Middle English Dictionary Entry
clēmen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | clēmen v. |
| Etymology | OE clǣman |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To besmear (sth.), plaster (with clay or pitch), caulk or seal by plastering; (b) to smear (a sticky substance on sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)312 : Make to þe..A cofer..And..cleme hit wyth clay comly wythin[n]e.
- a1425 *Trev.Barth.(Mrg M 875)316a/a : Newe crokkes wel stoppid and clemed with venn [Add: fenne] oþer with cley.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.339 : The fruyt of pynys nuttis..into the wynys Vessel let honge, and cleme [L superliniri] hit wel therto.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)214/677 : Cleme it [a pot] wele a boute with clay.
- c1450 WBible(2) (Bod 277)Ex.2.3 : Clemede [Roy: sche took a leep of segge, and bawmede it with tar and pitch; WB(1): glewide; L linivit].
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.871 : Cleme uppon the wounde oxdong aboute.
- a1500 Wycl.Serm.(NC 95:Arnold)2.93 fn. : Clemed [Bod: Crist..clammyde cley on his eyen].
2.
(a) To make (sth.) stick together, glue (sth.) together; also fig.; (b) to stick fast (to sth.), adhere.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)83b/b : If a colde humour is cause..þe yȝe is..Igreued by nyȝte & clemyd [L inuiscatur].
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8)21/62 : Þi heere mevyth with þe wynde, clemyd with þe blood.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)43.27 : Clemyd [vr. englymede; L conglutinatus] is in erthe oure wambe..Oure wit that is clemyd [vr. engleymede] in erthly luf.
b
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8:Horst.)84 : It [Christ's kyrtel]..þat clemyd faste with þe blode of þat harde scowrgynge to þe flesch of þi body.
3.
Of a candle: to melt down, gutter.
Associated quotations
- c1400 PPl.C (Cmb Dd 3.13)4.106 : Clemyng [Hnt: And þorw a candel, clomyng in a corsed place].