Middle English Dictionary Entry
lōthsǒm adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | lōthsǒm adj. Also lothsome, lothsum, lothe-, laith-, laitsom, (error) lothesomes. |
| Etymology | From lōth n. & adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Foul, detestable, wicked; (b) fearsome, terrifying; (c) misshapen, ugly; (d) unpleasant, displeasing, irksome.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)23229 : Wormes..Fell dragons and tadis..Ful laithsum on to here and se.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.729 : Þis slauȝter & þis lothsom dede By Vlixes..Wer fully wrouȝt.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)351 : Thowgh I be lothsome as yn apparence, Above al men deth hath the victorie.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)72 : The tother drynke..Ys so ful of bitternesse To hem that taste it..Lothsome and alle habomynable.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)94/31 : Synful lijf schulde appere to vs looþsum, hateable, fleable.
- ?a1500 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 306)188 : Thowȝe the sowle have thy lyknesse, Man is but lothesum [Lamb 853: wlatsum] eorthe and claye.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7814 : Þei hym saw, so ogly & horrible, And more lothsom þan it is credible.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1167 : Hilles..hegh mounteyns, Craggy Roches..wonder dredful and lothsom of passage.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4029 : Myd of the feld bifyl a cas sodeyne, Ful vnhappy, lothsom, and odyble..This old bisshop..Disaperyd..þe erth opnede and he fille to helle.
c
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13450 : They be ffoul off..shap, off ffourme..And ryht lothsom off ffygure.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)24 : [I] had power to se them with my bodyly ees difigurid foule and lothesomes.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6551 : He nedis muste..To many oþer of necessite Be lothsom first, enmy & contraire.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)89/21 : Bi strengþ of þilk disposicioun..þe man schal wirche..þo werkis..whiche wolde ellis be ful hard and loþesum to be wrouȝt or suffrid.
- a1500(?a1400) Ȝif þt lorel (Ashm 60)261 : Sangis faire..To rede and here ilk man is prest..But to here of Cristis Passioun, To many a man it is ful laytsom.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 GLeg.Suppl.Barbara (Lamb 72)394/404 : To yowe now..me thynkith beste to open my herte in the begynnynge of thys frame and let yow knowe howe lothesom I am of these vayn goddes.
Note: Editor's note: "lothesom: disgusted. MED lothsom does not record this sense; OED records it for 1577."
Note: Cf. OED loathsome, adj., sense 2. 'Affected with loathing or disgust; disgusted.'
Note: New sense.