Middle English Dictionary Entry

strēm n.
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Entry Info

Forms strēm n. Also streme, streim, stream(e & (early) striem, stræm(e, stram, streume, (infl.) streamen & (errors) streen, steme, strien; pl. stremes, etc. & stremus, stremies, (N) stremmes & (early) stremen, strimes & (errors) stemys, stermys, staames.
Etymology OE strēam, (Merc.) strēum.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A body of water flowing in a natural channel, a river, stream, brook; also fig.; ~ of water, flodes (water) ~; mid ~, the midstream of a river; (b) ~ of rein (rein-water), ?a rain-fed stream, wadi [transl. of L torrens]; (c) pl. the waters of a river or stream; (d) the channel of a river or stream, watercourse; (e) ~ tol, ?the right to collect toll for passage along a river; ~ werk, a place in a stream where deposits of tin are mined, placer.
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2.
(a) The ocean, the sea; also, a sea; se (salt) ~, ~ salt; (b) coll. & pl. the waters of the sea; also fig.; se (salt, water) stremes; (c) a navigable channel of the sea.
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3.
(a) Pl. Territorial waters; (b)law water, in contrast to land; -- used in formulaic expression of the extent of a liberty: on stronde and (on) ~.
Show 8 Quotations
4.
(a) The current of a river or stream, flow; also fig.; also, the middle part of the current [quot. a1398]; (b) a sea current; stremes of flod, tidal currents; (c) in proverbs and prov. expressions.
Show 18 Quotations
5.
(a) A flood, deluge; (b) a body of standing water, esp. that left by a receding flood [2nd quot. could also be construed as sense 1.(a)]; (c) ?a rainstorm; ?error for storm n.
Show 5 Quotations
6.
(a) A flow of water or other liquid issuing from a source, vessel, etc.; also fig.; (b) a flow or an effusion of blood, tears, or milk issuing from the body; ~ of blod, blod (blodi) ~; (c) an emanation.
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7.
(a) A ray or beam of light emanating from a heavenly body or a torch; also fig.; (b) pl. the tail of a comet; (c) the gleaming of a precious stone; (d) a heat ray; ~ of hete; (e) pl. visual rays, the rays sent out from the eye to the object seen; stremes visual.
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8.
A streamer, pennant.
Show 1 Quotation
9.
?As adj., glossing AL gurgitinus of a flood or stream.
Show 1 Quotation
10.
In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.163].
Show 11 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1450 Mirror Recl.(Hrl 2372) 55/104 : Þe welle of mercy þat neuere schal cece ne fayle flowed out in large stremees vnto synners to wassche and purge hem of her gyltes.
    • Note: Editor's note: "stremees: The ending '-ees' is unusual (not recorded in either OED or MED), but clearly so written in the manuscript here and on its other occurrence at II.ii.129, and cf. 'profreed' (III.i.45)."
Note: New spelling (pl.)

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