Middle English Dictionary Entry
blosme n.
Entry Info
| Forms | blosme n. Also blossom, (early) blostme. Pl. blos(t)mes blos(t)men. |
| Etymology | OE blōstma, blōstm. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A flower, blossom, bloom; a flower bud; in ~, in bloom, flowering; beren ~, to bloom; rose ~, rose blossom; red (bright, whit) as ~ on brere (bough); (b) fig. something of exceptional beauty or excellence; the best (of a class or category), the prime (of youth); (c) offspring, scion; -- with ref. to Christ; also, as an epithet of Christ; (d) a leafy branch, a green twig.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)70.9/3 : Ȝenim þisse ylcan wyrte blostman.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3631 : Alls iff þu nemmne blosstme.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)161 : Hit..brahte forð blostmes.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)75b : Breres [beoreð] rose blostmen.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)437 : Þe blostme ginneþ springe & sprede, Boþe ine tro & ek on mede.
- ?a1300 Maximian (Dgb 86)49 : Uuen blostmen [Hrl: blosmes] brekeþ on brere.
- a1350 Lenten ys come (Hrl 2253)2 : Lenten ys come..wiþ blosmen.
- c1330 KTars (Auch)14 : Þe meiden..Wiþ rode red so blosme on brere.
- c1390 St.Greg.(Vrn)6/47 : A douhtur briht so blosme on brere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3324 : A gay surplys As whit as is the blosme vpon the rys.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)217b/a : Þis tree is ful of fruyte neih alway, and som fruyt..is rype and som grene..and som in blossome [L in flore].
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)10735 : Whiche [wand]..þat blossum [Ld: blossom] bere.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)17a : Cowslope is an erbe that his blossum is well like to prymrose.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.172 : Boreas..yong sheep & blosmys greueth ille.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)290 : A knaue-chyld..As bryȝt as blosme on bowȝ.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)201/1582f : Here rode rede as blosom on the brere.
- a1500(?c1400) Triam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)628 : Sche was whyte os blossom on flowre.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)6/29 : Mi meiðhad..blostme brihtest i bodi þe hit bereð.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)85/26 : Ȝe beoð..ine blostme of ower ȝuweðe.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)22 : Alle meidene were wurðeð þe one, Vor þu [Virgin] ert hore blostme bi-uoren godes trone.
- a1350 Ichot a burde in a (Hrl 2253)17 : He is blosme opon bleo.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)55/30 : Þer is none felicite so flowrynge nor so appareilid with blosomes and blomes of transitori riches.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1933 : Þær toc ȝho [the Virgin] blosstme off Godess Gast Inn all unwemmedd wambe.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)219 : Understonded for woche þinge he [Isaiah] nemnede..hire [the Virgin's] cune bern to blosme.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)24/28 : Blostme [Roy: blosme] iblowen & iboren of meidenes bosum, Iesu godd [&] godes bearn.
- c1390 Welcome Lord (Vrn)14 : Heil god..heil Blosme vppon tre.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)217/500 : Hayll! blossome brigh[t]..Hayll! kyng comely.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)152/39 : Þe blosme upon his bedde born by bestys bynne.
d
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)89 : Folc..beren on here honde blosme, sum palm twig and sum boh of oliue.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4749 : May devoide of al delit, With seer braunches, blossoms ungrene.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)41 : Blosme, or blossum: Frons.
2.
The bitter-apple, colocynth.
Associated quotations
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)54b/b : Quinticie: blosmes.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)15b : A Blossom: Colloquintida, quinticie.