Middle English Dictionary Entry
quẹ̄m(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | quẹ̄m(e adj. Also (chiefly N) wheme & (early) cweme, cueme & (error) quime. |
| Etymology | OE gecwēme |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Pleasing, agreeable, acceptable; agreeable or acceptable to (sb., God); comp. quemere, more acceptable; comp. quemere (sup. quemest), more (most) pleasing or acceptable (to God, Christ); (b) ~ to, agreeable or acceptable to (God); consistent with (justice).
Associated quotations
a
- a1150 Rwl.G.57 Gloss.(Rwl G.57)24 : Aptam: cueme.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)466 : He wass..God prest & Godd full cweme.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8066 : Herode king maȝȝ swiþe wel Þe laþe gast bitacnenn, Forr all hiss werrc & all hiss will Wass ifell gast full cweme.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1214 : Þet iherde þe king: hit wes him swiðe queme.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)45 : Eftsone we þe beð uncuðe þe heuenliche kinge, for þat ure liflode him swiðe mislikeð, alse ne wile noht cnowe but þat þe him beð queme.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)63 : Þat me is quemere þat unbindeð þe bendes of wiðerfulnesse.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)65 : Me þingð ne brinð no synful man quemere loc þene teares sheding for his sinnen.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)10/139 : Meiðehad is heouene cwen & worldes alesendnesse, þurh hwam we beoð iborhen, Mihte ouer alle mihtes & cwemest crist.
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)339 : Heo was þe kingue of heouene leof and deore and queme.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)130 : Yif scho couþe on horse ride And a thousande men bi hire syde..And don hem of þar hire were queme An hire bodi couþe yeme, No wolde me neuere iuele like.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)393 : Ich wille þat þo[u] suere..Þat þou mine children shalt..yeme, Þat hire kin be ful wel queme.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3764 : Ðan sulde we brigte sen, Quilc gure sal god quemest ben.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)500 : Hit is al as Riȝt and Soþ wol deme; Merci ne me nis hit not qweme.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)16.270/864 : God..lente hem long lyf and queme.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24484 : For all wirscip til him þai kidd, þair come was me ful quem.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26559 : Þeþen sal he com als for to deme Quic and ded als him es queme.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2109 : For be hit chorle oþer chaplayn þat bi þe chapel rydes..Hym þynk as queme hym to quelle as quyk go hym-seluen.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)166/171 : Katerine was in chawmbers queme.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)90/20 : Fest all thyne entent in Jhesu, þat þi lyf be gode and wheme.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)133 : Þe prelate..wyt his ministres þe masse he begynnes..Wyt queme questis of þe quere, wyt ful quaynt notes.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.95 : The body..Arraied with oignementis layde thay in a newe grave fulle qweme.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21446 : Þe quen has biden us to deme To þe al þat to right es queme.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)20/15 : It wil hym wynne socour & grace & to God make hym queme.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)2/42 : This warke to me is queme.
2.
(a) Gracious, well-disposed; loyal; ~ til, of God: gracious or propitious to (sb., men); (b) skillful, able, clever; (c) valiant, noble; (d) of a judgment: suitable, appropriate; of a piece of timber: of suitable length; of a path: convenient (to sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Magd.(Phys-E)p.20 : Til god men sal he be quem And to the wik ful grisli sem.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Magd.(Phys-E)p.20 : For thi red I we al pray That he be til vs quem that day.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)633 : I beqwethe me to your qweme spouse, To lyue with in lykyng to my lyfes ende.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1763 : I send for my suster..for to..restore withoutyn strife into þis stide home..To qwit claym all querels, & be qweme fryndes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2649 : Wherfore, wheme kyng..Let your lordship lystyn with a loue ere.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)145 : They lefte a burges feyre and wheme, All ther schyppys for to ȝeme.
b
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1531 : Priam..gate..Qwariours qweme, qwaint men of wit.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4202 : Who is now so qweme or qwaint of his wit, That couthe mesure our might.
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6973 : To Qwintilion the quem he qwithit a dynt, Woundit hym wickidly, warpit hym to ground.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8734 : Lauerdinges..Til queþer o þir tua sal i deme, Yit sai me nu quat yow thinc queme.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8809 : Son þe tre was heun dun, And squir on-laid and scantliun; Þe tre was als mete and quem, Als animan þar-to cuth deme.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12412 : Þat first vnquemest was to see, Nu es it quem als it mai be [Frf: quemest at may be; Trin-C: longe ynouȝe to se].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5078 : He leuys all þe march-gats I neuend ȝow before And nymmes a-nothire on þe north..Þat to þe marche of Messedone was him mast qweme.
3.
(a) Of pleasant appearance, attractive; (b) of words: specious.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1179 : Me payed ful ille to be outfleme..Fro alle þe syȝtez so quykez and queme.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)578 : Queme quyssewes..coyntlych closed His thik þrawen þyȝez.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)777 : The burd..broght hym in haste An ymage full nobill..Þat qwaint was & qwem, all of white siluer.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3055 : Hir tethe..were..Alse qwyte and qwem as any qwalle bon.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6203 : Philon, the fre kyng..Hade a chariot full choise, as the chalke wyte..ordant for hym, And the whelis full wheme, all of white aumber.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28128 : I..sayd my scryft wit wordes queme, þat my syn þe lesse suld seme.
4.
(a) As adv.: satisfactorily; (b) ?error for quite adj.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)2689 : He salle serue me ful queme [Vsp: to queme], and wele my laghe he sal hit ȝeme.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28817 : Þou þat okering mas wit man, Wit scrift him-self quime mas þou þan?