Middle English Dictionary Entry
yọ̄mer adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | yọ̄mer adj. Also yemer(e, ȝemer(e & (early) gemere, gimere, (SW or SWM) ȝeomer(e, ȝeoumere; comp. (early SW) ȝeomerore; sup. (early SWM) ȝomerest, ȝeomerest, ȝeoumerest. |
| Etymology | OE gēomor, gēomur, gīomor. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Wretched, miserable, unhappy; also, of a ship: in dire circumstances; of a voice: expressing sorrow, mournful, sad;—used in adv. phrase;
(b) of a time: unfortunate, unfavorable; of an affliction: causing suffering or distress.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)40 : Þer ne mei non ualuwen, uor þer is eche sumer, ne non liuiinde þing woc, þer nis, ne ȝeomer.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6007 : Sellic heom þuhten a þissen liue whæt weoren þa ȝemere scipen þa ȝeond þa sæ weolken.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8267 : Me bond Hengest; þer wes þa Hengest cnihten alre ȝeomerest.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12903 : Heor-lockede wif weop for hire wei-sið…and hire ȝeddes sæide, ȝeomere stefne, ‘Wale, Eleine…þat ich þe uedde.’
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15594 : Þer wes Edwines ferde ȝeoumerest alre uolke.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15875 : Leoden weoren ȝeoumere, no nan uolc on londe þat of-fingred nes sære.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)531 : Þat cloth…beot him…in þen eiȝe; Þe wawes of þe se beoten also…A ȝeomerore gost þane he was, ne miȝte no man finde.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)169 : Þe he þolede þe gimere pine; he makede ane reuliche meninge.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)181 : Ðat child on his burde þoleð…and cumeð of gemere hwile in to grimme wunienge.
2.
(a) Of a person: cursed, damned; of a belief, thought, etc.: contemptible, base, vile;
(b) unpleasant, disagreeable; of fodder: poor, meager.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)95/837 : Twa hundret cnihtes…ȝeuene anan up hare ȝeomere bileaue…ant wenden to criste.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15791 : He wes ihaten Margadud; monnen wurðe him ȝeomerist [Otho: ȝomerest], for æuere he Ænglisce men bi-hehte hærm þene meste.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)217/113-14 : Alle þo signefied þet water, þet þurch yemere werkes oþer þurch yemer i wil liesed þo blisce of heuene.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)111/358 : Hy by herte senne Ȝet boute scheutþ hy…Þorȝ ȝeskynge efter gode, Þorȝ borȝ and ȝemer ȝelde.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)215/13 : Me ssel wyþ-clepie his herte to him and do al out alle seculere niedes, yemere þoȝtes, and þenche an his sseppere.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12447 : We heom scullen ȝarekien ȝeomere spelles.
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)250 : An Asse, Nabbe heo neuere so luyte mete, is trauail nis no þe lasse…Of ȝeomere þingue heo is i-fed.