Middle English Dictionary Entry
bēmed adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | bēmed adj. |
| Etymology | From bēm n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Emitting rays of light, shining, beaming; ~ sterre, a star with a tail of light, a comet.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)292/17 : In the xj ȝere..aperede in þe firmament a bemyd sterre, þe whiche clercus calleþ stella comata.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)214 : The bemed chere eke of my chekes twayne, Se how the tery ryuer dothe distayne.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)296 : Came Ryghtwysnes, all bemyd full of lyght.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.265 : Honorius..chaungede þe coopes of frere Carmes into clene white, þat were toforehonde ray, barred, and beemed [L stragulatæ, radiatæ et birratæ].
Note: Higd.(2) replaces all three Latin adjectives with the simple phrase 'of ray', i.e. of striped cloth. Not clear whether either the Latin or Trevisa's English are to be taken as entirely synonymous, or if not, which English word corresponds with which Latin word. If 'bemed' corresponds to 'birratae', it may mean something like 'pleated' rather than 'striped' (so DMLBS).