Middle English Dictionary Entry
summen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | summen v. |
| Etymology | Imitative in origin; cp. MLG summen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To buzz, hum.
Associated quotations
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)7.123 : Al subtilly and smale yf that they [bees] summe [L gloss: murmurent; L apum subtile murmur audimus], Al hugely and haske yf that they humme..A signe is that their combes beth ful drie.