Middle English Dictionary Entry
maim(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | maim(e n. Also main(e, maind, meim & mahaime, mahame, maheim, maihem, maieheme. |
| Etymology | OF mahaigne, mehaigne; AF mahe(i)me, mahainne, mahim, maim, maine. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A mutilation, injury, disfigurement; bringen to ~, to amputate (a limb); (b) a maimed person.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)135/27 : He is ase þe y-maymed ate porche of þe cherche þet ne heþ none ssame uor to sseawy alle his maimes to alle þon þet þer guoþ.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.625 : Peyne is sent by..god..be it meselrie or mayme [vrr. maym, Maheym, mahayme] or maladie.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3838 : Þere was many maym yked, Many fair pensel bibled.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)prol.14/21 : Ȝef he maymed his broþer, he schulde haue þe same maym.
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)111/92 : Þat no Cirurgean withinne þe boundes of London resceive no Cure in to his hande of þe whiche may folowe deth or mayme without þat he shewe it to þe Rectour of Medicyns.
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)413 : Skorne or make þe mowe on ani man for sekenes or mayne or vnkonynge.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)320 : Mayne [Win: Mayn; Phil: mayme], or hurte: Mutilacio.
- (1447) RParl.5.137b : Where apon growith ofte times..Roberies, Murthers, mayehemes, and manslauter.
- (1449) RParl.5.154b : Oft tyme..ther is..riotes, mayhemmys, and murdres doon and hadde.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)9857 : Rescowed was good Partanope Wyth-oute mayne [vr. mayme] or grete wound.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)12392 : A prophett is in israel þat..hath myȝt..forto lech of ylk lame, whedder yt be maynd [vr. mahame] or mesell.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)23/14 : She brake her nose, and that al her lyff after she hadd her nose al croked, the whiche was a foule mayme.
- ?1457 Hardyng Chron.A (Lnsd 204)p.753 : I yow requyre For to consider my losse in this matere, My mayme also that neuer more may be clere.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)32/3 : Jesu defende us from dethe and horryble maymes.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.53a : For the punycion of the murther, maymes, or any other offenses comprised in the said Acte.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)87a/b : If þis accident falle to a man or a womman of ȝonge age, it may liȝtly be þe cause of a mayme.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)89a/a : Loke wisely by good discrecioun if þat þe boon mowe be sett..But if þe contrarie herof be founden, þanne he..schulde outwardly bringe þe membre to a mayme.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)527 : Thei sholde not therfore haue..no mayme of hande ne foote.
- ?a1500 Trin-C.LEDict.Suppl.(Trin-C O.5.4)597/17 : Mutilamen: a meym.
b
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)791/18 : Hic mutulatus: a mayn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. maim.