▪ I. enorm
(ɪˈnɔːm)
Forms: 5–7 enorme, 6– enorm.
[a. Fr. énorme:—L. ēnormis, f. ē out + norma mason's square, pattern.]
† 1. Deviating from the ordinary rule or type; unusual, extraordinary, extravagant. Obs.
| c 1510 Barclay Mirr. Good Mann. (1570) D iiij, A pure minde and simple..With none enorme maners, nor grieuous spot of crime. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 53 Seand the se so furius and enorme. 1638 Read Chirurg. xxiv. 180 If any enorme wound fall out whereby there is a solution of unity in the jaw bones. 1647 H. More Song of Soul ii. i. ii. xxii, Nought scorching, nought glowing, nothing enorm. a 1734 North Exam. ii. v. ¶163 (1740) 420 The Author..should have..said not a Word of the Matter, much less given in the enorm Depositions in the very Words. |
† 2. Of sins and crimes (rarely of persons): Abnormally wicked, monstrous, outrageous. Obs.
| 1481 Caxton Myrr. ii. viii. 82 The grete and enorme synnes that they [Sodom and Gomorrha] commysed. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 17/2 Heere commeth the enorme and horrible abuse of excommunication. 1570–87 Holinshed Scot. Chron. (1806) II. 447 The said desperate & enorme persons. 1600 Fairfax Tasso viii. lxxi, The neast of treason false and guile enorme. a 1639 Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. vi. (1677) 318 The enorm crimes..whereof he was guilty. |
3. Abnormally large, vast, monstrous; = enormous 3. arch.
| 1581 Savile Tacitus' Agric. (1622) 188 But there is beside a huge and enorme tract of ground. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcel xxxi. ii. 402 The Alani..wander..in..enorme and huge cantons [pagos immensos]. a 1734 North Lives (1826) III. 286 Expecting to see an enorm spectre. 1817 Coleridge Sibyl. Leaves II. 281 Condensed blackness and abysmal storm..Arms the Grasp enorm. 1871 G. Macdonald Wks. Fancy & Imag. II. 169 Mocking the enorm Strength on its forehead. |
b. Sc. Law. enorm † hurt, enorm lesion (in Roman Civil Law læsio ultra dimidium vel enormis). An injury (sustained by one of the parties to a contract) which amounts to more than one-half the value of the subject-matter.
| c 1550 Sir. J. Balfour Practicks (1754) 179 (Jam.) All contractes,—made by minoris in thair les age, to thair enorm hurt and skaith, ar of nane avail. 1888 Ld. Halsbury in Law Times Rep. (N.S.) LIX. 2/2 Validity, subject to reduction on the ground of enorm lesion, of the contract in question. |
4. quasi-n.
| 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 356 It sould proceid..As neidfull war withoutin ony enorme. |
▪ II. † eˈnorm, v. Obs.
In 7 also inorm.
[f. prec.]
trans. To make monstrous. Frequent in Davies.
| 1602 J. Davies Mirum in Mod. C iii. Then lets hee Fiends the fantacie enorme With strong delusions and with passions dire. 1612 ― Muse's Sacrifice (Grosart) 15 To help my hatefull hands that sinne inorm'd. |