Middle English Dictionary Entry
slǒmbering(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | slǒmbering(e ger. Also slomoring, sclumbringe, slumering, slumriinge. |
| Etymology | From slǒmberen v.; cp. MDu. slumeringe, MLG slummeringe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Sleep, dozing; also fig.; fallen in (on) ~, to fall asleep, doze; sliden in ~, emerge from deep sleep into a doze; (b) a sleep; an instance or a period of sleep; a fit of drowsiness; fallen in (in-to) a ~.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1350 Guy(3) (Add 14408)638/14 : Wat for fastyng, wat for wakyng, I fel her doun in slumerying.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)131.4 : Ichaue ȝeuen sleping to myn eȝen & slomeringe to myn eȝen-liddes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.115 : Slomberynge fil on hym.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.706 : Thanne comth Sompnolence, that is, sloggy slombrynge [vrr. slumbrynge, sclumbringe], which maketh a man be heuy and dul in body and in soule.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1182 : As in slomeryng he slode, sleȝly he herde A littel dyn at his dor.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.61/16 : A-rise! why art thou so longe oppressid with slummrynge?
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)19/2 : When þe Bischoppe..was lyand in prayers, he fell on slomeryng.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)35.7 : As he was In his Slombrenge, hym thowghte he hadde a wondir Metenge.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)12364 : He ne slepte..tyl that lady was fallen jn Slombring.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1233/26 : Than he felle on slumberynge agayne, nat slepynge nor thorowly wakynge.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)488/17 : Thys byddyth þis heyvynly pursyuant, That we schuld all from slomoryng Aryse.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6 : Aunters ben olde of aunsetris nobill, And slydyn vppon shlepe by slomeryng of Age.
b
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.67 : Ever lay Pandare abedde, half in a slomberynge [vr. slomberyng].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.246 : Whan he fil in any slomberynges, Anon bygynne he sholde for to grone.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)206/30 : Sche fel in a lityl slomeryng.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)9/17 : Grace, whene he firste commes to vesete mans saule..wakkyns hyme als of a slomerynge þat lange hase lyggene in syne.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)196/12 : The kynge..felle in a slumberyng.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)345 : A Slomerynge: soporacio, soporans.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)173/25 : He lay in his deuocion and hadde fallen in-to a slomerynge, scilicet, half slepyng, half wakyng.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)324 : Þer com vpon him such a slombring that he myght not forbere, but he most nedis slepe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. slumbering.