Middle English Dictionary Entry
blọ̄m n.
Entry Info
Forms | blọ̄m n. |
Etymology | ON; cp. OI blōm. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A flower, blossom; flowers, bloom; flowering (as a stage in the development of a plant); also fig.; bright as ~; beren ~, to flower; (b) as an epithet: Christ; the Virgin; (c) pre-eminence, superiority; beren the ~, have superiority, be the best.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10773 : Nazaræþ bitacneþþ..brodd & blome.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9328 : Þe wand bar lef and frut and blom.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)102.14 : Als blome [WB(1): flour; L flos] ofe felde sal he welyen awai.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)27 : Blomez blayke & blwe & rede Þer schynez.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)472 : Straw aboven blomes of qwerdelynges or of other gode frute.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)126/30 : A fayr pertre..al floreschyd wyth flowerys..and blomys.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)55/30 : None felicite so flowrynge nor so appareilid with blosomes and blomes of transitori riches.
- c1450 Whanne marye was greet (Lamb 853)293 : As of þe seed of erþe þer springiþ blome.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)686 : Þy doghtur bryght as blome.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)888 : Tres þat ben baren..xall..leuys bere & blome & frute.
b
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)720 : Þou [the Cross] berest þe rede blome.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)149/92 : Heyl blome on bedde; we xul ben vnbownde with þi blodi woundys.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)60/130 : That swete blome, That shall saue vs at his com!
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)97/4 : Mary, blyssed blome.
c
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)63 : Michel was svich a king to preyse..He was engelondes blome.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.322 : Þat kynde [the Columpneis] bare þe blome, riche men & curteis.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)578 : More haf I of..lyuez blom Þen alle þe wyȝez in þe worlde myȝt wynne.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4166 : Of alle knyghtes he [Julius Caesar] bar þe blome.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10512 : Ne was swylk speche..Þat he ouer hym ne bar þe blome.