▪ I. † ˈcumble, n. Obs.
[ad. F. comble:—L. cumul-um heap, heap over and above a measure, summit, apex, crown, etc.]
1. Heap, accumulation. rare.
| 1694 R. Burthogge Reason 276 That cumble of Accidents, External, Internal. |
2. Highest point, apex, culmination. (A Gallicism affected by Howell.)
| 1640 Howell Dodona's Grove 42 For a cumble of all felicity. c 1645 ― Lett. iii. xxxi, In Philip the seconds time the Spanish Monarchy came to its highest cumble. 1650 ― Cotgrave's Fr. Eng. Dict. Ep. Ded., This word Souverain..hath rais'd it self to that cumble of greatnes that it is now applied only to the King. |
▪ II. † ˈcumble, v. Obs. exc. dial.
Also comble, and in pa. pple. comelid.
[a. Fr. comble-r to load:—L. cumulāre: see acumble. Cf. cumber in same sense.]
trans. To oppress, deprive of power; esp. to stiffen or benumb with cold.
| 1388 Wyclif Isa. xxxv. 3 Coumforte ȝe comelid [v. rr. clumsid, cumblid] hondes [manus dissolutas]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 88 Comelyd, for colde, eviratus. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Cumbled..oppressed, cramped, stiffened with cold. Cumbly-cold, adj. stiff, and benumbed with cold. Intensely cold, if applied to weather. |
b. intr. To be or become benumbed.
| c 1280 Old Age in E.E.P. (1862) 149, I snurpe, i snobbe, i sneipe on snovte, Þroȝ kund i comble an kelde. |
Hence ˈcumbled ppl. a., ˈcumbledness.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 89 Comelydnesse, eviracio. |