† erme, v. Obs.
[OE. yrman, ięrman (Anglian *ęrman), f. earm miserable.]
a. trans. To make miserable, grieve, harass, vex. b. intr. for refl. To grieve, be sorry.
| c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. xvii. 121 Ic mæᵹ slean and ierman mine [h]eafodᵹemæccan. a 1000 Boeth. Metr. ix. 45 He [Nero] hæfde him to gamene..hu he eorþcyningas yrmde and cwelmde. c 1386 Chaucer Pard. Prol. 26 But weel I wot thou dost myn herte erme. 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 48 Thenne departed he fro the kynge so heuyly, that many of them ermed. |
Hence ˈerming vbl. n., grieving, sadness.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 1525 Theo bysschop weop for ermyng. |