther shall nede no gret trete be twyxe hym.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2953-4 : He wolde haue mercy vpon home [rime: home] & graunte to hem aȝayne hurre syȝt.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3621 : He for-ȝaff hit hom at þe last.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)26/27 : They mette with the foreryders of the Northe and made hem to telle which way the oste com.
- a1475 Limn.Bks.(Brog 2.1)91 : Yf ȝe wolle make crymsons withowte corke..ȝe most browne heme in blake flote.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)4542 : I shall do my powre..hym for to take, and if I happyn wele, ffull sore thei shall repent it.
- c1480(?c1470) Fortescue Art.Warw.(Add 48031)353 : Yif he take..ony of hemme, the remenaunte woll grugge for theire absence.
- -?-(?a1500) Hunt.Hare (Adv 19.3.1)82 : Sum of hom had no tayles.
2.
(a) Refl. Themselves; (b) of two subjects mutually: each other.
Associated quotations
a
- 1123 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : Ða spræcon ða biscopas hem betwenan.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)6/30 : Heo heom þa to ðan ȝearewoden.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)2/14 : Heo [we]ren grædie to gripen þine æihte, Nu heo hi dæleþ heom imong.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)385 : Mann maȝȝ findenn..inoȝhe Þatt ledenn hemm swa dærneliȝ..Þatt mann hemm hallt forr gode menn.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)91 : Ananias..and..saphira..nomen heom to þam rede þet heo walden sum..etholdan.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)53 : Heo slaȝeð heore aȝene saule and bringeð heon in to þare eche pine of helle.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)47 : [On Sunday] þa engles hem heom rested mare þenn on sum oðer dei.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)132 : Al ha icneowen ham crauant & ouercumen.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1253 : Ich grede And bidde inoh þat hi heom schilde.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)281 : Ðis wune he hauen hem bitwen.
- ?a1300 Sayings St.Bern.(Dgb 86)762/10 : Þey beren hem [vr. huem] wel swiþe heye.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7901 : After estere hii gonne hom to sprede And robbi aboute & berne.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)48.6 : Hii þat affien hem in her vertu.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.20.8 : All men dradden hem gretelich.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1063 : Men sholden eek remembren hem of the shame.
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)121 : Men þat ben ypocritis hyen hom in holynes.
- -?-(1415) Will in Som.RS 16401 : I will that myn executours do hergre by god discrecion atte ye value of xx li. amonge hame.
- (1420) EEWills48/5 : Y pray myn executours þat they..take this charge on heme.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)11 : His liges..In pees to kepe hem.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1576 : Þe bysshoppus..toke hem to rede..To encresse hurre in hurre degre.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)136 : Some..wolde haue holde hym content with cc li. in money.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)149 : And than the kynge asked Merlin yef thei sholde hem arme.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)90/37 : Se were ne gret his wif, ne þæt wif hire were, þeh heo heom gemeten.
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)743 : Hy custen hem a stounde.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1011 : Eiþer hent oþer..& wiþ kene kosses kuþþed hem to-gidere.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)11051 : Þese ladyes loued hem [Vsp: þam emell] so welle, Eiþer to oþer her wille dud telle.
3.
(a) As object of an impersonal verb, dative of interest, etc.; (b) in impersonal constructions with ben & noun, adj., adv., or ppl.
Associated quotations
a
- 1123 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : Þa bed se cyng..þæt hi scolden cesen hem ærce biscop.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)4/18 : [Þu] þeo teone ut lettest..þet ham gros þe aȝan.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.150 : Ȝiff þeȝȝ all forrwerrpenn itt, Itt turrneþþ hemm till sinne.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)219 : Hi anȝescapen were to loðlice deoflen, and swiðe richtlice ham swa belamp.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25333 : Ofte heo heolden rune ær heom mihte iwurðen waht heo don wolde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25382 : Þa seolue Romleoden liðen heom to-somne.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)3/19 : Swo swo fader deð his bearn, ðonne he hum gram byð.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)12/95 : Þet fur ne ȝeueð na liht, ah blent ham þe ehnen þe þer beoð.
- a1225 PMor.(Dgb 4)st.11 : Þo þet wel ne doð þer wile hi muȝe, ofte hit ham sel riewe.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)345 : Vnbuxumhed he hauen hem don.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1604 : Þo bigan ham alle to agrise.
- (a1333) Herebert Louerd shyld me (Add 46919)12 : Lyht of hoevene blysse hoem shyne wythouten ende!
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)175 : Hit..couþe..bring hem in þe best lese whan hem bi-stode nede.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3531 : Spakli to þe king..þei sped hem þat time.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4995 : Þus barouns by-gunne hym þanne to doute.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.22.9 : What to hem wolyn [L Quid sibi volunt] þees men anunt þe?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.235 : And whan þe ymage was made, hem semede þat þe legges were to feble.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.97 : It liketh hem to be clene in body and goost.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.56 : Hem semed han geten hem proteccions Agayn the swerd of wynter.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)216 : Þenne such a ferde on hem fel & flayed hem wyth-inne, Þat þay ruyt hym to rowwe, & letten þe rynk one.
- (1439) LRed Bk.Bristol2.154 : To schave and to polle his meyne..atte suche tyme as hit schall plese ham.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)58 : Þei..feyneþ hem with holynes þat yuele hem bisemeþ.
b
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)101 : Þet iferende is swa anmod swulc heom alle an weren on heorte.
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)147 : Hem was staðed wop and turnden here wop to blisse.
- ?c1250 PMor.(Eg 613(1))388 : Wel hem is þe hine bihealdeð.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)54 : Hem was ful wo.
- a1350 Prov.Hend.(Hrl 2253)287 : Of þi soule huem ys eþe; ffrendles ys þe dede Quoþ Hendyng.
4.
In various constructions: (a) ~ that (whom), those who, those that; (b) ~ of Athenes (Grece, Ypres), the people of Athens (Greece, Ypres); (c) ~ bothe (bo), both of them; ~ two (thre), those two (three), the two (three) of them; ~ al, all of them; (d) to ~ ward, towards them; (e) translating Latin accusative; (f) corresponding to OE accusative of extent of time; (g) after a verb of motion: to them; (h) bi ~ one, by themselves, alone.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1333) Herebert Þe kynges baneres (Add 46919)27 : Hoem þat þou bouhtest on rode troe, Hoere wyssere euermore þou boe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)1.11 : Þat hem whom þey han knowen of bokez, miȝten see verreyliche present.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.177 : Þat vertue keleþ..ynne ham þat com afterward [L posteris].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.43.6 : In thi name we schulen dispise hem that risen [WB(1): inriseris; L insurgentes] aȝen vs.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)93/6 : Remedie for hem that bien trauailled wiþ suche maner matiers.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)94/7 : What remedie may be to hem þat bien falle into suche errours.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)4 : [Talys] of othir myrthis for hem þat hold no store Of wisdom.
- ?c1475 *Trev.Nicod.(Sal 39)130a : Þes heeleþ þe def..and ham þat habbuþ þe palsy.
- a1500 LFMass Bk.(Cai 84/166)14 : Medus and pardon To hom þat han deuocion.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)432 : Wherof schuld serue my trouth..les þen to heme þat come and go alday?
b
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.448 : She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)10/7 : Þat cytee was destroyed by hem of Grece.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1940 : And maken hem of Athenes his thral.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)138/3 : Þe Haliȝ Gast is heoræ begræ lufæ..of ham bam ilice.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1807 : At a dint he slow hem þre.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2025 : Mark departed hem to, And dede tristrem oway.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)262/49 : A good gederyng was of hem two.
- (1395) EEWills5/30 : Cxx li., euenliche to be departed betwix ham thre.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)854 : Gret love was atwixe hem two.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)865 : Rychard agayn hym nome As comenaunt was betwen hem tway.
- a1500 Ihesu þi name (Chet 6690)20 : Þou forȝeue me þee synnes seuen, ffor I am gylti of hem alle.
d
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2726 : Moyses nam ðer-of kep, And to hemward swide he lep.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.369 : Þe þre Sirenes..drowȝ to hemward schipmen..in to þe shippe to breke.
- a1425 Adam & E.(3) (Wht)82/32 : Þe feend, stirid wiþ wraþþe and enuye to hemward.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.5.42 : The schynynge of gemmes..draweth it nat the eighen of folk to hemward?
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)271 : Þese ij pilars of oure..lijf mowe not be had..wiþoute oþere meenys to hemward.
e
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Bar.6.63 : Nether it is to be gessid, nether to be said, hem for to be [WB(2): that tho ben; L illos esse] goddis.
f
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)30 : Þer he wes forurty dawes..Þo he hedde heom yuast, þo luste hym ete.
g
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)354/17 : Alle the holy placys in erthe that criste duellyd on devouthly sche went hem.
h
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)80/3 : Ha fluhen monne sturbunge & wenden bi ham ane.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1325 SLeg.Becket (Corp-C 145)691/34 : [H]ii nome up þys holy bones & in a chuste ȝhm [read: ȝham] brouȝte.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2751 : Þer beþ in þe eyr an hey..a maner gostes..Me may ȝem ofte an erþe in wilde studes yse.
Note: New spelling
Note: Corresponds to theim 1.(b)
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)256 : He lifte vp ys hond & blessed him þan & recomandedem to god almiȝte.
Note: New spelling (contr.) 'recomandedem'