Middle English Dictionary Entry
sẹ̄men v.(3)
Entry Info
| Forms | sẹ̄men v.(3) P. sẹ̄mde; ppl. i)sẹ̄med, sẹ̄með, sẹ̄mot. |
| Etymology | OE: cp. WS sīman, Nhb. sēman. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To load (sth. on sb.); also, load (sb., a beast, with sth.); also fig.; ppl. semed, loaded.
Associated quotations
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)3/18 : Hwui noldest þ[u be] þenchen me þeo hwile ic was innen þe, Ac semdest me mid sunne?
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)114 : Vrom a lond hi comen..Mid here assen isemed of fer & of gris.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)398 : Al of rede wete here assen he lette seme.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1365 : Ten kameles semeð forð he nam.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)82/82 : Swete leuedy, wat þe was wo..Þo þat me oppone hys [Jesus'] swete body Þe heuye crouche semde.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)211/33 : A man..was..don to þe grovnde of an hiȝ towre yn a dep dongen and was semot wyth yerns.
2.
(a) Of God's commandments: to weigh (heavily or oppressively); (b) ppl. semed, measured in weight, weighed.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)93 : Hem þincheð þat godes hese heuieliche semeð.
b
- (?c1450) R.St.Edmund in Archaeol.42404 : Freestone iustly semed..ffor pauyng, wallyng.