Middle English Dictionary Entry
claimen v.
Entry Info
Forms | claimen v. Also clamen, clemen. |
Etymology | OF clamer, tonic stem claim-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To utter a demand or request; ~ after, ~ for, clamor for, ask for; (b) to cry out in complaint, protest.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4481 : 'Cleymeþ he after cloþes?'..'Ȝis..cloþes he askes.'
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.345 : His [the Duke of Gloucester's] confession..fayned, he [the King] then proclaymed To staunche the folke þat for hym cryed and claymed.
b
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)1709 : Yef þei mithten, þei wold han fled. Þei ne mitht in no wise cleime, Here heritage is þer to ben.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.322 : Here barnes claymen and blame ȝow foule.
2.
(a) To lay claim (to sth.); demand (sth.) by virtue of a right or title, claim; also fig.; (b) to claim the right (to do, be, or possess sth.); also fig.; (c) to affirm one's possession of (a right or title); (d) to claim (a debt) of (sb.); (e) to have a valid claim to; be entitled to, deserve.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)3002 : Sire Saber..comeþ wiþ gret barnage And cleimeþ [vr. chalangeth] his eritage.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.926 : For she sholde nat clayme to greet lordshipe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1973 : He..preith the king of leve To gon and cleyme his heritage And vengen him of thilke oultrage.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9560 : Ȝyf a chylde be dede bore..And receyue nat þe bapteme, Of heuene may hyt neuer cleme.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1097 : Alle called on þat Cortayse and claymed his grace.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)11.210 : Men..bygetyn Out of matrimonie..mowe nat haue þe grace That leelle legitime by lawe may cleyme.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.180 : To cleyme a see in the heuenli consistorie.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.514 : Yf my brothir..wil cleyme or entre into ye same maner of Mekilfeld.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)68 : Chalengyn or cleymyn: Vendico.
- (a1444) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.29 : Other londys and tenementez..wer sesyd yn-to the hanndys of the full gracyous Princes..claymyng thaym as her dower.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1617 : In relegion..Sal þai..no þing clame be propirte, Bot al þing sal in comun be.
- a1450 The Fader of Heuene (Sln 2593)5 : Þe fader of heuene his owyn sone he sent, his kyngdam for to cleymyn.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)42 : He cleymyd no þing be þat titil.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)124 : Claudas..claymeth a Castell that the kynge Ban hath closeth in his londe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)240/381 : My hyer may I clame.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2380 : Thus cleymeth he the bot to stiere, Of which an other maister is.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.251 : Scotlond..þe whilk I hold, & salle þorgh right Clayme to hald [F clayme a tenir]..Heritagelik of þe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)13.58 : Thenne may alle cristine..cleyme þer to entre By þat blod þat he boughte ous with.
- (1448) Shillingford58 : They cleymeth to have the Cimitere fre.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4562 : Cauatise to clame all þe werd To rayme & to robry.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)366 : Owre colagis of monkis..claymen to be exempt fro þis bonde of þe olde lawe.
- (1467) LRed Bk.Bristol1.17 : Certain persoones..claymyn by Colour of our letters patentes..to bie and selle alle maner merchaundise withynne our said towne.
- a1605(c1471) Arriv.Edw.IV in Camd.1 (Hrl 543)4 : The Kyng determined..that..he shuld..say openly..that his entent and purpos was only to claime to be Duke of Yorke.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3544 : Þou sal neuer..In þi forbirth do claim na right.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.344 : Þei han heritage in heuene and bi trewe riȝte, Þere riche men no riȝte may clayme but of reuthe and grace.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1275 : Whatt ryghte þat he claymes, Thus to ryot þis rewme.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)32 : Oure cleymed title examynyng.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6252 : In Bretayne he cleymed ryght.
- (1467) LRed Bk.Bristol1.18 : The seid letters patents bi the whicch ye clayme your seid Fredam of beying and syllyng.
d
- (1420) Will in Bk.Lond.E.220/39 : Yf anneys of the Countour cleyme of me..a purse and xx s. or eny maner good ellys, þat thenne þe godes in the bille be rekeuered of her; and yf sche make no cleyme, Stonde hit for no dette, but on for a-nother.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)127 : Ȝif the dette be cleymed [F demaundee] be taylle with oute seel.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)60/22 : Yf any man..cleymyd any dette of hir husbond.
- (1453) Will York in Sur.Soc.30189 : If ther be ony mo dettes claymed of me.
e
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)534 : This curtysy he claymes as for clere det.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)942 : Cuthbert..played with þaim, Of maste myrthe þe pryse he claim.
- (1473) RParl.6.17b : That the same William and his heires, have, pursue, possede, inherite, clayme, and joye all Castelles, Maners..Possessions..as he and his heires shuld have doon..yf the same Acte..never had been made.
3.
(a) To designate (sb.) as (sth.), call, name, recognize (sb.) as; (b) to declare oneself (to be sth.); ~ kinrede of, claim kinship with; (c) to allege (sth.), assert, maintain; (d) ~ apel on, to make accusation against, charge (sb.); (e) ~ quit, ~ to be quit, to give up, resign (a right or claim); ~ quit, release (sb.) from (an obligation); also fig.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1226 : The monk hym claymeth as for cosynage.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12812 : Prophet sal naman me claim [rime: þaim; Trin-C: calle].
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.19 : Þei..mad tille him feaute..& cleymed him for þer chefe of West & of Est.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)117/8 : He claymez him self [Tit: þei cleymen; F se reclaiment ils] for ane of his [the Can's] mynstralles.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1370 : This iuge..Cleymed hir his seruant bi fals collusioun.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)147 : Trewaundrie bi name j cleyme it.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2535 : Troilus..was hevy chiered, For Diomede..Cleymeth to ben his parconner.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1120 : We clayme to been of heigh parage.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)22.445 : Þe pope þat..cleymeþ..to beo kepere ouere cristyne.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)201/32 : He cleymede kynrede of Kyng Edward.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1512 : Alle cleyme of o religioun to be.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Millers & B.(Hrl 2255)8 : He..Cleymyth to been a capteyn of that place.
c
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.324 : Ayres hardy to cleyme, That kyng..hym gaf catel.
- (1447) Shillingford28 : As ye have supposed and claymed and allegged by two..articulis.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)119 : Badde Aungyl..cleymyth þat..mans sowle schuld ben hys.
d
- c1450 As Reson Rywlyde (Lamb 853)61 : Þou erþe! on þee y clayme apeel Þat þou receyuedist his giltlees blood.
e
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2038 : If o þi fader þou haue despite, Of his blissing i claim þe quite.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.99 : Roberd salle cleyme all quite to Henry.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4548 : To pore men he gaf fraunchise, & cleymed þeym quit of þer seruise.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)198/30 : Iohn hawardyn..relesyde & claymyd vtturly to be quiet for euyr..all hys ryht & clayme..in all þat tenement.