▪ I. † raim, v. Obs.
Forms: 4 raim(e, reyme, 4–5 rame, rayme, (4 -mi), 5 raym.
[a. OF. raim-, reim- (raem-, reaim-, etc.), stem of raimbre, reimbre, etc. (see raembre in Godef.):—L. redimere to redeem. (Cf. Skeat Notes Engl. Etym. 241.)
An app. instance of raim (rayme) n. in Alexander 4563 is perh. a scribal error for rauine, ravine.]
1. trans. To ransom, redeem, deliver (a person); to recover (a heritage). rare.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 23156 Þai sal be dempt al wit þe wick..Þat al þis werld þaim mai not raim. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 185 We clayme þis our heritage..& þorgh hard woundes of þam salle reyme it eft. |
2. To put to ransom, exact ransom from; hence, to spoil, plunder, deprive (of).
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 43 Eilred has no þing. Eilred is so reymed [F. raynt] of his tresorie. 1340 Ayenb. 44 Sergons þet accuseþ..þet poure uolc and ham doþ raymi [F. raembre] and kueadliche lede. a 1400–50 Alexander 2488 Þis souerayn..Þoȝt to ride & to rayme þe regions of barbres. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 16 We ar so hamyd, Fortaxed, and ramyd. |
b. To take away from a person. rare.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 2510 Þen am I raddest all our realme be raymed vs first. |
c. ? To treat with violence, to torment. rare—1.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 185 False marchauntis..preisen hym most þat foulest raymeþ alle þe membris of crist falsly. |
3. a. absol. To take at will. b. trans. To get possession of; to have control of; to rule over.
| c 1325 Pol. Songs (Camden Soc.) 150 Thus me pileth the pore and pyketh ful clene, The ryche raymeth withouten eny ryht. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 263 If he had..gyuen þam..þer wynnyng ilk a dele, þat þei mot reyme & gyue. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 93 Kynges and knihtes scholde..rihtfuliche raymen the realmes a-bouten. 1393 Ibid. C. xiv. 96 Al that the ryche may reyme and ryghtfulliche dele. |
▪ II. raim
variant of rame v., to cry.