Middle English Dictionary Entry
stēm n.
Entry Info
| Forms | stēm n. Also steme, (early) steam. |
| Etymology | OE stēam, stēm. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. stime n.
1.
(a) The vapor exhaled from decaying corpses or a person's body; breath; also, a fume believed to be generated internally in the body [quot. c1443]; (b) the vapor from hot liquid; (c) fumes of smoke.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)117/15 : Of heora muðen & nosðyrlen stod stincande steam.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2526 : Þe steme stode oute of hys mouþ brennand.
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8:Horst.)85 : Þan was þi seke body..reufully rowed and bled; þe stem stood of þi body & rekyd al-abowte.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)348 : Lust may come bi pricking fumys or stemys gendring in þe privei fleisch bi eeting of hoote..spicis or sawcis..garlijk or oynouns.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1818 : Þe stem stod vp, so þey blew.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)683 : Suþ dommyn þe diches with þe ded corses..Þat þe stynk of þe steem myȝt strike ouer þe walles.
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)836 : Kene knyghtis..crossen helmes, stif stedes in stour, out flow the stemes that all the medow and more myrkid about.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)473 : Steem, of hothe lycure: Vapor.
c
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 2.19 : I schal gife wondure in heuen..tokens in erþe..blode ande fire ande steme of smeke.
2.
(a) A ray or beam of light; (b) a blaze; also fig.; also, a flame.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)591 : Of hise mouth it stod a stem, Als it were a sunnebem.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)5573 : Þeo kyng syȝh alem so afuyr brond, And from þe trough astem to heuen stond.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.269 : Two stemys and bemys of lyȝt rysyn out of his face.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)473 : Steem or lowe of fyre: Flamma.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 2250)10342 : Fyr be way of kynde A steme has allway vp-steghyng.
- a1500 PLove (Cmb Hh.1.12)191/8 : Steem [Hrl 2254: who may flen þe stemynge of þi bryȝtnesse, þe bemes of þi pite?].