† ˈwastum Obs.
Forms: 1 wæstum, -em, -im, wæstm, westom, westm, weastm, 3 Orm. wasstme, vestme, westum.
[OE. wæstm masc. = OS. wastum:—OTeut. type *waχstmo-z, f. root of wax v.]
1. Fruit, crop, produce; abundance of produce.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxxix. 13 Be þæs cyninges ᵹebode brengð eorðe ælcne westm. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. vii. 17 ælc god treow byrþ gode wæstmas. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 109 Iliche þan treo þe bereð lef and blosman, and nane westmas ne bereð. c 1200 Ormin 9284 Illc an treo þatt..Ne bereþþ nohht god wasstme Shall..beon hæwenn upp. c 1205 Lay. 32108 Þenne scullen i Bruttene blissen wurðen riue, wastmes and wederes sele after heore i-wille. |
b. transf. Fruit (of the body, womb), offspring.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 5 Forþon se wæstm þines innoþes is ᵹebletsad. c 1200 Ormin 1937 Þær brohhte ȝho þatt wasstme forþ Off all unnwemmedd wambe. |
c. fig.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 249 Andreas, for hwan gæst þu swa buton wæstme þines ᵹewinnes. c 1200 Ormin 15911, & nesshenn itt [thy heart] & godenn, Swa þatt itt bere þess te bett God wasstme i gode dedess. |
2. Growth of body, stature, form. Also (nonce-use), greatness.
| Beowulf 1352 (Gr.) Oðer earmsceapen on weres wæstmum wræclastas træd. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke xix. 3 Zacheus..wæs lytel on wæstmum. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 19 Þe fader is on þe sune on þrie wise. Þat on is on westme, for þat he is muchel and mihti ouer alle þing. Ibid. 127 Alse wat se he was þoȝen on wintre and on wastme..þo nam he ȝeme of mannes liflode. c 1205 Lay. 15698 Þa iwarð ich on vestme wunder ane fæir. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 69 A meiden..feier & freolich o wlite & o westum. |
Hence † ˈwastumless a., without fruit.
| c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xiii. 22 Sine fructu westemleas. c 1200 Ormin 13858 All iss itt [the heart] uss bifrorenn swa Þurrh hete & niþ & irre, Þatt all itt liþ uss wasstmelæs Off alle gode dedess. |