Middle English Dictionary Entry
slǒmber n.
Entry Info
| Forms | slǒmber n. Also slombre, slombǒur & slomer(e, -ǒure & slumbir, slummer. |
| Etymology | From slǒmberen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Sleep; -- also pl.; ~ bed; fallen on ~, to fall asleep; (b) an instance or a period of sleep; a sleep, doze; fallen in (in-to) a ~, to fall asleep.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3816 : This carpenter out of his slomber [vrr. slombir, slomere] sterte.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3221 : He..fore slewthe of slomowre on a slepe fallis.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12102 : Arthur fel on slomber & slep.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)16 : Wyth a sygh [I] gan for to abreyde Out of my slombre [vr. slombres].
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)234/16 : Þis drynke may well be called þe drynke of slombour, for þat a man dremeþ slepynge, when he is wakon he forȝetis it.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)126/3756 : Tary that to daunger lo be layne To slepe and that in slumbir ye him se.
- c1480 *Medulla (Pep 2002)230b : Sopor: slummer or slep.
- c1450(1446) Nightingale (Clg A.2)3/57 : A-wake & Ryse..Oute of thy slombre-bed of slouth & sleep.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.378 : Þis was in lentyn vppon oure ladys dey When he þus in slomer by þe tombe ley.
b
- c1450(c1400) ?Clanvowe Cuckoo & N.(Frf 16)87 : For delyte..I fel in such a slombre and a swowe.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)224 : Or he was war, he ffyll in-to a slombre.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)185/33 : There come in that hous vpon hem siche a slomere that none myȝte wake but the apostles.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)1448 : A sodeyn slombir ther hedis did assaile.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.376 : Þer he knelyd..At þe last in a slomer he ffell adoune.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13285 : Thai have no dainty of drynk..But derkon euon down on a depe slomur.