Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒmsen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒmsen v. Also cumsen, compsen. |
| Etymology | A reduced var. of commencen, occurring chiefly as a weakly stressed modal auxilliary in SW texts; cp. gin, gan, which prob. furnished the model for this use. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To come into being, come about; start, begin; arise (from) or originate (in sth.).
Associated quotations
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)2/1 : Her cumseð þe uie of seinte iuliane ant telleð of liflade..hire.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)616 : It [lovesickness] komses of a kene þouȝt þat ich haue in hert of william, þat bold barn þat alle burnes praisen.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)915 : I wold þe pray þatow me woldest telle bi what cas al þi care comsed bi a sweuene.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)920 : Þer schal [no] wiȝth of þe world wite whi it comsed!
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.128 : Yit haue I no kuynde knowing..þou most teche me betere, Bi what Craft in my Corps hit cumseþ [vrr. compsiþ, bicomseþ, comseth].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)1.161 : Loue..comseth bi myght, And in þe herte þere is þe heuede and þe heiȝ welle.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.190 : This [livery] makyth men mysdo..to stroute and to stare and stryue aȝeyn vertu..þe cause comsith in grette Of all manere mysscheff þat men here vsyn.
2.
To undertake (to do sth.);--usually, if not always, simply stressing the fact that something actually is done or occurs; e.g. comsede to leden, did guide; ~ for to fade, did fade; ~ grete, did greet, greeted.
Associated quotations
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)257 : He hine broute inte nazaret; Josep comsede ate frume feire hem toleden.
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)270 : He gan deuise..her gentrise..& comced to loue hir anon riȝt.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)424 : How þe kouherde for kare cumsed to sorwe.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)579 : Sche dwined a-waie..& al hire clere colour comsed for to fade.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)832 : Þan gan Meliors munge þe meschef þat hir eyled; þat oþer comsede to carp of cumfort & ioie.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1430 : Kurtesliche vpon here knes þei komsed him grete Godli..fro his gode sone.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.23 : I sigge as I sauh..How Concience with a Cros Comsede to preche. He bad wastors go worche [etc.].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.316 : Aȝeines catones conseille comseth he to iangle: Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.57 : 'Consummatum est,' quod cryst & comsed forto swowe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.338 : Corteis Catones consail comseth he by-grucche ..And þenne he corseþ þe kyng.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)11.20 : 'Contra,' quaþ ich as a clerke and comsede to dispute, And seide, 'sothliche, septies in die cadid iustus.'
3.
(a) To carry out (an order); (b) ~ wordes, to pronounce words, i.e. to speak.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)635 : Þe kyng comaundeþ a cry, þat comsed was sone..To spoyle þe spilt folke.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.34 : Curteislich þe knyȝte þanne comsed þise wordes: 'By my power, Pieres..I pliȝte þe my treuthe [etc.].'
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)4.35 : Comliche a clerk þan comsid þe wordis And prononcid þe poyntis aperte to hem alle.