Middle English Dictionary Entry
venim adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | venim adj. Also venime, venem; sup. venimest(e, venimost. |
| Etymology | From venim n., as which some exx. here may be construed; sup. forms may reflect confusion or conflation with venimǒus adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Naturally endowed with venom, capable of inflicting a poisonous bite or sting, venomous;
(b) mortal, deadly;—used in fig. context with ref. to original sin;
(c) toxic, poisonous; lethal;
(d) corrupt, diseased, virulent; of an ulcer: purulent, festering;
(e) sup. as noun: the deadliest wound [lst quot.; perh. error for venimouste n.]; also, the most noxious or toxic things.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)20959 : Þe venym nedder…was strong.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.43v : [The herb] Basilisca .. suthe þat he sleþ þe moste venenous beste þat is [viz., the basilisk], mykel raþer þynges þat ben lasse venym.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)109/158 : His turmentoures tite him to take…And…betes his body bare With scorpions þat uenym ware.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)2a : Yf one be a-noynted with juis of þat erbe, he thar not drad no venyme worme.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)31/28 : It is so ful of nederis and of dragonys and othere venym bestis.
- a1450 *Trev.Barth.[OD col.] (BodeMus 16)18.11 : The venem [Add: venymous] spiþer hatte Aranea.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)5550 : Take an addre forto assaye Þe venymeste þat men fynde maye.
- c1500(1446) Morstede Surgery (Hrl 1736)106 : Capitulum xxij: of bytynge of an hors, hownd, serpent, bees, waspys, & venym bestes.
b
- a1400 PPl.C (LdMisc 656)21.161 : Venymost þing [Hnt HM 137: May no medecyne amende þe place þer he [scorpion] styngeþ Til he be ded, ydo þer-to, and þenne hit distrieþ The ferst venemoste thorgh vertu of hym-selue].
c
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f.206va : Water hare .. Þe blood mundefieth þe web & þe morphe & it is venym & hurteth and maketh þe lunge soor.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)1987 : Rembarbe…Take out of mesure is dedly and venym.
d
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)78/16 (1st occurrence) : A uenym [vr. venemy; L virulentum] vlcus is in whom aboundiþ venym sutil & liquid.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)20a : Þe levis makiþ venym humers to fle.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)28b/3 : Þe antrax…is worst of all enpostumes and venymost [L omnibus aliis venenosis apostematibus].
e
- c1400 PPl.C (Vsp B.16)21.161 : Venymest [vr. venymost þing; Hnt HM 137: May no medecyne amende þe place þer he [scorpion] styngeþ Til he be ded, ydo þer-to, and þenne hit distrieþ The ferst venemoste thorgh vertu of hym-selue].
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8626 : Wormes beþ yfostrid and fed And in mannes body bred Of þe muk of þe grettest metis Þat a man or a womman eetis, And of þe-selue lyue þei wel And of þe venymest euerydel.