Middle English Dictionary Entry
somme n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | somme n.(2) Also som(e, somma, summe, summa, sum(e, soumme, soum(e, (N) soeme & sǒmme & (abbrev.) sm, sma; pl. sommes, etc. & soumus. |
| Etymology | OF some, somme, sum(m)e, soume sum & L summa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A sum of money; also, a specific sum of money; also fig. of sorrows [quot. c1450]; bi ~ certein, in an exact amount; in hol ~, wholly, in toto; (b) a quantity (of gold, coins, pence, goods, etc.), an amount; also fig. of lamentation; also, a whole quantity; (c) in accounts: the total sum.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 22.28 : How liȝtly seist thou thee a Romayn citeseyn? I with moche summe [L summa] gat this ciuylite.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1376 : I moste nedes paye An hundred frankes or ellis am I lorn..Lene me this somme.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2120 : Cinichus, a povere kniht, A Somme which was over myht Preide of his king.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6994 : Seynt Ihon called hys chaumberleyn And tolde hem [thirty pounds] to Troyle be summe certeyn.
- (1421) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.162 : The said Ambassiatours shall cast to what Some the Wages aboveseid wole drawe to..and..bring to the Kyng..and profre hym that Some in grete.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.57/5 : He..drewe the preist a-parte and, his gilt confessid, restorid to hym the money yn hole summe.
- (1426) Paston2.505 : Þe sayd Walter brought ine sorete of pese of grete sowme.
- (1447) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12161 : In supplement of the forsaide soeme..that yhe take the..arrerage of his tyme thatt is unrayside of dan Richard Wrake.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)2192 : When þai mak peticioun, A certayn soume þai sal lay doune.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)225/142 : Þat same oynement..Might same haue bene solde For siluer penys in a sowme Thre hundereth.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)154/4588 : But helpe, Fortune, þat y be not forlore, And set me of my grevous som a schore.
- (1474) RParl.6.102b : They..be chargeable of such sommes as shal be..reteyned by the..Maire..over the somme of x m xxii li.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)98/19 : For a smalle some he bought gret quantite of olyues.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)60 : Cofferer of the King's houshold..to dyscharge the Thesaurere of and for all suche summes as thys cofferer receivyth by the seyd indentures.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)33 : My good angell..said me what summe to pray for me.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)386 : Þe king nam..þoruȝ Engelond..summe of panes.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11840 : Þe king of is tresorie eche ȝer him sende A certein summe of sterlings.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Par.9.15 : Þanne king Salamon made two hundrid goldene speris of þe summe of sixe hundrid gold platis.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1558 : This marchant..payed eek in Parys To certeyn Lumbardes redy in hir hond The somme of gold and gat of hem his bond.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1119 : Upon som cooste a Sepulture, Under hire heved..Of gold he leide Sommes grete And of jeueals a strong beyete.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11577 : It was a mikel sume o quain O þaa childer þat war slain: An hundret fourti-four thusand.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.885 : So he [Palamedes] wolde..Þe same nyȝt with hem for to go Vn-to þe welle..To fet a-way þat grete some of good.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)136b/b : Þe disposicion nedeþ..raisyng with..a knotty threde..to frote it vnto it be mundified, And som tyme þer goþ out wiþ þe raisyng mych þing of þe summa of which [Ch.(2): of whos multitude; L de cuius summa] a man shal be meruailed.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)170a/a : He solde þe Resseit to kynge philip of ffraunce for a grete soumme of golde.
- (1443) Doc.Trade in BRS 778 : Item, ffurst & fformost þe summe of all þe ffruyte þt was laden in þe saide ship' be þe forseide merchauntes montyth..viij c sortes.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)266/1 : Foles..knowe not whate it is worthe no more thanne hors..knowithe the some of golde..that thei be charged with.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)6/1 : A couetous man..hadde a gret summe of catel redelyche gadrid to gydere.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.6 : Of alle the gomun and the grythe that on the ground groes, Grattur thenne Dame Gaynour, be grete sowmus of gold.
- (1454-5) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15151 : Summa of the said Juelx founden yn the seid procuratores dayes weyen nine score and six unces.
- (c1463-5) Paston (EETS)1.119 : Ser Robert..cheuysched dyuers tymes grete soummys of money.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)219/25 : Yit I may knowe that the sommes of money suche as our prince receyueth..is come by policye and diligence.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)177/22 : To hym came messangers..and hym Prait yf hit were his Plesynge endeynet to rescewe a grete Some of golde.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1407 : How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste Youre sommes and youre bokes and youre thynges.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)234/25 : Þe Spensers..lete fille v barelles ferers wiþ siluer; þe somme amontede v Ml. li.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)104/3 : Þis citee ȝeldez ȝerely to þe Grete Caan..L thousand comacyes of florenes of gold..a comacy contenes x m florenes, and so þe somme þat þis citee ȝeldez ȝerely commez to fyue hundreth thowsand florenez of gold.
- (1431) Plea Sharpe in RS 28.5 pt.1 (Hrl 3775)454 : The temporaltes of Bysshoppes, Abbotes, and Priours..rechen to the summe of three hundred and thirty-two thousand marke be ȝere.
- (1438) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.2 : So paide For iij doz. platers and iiij doz. dysches..sm of payment vj li. xvj s. vij d.
- (1440) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.4 : Item, rescewyd of John Selykwythe, iiij d..Sma rescewyd viij li. xvj s. ij d.
- (1454-5) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15162 : Summa resceyued to the cros viij li. xiij s. vj d. ob., & xj vnces quarter of broke syluer.
- (1467) Acc.St.John Peterb.in Antiq.51410 : Bowth of Water Watson also mych ledd the sum xxxiiij s. vj d..Also payd at iiij tymys in expense qwan the Sayd iiij chyrchrevys recunyd togedyr, sum viii d.
- (1475) Paston (EETS)1.376 : The somma off money þat I haue receyuyd off Wylliam Pecok: Fyrst, xl s. off Runnham. Item, off Bastwyk, xx s..Summa totalis vj li. xvj d.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)226 : The summa was iij Ml. marke.
- a1500 Retinue Edw.III Calais (Lamb 306)85 : The sume total of þe saide exspences..and before Calis durynge the sege there..iij c & xxxvij m ciiij li. ix s. iiij d.
2.
(a) A numerical quantity of actual persons or things, a number, count; also, a total number of actual persons or things; ~ of; bi (in, of) ~, in all, in number; taken ~, to take a census; (b) a number in the abstract, a figure; also, a total number, sum; ?also, error for soun n. [quot. a1398, 1st]; (c) arith. the product in multiplication.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.30.12 : Whenn þou takist a soume of þe sonnes of yrael, eche schall ȝeue prise after þe noumbre for here soulis to þe lord.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.91 : Alfrede telleþ þe som of schires in þis manere: Þere beeþ in Engelond sixe and þritty schires wiþoute Conewayle and wiþoute þe ylondes.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)2345 : Oure lord to him [Abraham] hiȝt..þer shulde also of his sede So mychel pepul aftir brede þat no mon myȝte þe somme neuen More þen þe sterres of heuen.
- (1400) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.55 : Kyng Richard and the Erl of Huntyngdon with these other lordes weren in the feld with a gret summe of poeple.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.29 : Abraham..hath saued þat bileued so and sory for her synnes, He can nouȝte segge þe somme.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1321 : Such a sowme he þer slowe bi þat þe sunne heldet, Of dos & of oþer dere, to deme were wonder.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)284/33 : Þe somme of þe Erles and lordes amonteþ lv.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Num.4.2 : Take the sowm of the sones of Caath fro the myddil of Leuytes bi houses, [etc.].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)458/16 : Vse þe grene collirie..the confeccioun of muske..Þe summe of the medecynes is x.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)448 : Seuen dayes to Sandewyche, I sette at the large -- Sexty myle on a daye, the somme es bott lyttill.
- (1442) RParl.5.59b : Summa of the men, mmcclx men.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)418 : Byfor þe..ȝates he formes to lenge Sixtene þousand by somme, while þe sege lasteþ.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4285 : If he be sexti ȝere of sowme þat a segge lastis, His successoure has bot þe same.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)208/24 : The soume or the nombre of synne [L Summa criminum] is encrecede whil it is defended.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)42/14 : As he sate so hym thought he herde a noyse of howundis to the som of thirty.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)109/17 : Þes makyn in somme tene thowsand ffyghtynge men.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)5 : Summa of the regnie of xxxiij kynges, ccclxxix yere.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.45 : Ȝif we deleþ þe somme [L summa] on þre and þe seuenþe parte of þe þridde, [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.161 : Algorismes Abece: Be which multiplicacioun Is mad and diminucioun Of sommes be thexperience of this Art and of this science.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325b/a : It semeþ me good..to sette somwhat fewe and lighte of þe propretees and diuersitees of nombres, of mesures, of wiȝtes, and of sommes [L sonorum].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)326b/a : Sixe..is þe firste perfite nombre; of þe euene parties þerof y-taken alle to gidre, þey makeþ þe same nombre and somme [L eandem summam].
- a1425 Sphere(1) (Hrl 3719)302 : Make a summe of al thuse [numbers] and wythdrawe al the thrytties that thou mayst, and that som that is left, take hede in the rolle withyn.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)484 : Summe, þe fulle of a nowmbyr: Summa.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)41/5 : Bryng the digit into aiþer part of the nombre componede, so þat digit be had into digit by the first rule, into an article by þe seconde rule; and afterwarde Ioyne the produccioun, and þere wol be the some totalle.
c
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)40/17 : Vnderstonde wele that of the multipliant may be made the nombre to be multipliede, and of the contrarie, remaynyng euer the same some.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)40/32 : If thow wolt wete how moche is 4 tymes 8..ther remaynethe 32, that is, to some of alle the multiplicacioun.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)46/9 : Mutiplie 3 by hym-selfe and þe some of alle wolle be 9.
3.
(a) The totality of something, the whole; in ~ and singulerli, as a whole and in detail; the ~ and the singularites, the whole and the parts, the one and the many; (b) the essential part of something, dominant features, essence, pith; also, an epitome [quot. ?a1425]; (c) a summary, summation, conclusion; in ~, in brief; (d) a major subdivision, heading, head; (e) a treatise dealing exhaustively with a subject, a summa; (f) the perfection of something; the summit, high point.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)260/36 : He ssolde him resti ine god þet is þe ende and þe uoluellinge and þe somme of his wylninges.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.510 : Be accor[ded] With-in þi silf, and pleynly nat ne spare Of þin entent þe somme to declare.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2029 : Maidenes han ofte sythes spared To schewen oute þat þei desyre in dede..Þei kepe hem cloos, for þei be nat bolde To schewem [read: schewen] out þe somme of her sentence.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2560 : To holde and kepen after al ȝour lyve, So þat ȝour dede acorde with ȝour heste: Þis is to þe fyn and somme of my requeste.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.244 : Thanne is sovereyn good the somme and the cause of al that oughte ben desired.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.m.3.44 : But whanne the soule byholdeth and seeth the heye thought (that is to seyn, God), thanne knoweth it togidre the somme and the singularites (that is to seyn, the principles and everych by hymself).
- (1447-8) Paston2.329 : He hath hurth me..so meche it is þat I can not say þe sum, gret hurt to me trewly.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)57/13 : Whan þis ladye had brefely expressed þe somme of hir sentence, withowte more abode sche disapered.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.301 : When þat þe soule is..separate, Beholdyng on þat souereigne þoght..Than may be seen..All thing in some and also singulerly.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7228 : Of þe mercy of God of heuene..þe somme þerof may no man neuene.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)97/10 : Ine þise zeue wordes [Beatitudes] byeþ besset ase ziggeþ þe halȝen al þe summe of þe newe laȝe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)2a/a : He made 7 bokes of cathagenorum, þof al we haue noȝt bot a somme.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.867 : Bi which exaumple[s]..Thow maist knowe..my [Fortune's] mutabilite; And..To declare the somme of myn entent, Grete Marrius to the I do presente.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)95/13 : The disputacion of eyen now is to swe, wher-in all the some of phisonomye is constitut, For of oþer parties yf þe signes of the eyen conferme them, þei ben þe more stedfast and certayn.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)84 : Whan thei were come be-fore hir, of her wordes this was the somme.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)122/30 : In these vij partyes is founde the summe of all prayers and the abbregement of suche thingis which causith the to aske.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.7.1 : The visioun of his hed in his couche and sweuen, he wrytynge comprehendide in short word, and in sum [L summatimque], or litil wordis, touchynge saith, [etc.].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.153 : But axestow in somme of what gylt I am accused?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.8.63 : Of alle whiche forseide thynges Y mai reducen this schortly in a somme [L in summam].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)144a/b : In soume, neþerlez wil Auicen þat rupte men leue replecioun & metez inflatyuez.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1559 : The somme is this, that Jason wedded was Unto this queen.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)168/31 : For to make an abhominable some of my evill and infinyte mischaunces, I se non othir exploit in the warres of this realme but onely londes forwildid and contreis disenhabited.
d
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)107/16 : Þe brayn panne is maad of manye boonys. Þe firste summe, þe whiche þat holdiþ þe prouitis þat longen to þe brayn panne, haþ ij helpingis, [etc.].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)108/1 : Þe secunde summe, þe which þat wiþhalt þe helpingis þat ben vndir þe brayn panne, haþ wiþinne him iiij helpingis, [etc.].
e
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.54b : Here..biginnez þe summe þat is icleped Cadit Assisa.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)2a/b : William de saliceto was a valent, i. myȝty, man & he made 2 summes in phisic and yn Cirurgie.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)13/17 : To alle suche bigynners, doctrine is..to hem mynystrid in her donet, in her summes, and in her instiwes.
f
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)109/15 : Humilite is onliche summe and souerain of alle þe hestis of Cristes religioun.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.4.114 : Ful litel thynges ben tho that withdrawen the somme or the perfeccioun of blisfulnesse fro hem that been most fortunat.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)27a/b : Auicenne seiþ þat þei [teeth] beþ of þe summe of þe bonys.
4.
(a) A group, company, host; (b) ?a mass of material.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)509 : So mony malicious mon..And of þat soumme ȝet arn summe..As lyttel barnez..And wymmen vnwytte.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1627 : The senatour of Sutere wyth sowmes full huge, Whas assygnede to þat courte.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1968 : How burde þe þan be sa bald..To moue þus..With slike a soumme ouir þe see a saute vs to ȝeld?
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2620 : Bathe þe twa batails bremely assemblis And aithire segg with his sowme [Dub: soumez] soȝt vn-to othire.
- 1448(1435) *Mandeville Brut (Arms 58:Kooper)f.325v : By his writt he ordenyd in euery hundred and and in euery wapentage of Engelond two triours of men of armys and of foot men þe which were putt in diuerse '-summes' as sum man was keper of xx and sum man of an hundred [Brut-1333 (Brie 236/1): in tuentysome and in hundredesome].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)342/27 : Charge hym that he be there with you wyth his hole somme of knyghtes.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7225 : If alle þe dropes in þe see..And alle þe leues þat men kunne neuene And alle þe sterres þat beþ in heuene..Weren alle in oone summe i-broght, Þe tenþe deel were þei noght Of þe mercy of God of heuene.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2321 : Send furthe a soume All of sure knightes.
b
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1463 : Yet more ye wolde haue to this summe, Swi[f]tli to melte as wax or gumme; Els myght it not entre..The centres of metalle..So ye wolde haue it both fyxe & flowe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.377 : Who so borweth of me abou[ȝ]te þe tyme With presentes priueliche or payed somme certeyne. So, walde he or nouȝt wolde he, wynnen I wolde.
Note: Sum Certein: In law of negotiable instruments, the sum payable is a sum certain, even thought it is to be paid with stated interest, discount, exchange, or other differences (Black).--from John A Alford, Piers Plowman: A Glossary of Legal Diction. 1988 p.149
Note: Probably belongs to sense 1.(a).--per MLL
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)20.31 : He can no certayn summe telle, and somme aren in hus lappe.