Middle English Dictionary Entry
venimǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | venimǒus adj. Also venimouse, venimmous, venim(m)os, venimose, venim(m)us, venimes, venimis, venemous(e, venemos(se, venemose, venem(m)us, venemes, venemis, venemhous, venomous(e, venomus, venamous, vennimous, vennimis, wenimus & veminousse & (?error) vemens, (errors) vemous, venyows; pl. venimouses. |
| Etymology | OF venimos, venimeus, AF venimus, venimous. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. venenous adj.
1.
(a) Naturally endowed with venom, capable of introducing or injecting a toxic substance by means of a bite, sting, etc.; venomous, deadly; also in fig. context; of a bite, dragon’s breath, etc.: poisonous;
(b) naturally infused with a poisonous substance, toxic, lethal;
(c) treated, smeared, or mixed with poison, envenomed; also in fig. context;
(d) infected, corrupt, diseased; pestilential, pernicious, virulent; of a wound, an abscess: purulent, festering; also in fig. context [quot. c1450(1410)];
(e) as noun: poisons; also, ?infections, abscesses [could also be construed as pl. of venim n.].
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)203/17 : Þe uenimous eddres [read: eddre] of helle…is þe dyuel.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3295 : Hercules…slow the verray serpent venymus.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.41 : For venemous [L venenosos] wordes [read: wormes] þat were i-brouȝt þider leued þere, hit was i-demed þat the ilond Man schulde longe to Bretayne.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)430/7 : Þe bitynge of a woode hounde is dedeliche and venemous.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)59/2 : Þe vij chapitle…is a wounde maad with a wood hound eiþer of ony oþer venemous beest.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.582 : Al þe worlde his [Cerberus’s] brethe contagyous Infected hath, it was so venymous.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deut.7.20 : Thi Lord God schal sende venemouse flies in to hem, til he do awei and destrye alle men that fledden thee.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)80/2 : Þer sall na wylde beste assayle him þat berez it [diamond] ne ȝit na venymmous beste.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)772 : A vennymous flayre flowe fro his [dragon’s] lyppez.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1249 : Off summe off thise serpentys, the eyn so venymmus be That with her loke thei slee yche erthly creature.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)165/14 : Ireos…helyȝth þe venymous bytyng of wyrmus or of bestys [vr. byttyng of a vennymys beste].
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)194/6 : Ȝef a man be stongge with a wenymus wyrm or best…þis herbe…ley to þe wounde.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)194/36 : Þe cause…of is [dog’s] wodenes is a venemous worme þat lieþ vndur is tounge.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)55/4 : A good wif haþ…gret drede and confusioun yif sche brouȝt forthe raþer a serpente or a venemys worme.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)40 : Owr Sauyowr…hath dyssoluyde mankynde from þe bytter bonde Of þe mortall enmye, þat vemynousse serpente.
- c1475 The high Astrapotent (Hrl 2251)30 : They had of his lawe parfit instruccioun In voydeng the tourment of the vemous [read: venimous] serpent.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)101/26 : God was befor hom…to leghten hom from harme of edyrs and oþer vemens bestys.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)214/16 : Þe venemous blaste of this dragon slowȝe alle peple that euer it towchid.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.576 : Whan man…maketh a womman…bareyne by drynkynge of venemouse herbes thurgh whiche she may nat conceyue…yet is it homicide.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)116/29 : By smel alonly he knowiþ bitwene herbis goode and venymes.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)937/13 : A see oynoun…is…venymous if it is y-ete.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)177a/a : Þe fifte resalgar is a manere of venimous spice…miche liche to arsenek.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)161/24 : Be war of alle fyschis þat haue grete bodyis and thyk skynnys, for sqwyche maner of fysche is venemmus to natur.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8633 : Wormes þat in vs ly Clenseþ vs…Of venymous metis þat we take.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3521 : He toke an arwe, Entoxicat, sharpe, & venemous.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2570 : With þe venymous swerde a vayne has he towchede.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)23 : Wondirful loue…is sufficient for to aȝeinstonde þe venemouse dartis of alle fleschli loues.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)149 : With thornes venymous…I am so wounded…That I am lost almost, it smert so sore.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Spencer 19)1.1.4a : Cruel deth…smot me wyth his venemous dart.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)35/23 : They ȝaf hym a venemose drynke, the whiche was faire to sight and blyndid alle men that sawe it.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.265 : Kyng Rychard…Was hurt right ther with dartes venemous.
d
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1346/6 : Ȝolkes of eyren helpeþ þe venymous posteme þat hatte antrax.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)341/10 : It is a propre medicyn for to make clene…alle maner pustulis þat ben venymous.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)396/393 : Sumtym þe fete are infect with venymous hete, & sa is brynnynge & glowynge in þe solys of þe fete.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)103a/a : Jgnis persicus is a sikenesse in þe whiche þer ben manie pustules fulle of venimous water.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)19/18 : The 2 chapitre is of…a venymouse and gnawynge vlcer.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)218/1 : Of a biten wounde and venymouse: Of suche maner of woundes…when þai happen, the commune peple maken here medecynes, wiþoute any cirurgien, of garlik and of oynouns and of oyle.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)16594 : Þe venimouse eyr was al a-weye.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.141 : He clepid hym a posteme venemous [L strumam] All full of attre and corrupcioun.
- a1475 Gilb.Angl.(Wel 537)22/13 : Cathalmepsie comeþ of a venemous smoke þat comeþ…into þe heed.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)505 : Venyows [read: Venymows]: virulentus.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.315 : He schal smytyn þe with harde feuerys boþin cold & hoot and with venemous eyr.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)27a/13 : Herpes…is made of muche mater venemosse which þat is gaderd of many byles.
e
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)118 : For venymous [vr. wennys]: Þis seed…wole destroye venemous [L scrophas] and dissolue hem.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)151 : For venymous: Þis decoccion…doþ him good þat hauyþ dronkyn þe venym þat is clepid aconitum, [etc.].
2.
Fig. (a) Of a person, the heart, the eyes, etc.: infused with negative emotions, viciousness, hateful sentiments, etc.; filled with or displaying malice, spite, ire, etc.;
(b) morally or spiritually injurious, pernicious; corrupting, infecting; of deeds, behavior, etc.: vicious, hurtful.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)27/27 : Þe venimouse herte of þe enuiouse zeneȝeþ…ine ualse demynges, ine awarȝede glednesse, ine worse zorȝes.
- c1400 PLove (Hrl 2254)207/19 : So fare we wiþ oure venymous yȝen þat aren ful of coueytise.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5389 : Þis Achilles, cruel and venemous, Of hertly hate…smote hym to þe herte.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4124 : Ethyns of Argayle and Irische kynges Enverounes oure avawmwarde with venymmos berynns.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)68/11 : Gorgon may be vndirstanden for a cite or a towne þat…thorugh þe vicis of þe dwellers þerin, it become a serpent and venymose.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)25.312 : Calafer, this Terant, for-gat it nowht there that Child forto spille, Wit venamous herte & Evel wille.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.1244 : Venemous in anger was he as a bere, Dispetous, vengeable, with-oute discrecyon.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)25 : O ye all so synfull, wreched, and mercilese Scottisshe folke…I know wele that I shall nowe dye, and ma note escape youre venomous judiciall handes.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15045 : Thogh thyn herte be venymous…Outward, alway shew good chere.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)28.8 : He makis thaim perfite that ouercomes and puttis away venomus tongis.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)484 : Þat word me þinchez venimous to þe pays of þe londe.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)27/35 : Of þe moþe of þe enuious comeþ out þri manere wordes uenimouses…uol of corsinge and of biterhede an of bezuykynge.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3767 : What nedeth it of kyng Anthiochus To telle his hye roial magestee, His hye pride, hise werkes venymus.
- (1395) Wycl.12 Concl.(Th 17)299 : Þe founderes of þe almesse housis, for here uenimous dotaciun, ben for þe most part passid þe brode way.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)89/10 : Þe gyleful enemye ouercomeþ…by gile of venemes parfite persuaciouns and be gileful counsailes.
- a1425(c1400) 5 Wits (Hrl 2398)1/21 : Venemus lustes of fleschly lykynges of worldly vanyte haþ enfecte ȝour hertes.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)403/11 : He casteþ owt venymos fruyt of vnpacience & ire & hate aȝens his broþir.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.48/33 : This suttell serpent [devil]…with swete venymys wordis comfortid the dredfull.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5001 : She…wex cruel, ageyn al womanheede, To execute hir venymous desir.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)27/17 : Iustina was infect with þe venemhous heresie of þe Arianes.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)55/29 : Sum tyme her speche is deseyuable and venemous.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)85/7 : Þogh a pacient soule drinke venyme of dispetous and venemous wordis, it shal do him none harme.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)85/31 : Foul deth deyed that fals, cursid busshop Caiphas for the venemous, malicious, and fals counseil that he yaue ayens oure Lord Iesu Crist.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)15.5 : Warldis men drynkis the venomouse lustis and the drubly delitis of lychery.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)476 : Presthod & worldly lordchip ben boþe gode in þer kynde, & þe mynging of þes two were venemous.