Middle English Dictionary Entry
wem n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wem n. Also wem(m)e, (N) wembe, wimbe & (early) wæmme, (SW or SWM) weom(me & (in place name) weni- & (error) wein; pl. wem(me)s, wimmis, (?error) wemense. |
| Etymology | OE wemm |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wam n., wen n.
1.
(a) A material defect or spot; also fig. [quot. c1400 Bk.Mother]; also, an imperfection; withouten ~;
(b) error; mistake, flaw; also, infringement [quot. a1387]; withouten ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Kath.(LdMisc 108)151 : Þare nas so luyte wem on heom þat þe leste of heore here Oþur of heore cloþus a-peirede weren.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.185 : In þe cop of þat hil comeþ no clowdes, wynd, noþer reyn; vppon þat hulle lettre þat were i-write in poudre were i-founde wiþ oute wem at þe ȝeres ende.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)10a/b : In his kyngdom he [God] is lord and Emperour of alle…and conteyneth alle þing wiþoute any wem [L incontaminate].
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1003 : Jasper…glente grene in the lowest hemme…Þe calsydoyne þenne wythouten wemme In þe þryd table con purly pale.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)38/5 : Loke inwardlich in Crist wiþ his conuersacion and his techinge, For þat is þe bok and þe mirour wiþouten wem, in þe whiche ben hid alle tresoures of wisdom and conninge of God.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)34b(2)/b : Intemeratus: vntouched, wyþoute wem [Pep: clene, vnsoilled].
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)31/239 : His shose war wroght withouten wems, With gold bordures obout þe hems.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)521 : Wemme, or spotte: Macula, labes.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)9.157 : Hit [water] be cleer apperyng like the skie, Withouten wem or signe of thingis vile.
- a1450(a1400) Titus & V.(Add 36523)850 : Her clothes lastede without wem Fourty wynter in desert.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)28/20 : Þis watir is clerer and lyghter þanne is watir of rosys…ȝif þer be putte þer-inne sothyn fysch or flesche, it may ben kept…wyth-owtin wemme or with-owtyn rotynge.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Job (Bod 959)90 : Blisful Job þat ȝit anentis latynys lay in þe drit & with wermys of errouris brac out hool & wiþ oute wem ioȝeþ.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.451 : Of alle þe autentike grauntes þat ȝoure cherche haþ…we wil noþing wiþdraw, but wil þat it stonde and be i-keped wiþouten wemme [Higd.(2): stable and inconcussede].
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)1250 : I can ger stem Þe water wele, withowten wem.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)110a : Who art þowe þat dampnest oure power with oute wyse of corupcoun by an argument with outen wemme by þe wreche of þy magestee?
2.
(a) Bodily blemish or disfigurement [1st quot. also belongs to sense 4.(a); cp. L]; a bodily defect; also fig. [last quot.];
(b) pathol. a spot or flaw in the eye; ?a sty;
(c) bot. plant blight or defect.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)116/5 : On domes dæȝ…Drihten his halȝæ laþung & alle haliȝe ȝeclænsæþ & alyseð fram alle wemme [L inquinamento carnis et spiritus] & heom þenne swa wlitiȝe & swa unwemmed into his rice lædeþ.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)51/147 : Huy þat bodi up nome, Al-so hol it was with-oute weomme.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.King (LdMisc 108)94 : In al is bodi nas o weom þat man miȝte i-seo þer.
- a1325 SLeg.Assump.Virg.(Corp-C 145)231 : As þi body neuere iwemmed nas here of mannes ymone, Wiþoute wem also of rotynge hit schel arise of stone.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 11.15 : If…vnriȝtwisnesse abijdeþ not stille in þi tabernacle, þanne þou shalt mown reren þy face withoute wem.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)SSol.4.7 : Al fair þou art, my leef, & wem is not in þee.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)75/30 : Ȝif oon haþ do manslauȝter oþer symonye, oþer haþ a wemme and defaute in his body þat is vnknowe, þat makeþ hym vnable to a benefice of holy chirche.
- a1425 WBible(1) (CC 145)Dan.1.4 : He shulde bringen in of þe sones of irael…& þe childer of tirauntis in whom was no wem, faire in foorme.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.77 : In þe olde lawe weren þei wont to offre a lombe wiþouten wem…for þe synne of þe puple.
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)401/68 : Þo þe feer was wit-draue; þe body I-founde was hool wit-outen any wem.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)1339 : If a man haue an yuel wyf…Or haue a wem in any lym, Shal a man vpbreide it hym?
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)7/74 : It is impossible the colours of your qualitees to chaunge…I wot wel, wem ne spot may not abyde there so noble vertue haboundeth.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)84b/a : Defaute of siȝt in þe iȝen falleþ & comeþ…somtyme of euyl complexioun, somtyme of corrupcioun of fumosite…& of streite weyes, of webbes, of moles, & of wemmes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)116a/b : A man in whoos complexioun þe constellacioun of þe mone haþ maistrie schal nouȝt be wiþoute defaute oþir a wem in his eiȝe.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)247/3 : Macula is a wem in a mannys iȝe, & summe be white þerof & sittiþ vpon þe siȝt of þe iȝe, & summe bisidis þe siȝt.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)247/20 : I dide awei alle þe wemmys of his iȝen, so þat he miȝte se as wel as euere he dide tofore.
- a1475 Gilb.Angl.(Wel 537)51/2 : Other sikenessis þer ben of þe yȝen; Oon is a web or a wem þat coueriþ þe myddis of þe yȝe.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)95/28 : Eyen þat ben meene betwix blak and gray ben right good…Tho eyen ar worst þat haue about þem rede wemmes [Lyell: wemense; Lambeth: spottys, whit, or blak, or reed on all sydes] as blode.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)104/12 : Wemmys about the applis in the eye apperyng, it shewith an il man.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)33b/6 : Terys of eyen bene helid with colerye of myrabyliane…þe wem be don away with þe torte of a lesard.
c
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)930 : That other bowe was of a plant Without wem…of ful good fasoun.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)60/2 : Tak iij planttes of waybrede…þat all þe leues be with-owtten wemme.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)194/7 : Take ix trayfoles…and loke þat þe ben with-owt weme.
3.
(a) Bodily injury or harm; an inflicted wound; a sore; also, a scar; bringen in ~, to wound (a foot);
(b) sexual defilement, loss of virginity; withouten ~.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 SLeg.Swithin (Corp-C 145)126 : Þe ring þat was ek on is ston faste…Liȝtliche hy nome up wiþoute wem & as faste sette it þer.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6897 : Ȝif…hire vet in eny wemme be ybroȝt, Holdeþ hom gulti of þe dede.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.474 : Into þerþe þe swerd it fleyee Wiþ-outen wem or ani wounde.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2460 : Þat barn þe best adoun sette wiþoute eny maner wem þe worse it to greve, for non schold in þat barnes bodi o brusure finde.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.13.31 : Ȝif forsoþe he see þe place of þe weem [WB(2) vr. soor] euyn to þe nyȝ flesch…he shal reclose hym seuene dayȝes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.231 : He schewede opounliche þe wemmes of the sore woundes [L vulnerum cicatrices] þat he hadde i-fonge in Egipt.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.121 : This steede of bras…Kan…Beren youre body into euery place To which youre herte wilneth for to pace With outen wem of yow thurgh foul or fair.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)47a/b : Ȝif þe tonge semeþ hool wiþoute wemme and þe speche faileþ, þe defaute come of þe brayn oþir of synewis of felinge I-stoppid.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10764 : Þe man yn gode state þey fonde, lyuyng with-oute wem or wounde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19721 : Men lete him dun Vte ouer þe walles o þe tun, Wit-vten ani wond or weme.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.76 : So grete vengeance he nam of men of holy kirke Þat not did no wem tille him ne no trespas.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)137/952 : When Florent thoghte þat he wold founde Withowtten oþir weme or wounde, To Paresche he tuke the waye.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1866 : Hole and sound, with-owte wemme off yowre woundys, Nowe vp-ryse.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)139/15 : Þis herbe mad in a playster and leyd to ony venymous wymmys [vr. soore], it drawyth þe venym out-ward.
- a1500 Bevis (Chet 8009)208/4128 : Sevyn hunderid men he fellid to ground, Yet had he nether wemme ne wound.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7174 : Þogh þei wiþ teeth biteþ not hem, On hem þei maken manye a wem.
b
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)745 : Hou miȝt he of hir be bore Þat was a maiden bi fore…Wele may he þan…Ben y-bore of a maide, Wiþ outen wem apliȝt.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)86 : Þou schalt be mayden for him bi-foren, and after, Holliche with-outen wem.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)143b/b : Maydenhode of body wiþouten wemme is comyn to hem alle [bees].
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)11208 : Iesu hir childe bar she þore…Mayden wiþouten wem of flesshe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.131 : A mayden…conceyued þorw speche And grace of þe holygoste, wex grete with childe; With-outen wem [C vr. wommane wem] in-to þis worlde she brouȝt hym.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)1024 : Wymbe of birth es here non sene; Scho moder es als a mayden clene.
- a1425(c1300) Assump.Virg.(1) (Add 10036)129/647 : Þou woldest leue on him…That marie bare, in hure lyf, Clene maide and clene wyf, Clene widewe with oute wem [vr. vnwemmed with outen man].
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.24 : Aftir þi child-beryng, þou leftist maide wiþ-outen wem [vr. thou dwelledist unwemmed virgyne].
- a1450 Visit.Infirm.(1) (Cmb Dd.1.17)201 : I biseche…Seint Marie…as thow deservest bifor alle wymmen thurgh thy goodnesse, of God to beren withouten wein [UC: wem] of thy maidenhode.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)4075 : I bileue…in Iesu Crist…Conceyued of þe Holy Gost…And born of þe mayde Marie Wiþout wemme of hir body.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)2.526 : In to hir closet, the faders sapience Entrede is, with outyn violence Or any wemme vnto hir maydenhede.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)466 : God…of the virgyn unfold Was born without wemme in hir attamed.
4.
(a) Sin, guilt; moral impurity; a sin; ~ of sinne; maken a ~, ?to stain (one’s soul) with sin; yeven a ~ in-to glorie, besmirch (one’s) honor;
(b) an insult, affront.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)86/15 : Hwanen eart þu, la Hælend…wunigende buten ælcen lehtre & clæne fram ælcen wæmme?
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)98/29 : He wæs unilic ælle oðre monnum…on him næs nare synne wem.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)24/18 : Þet eadi meiden allunge unmerret, wið-uten eauer-euch wem [Roy: weom] wende ut of his wombe, heriende on heh hire healent in heouene.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)9/11 : Cleane religiun & wt ute wem is iseon & helpen wydues…& from þe world witen him cleane & unwemmet.
- (a1333) Herebert Wele heriȝyng (Add 46919)4 : Þou art kyng of israel and of Davidþes kunne, Blessed kyng, þat comest tyl ous wyþoute wem of sunne.
- a1350 SLeg.Cec.(LdMisc 108)12 : Lat, louerd, myn herte wiþoute wem be, þt it confundet be naut.
- 1372 Als i lay vpon (Adv 18.7.21)27 : With-outen wem of man Þe child sulde ben bore.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.33.24 : Ne ȝyue þou a wem in to þi glorie.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.14.5 : Virgynes…suen the lomb…thei ben with outen wem bifore the troone of God.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3111 : Make nat þy saule so wykked a wem To do wykkednes.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)991 : Gods awn dere child scho bare Witouten wembe of any syn.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.118.1 : Blessid ben men with out wem in the weie, that gon in the lawe of the Lord.
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)193/4 : Þe firste leef is holynes of body, þat is…þat the body be hole & clene þorgh castite wiþoute wemme of leccherie.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)370/14 : I maye euery daye receyue & offre þe, þat lambe with-oute wemme, I aske of the þat þou teche me how þat I schalle worthily receyue the.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)4/130 : Joachym and anne so mylde…brynge forthe mary…but she wold not be de-fylyde with spot nor wem of man.
- a1500(1413) ?Hoccl.Poems PS (Eg 615)p.xxvi/101 : Sey me…whethir þou were he Alone of woman in this world I-bore So clene of wemme.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.9.7 : Who vndernemeþ þe vnpitouse to hymself a wem [L maculam] gendreþ.
5.
In place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.253].
Associated quotations
- (1228) EPNSoc.62-63 (Shr.) ()303 : Wemme.
- (c1252) in Bowcock PNShrop.()244 : Wemme.
- (1316) in Bowcock PNShrop.244 : Wemme.
- (1367) EPNSoc.62-63 (Shr.) ()303 : Weme.
- (1400) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.) ()143 : Wemstedegrene.
- (1403) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.) ()143 : Wenistedegrene.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. wem.