▪ I. tome
(təʊm)
(Also 7 tombe.)
[app. a. F. tome (16th c. in Godef. Compl.), ad. L. tomus, a. Gr. τόµος volume, section of a book, f. ablaut series τεµ-, τοµ-, τµ-, to cut.]
† 1. Each of the separate volumes which compose a literary work or book; rarely, one of the largest parts or sections of a single volume. Obs.
| 1519 W. Horman Vulg. 84 A tome proprely is but a peace vnperfecte of a boke, neuer the lesse, it is taken for a great quantyte of a whole warke. 1548 Udall (title) The first tome of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the newe Testamente. 1549 Ibid., The second tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the newe testament. 1563 Homilies (title-p.) The seconde Tome of Homelyes, of such matters as were promysed and Intituled in the former part of Homelyes. 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa ii. 53 The said volume is diuided into three tomes. 1659 Baxter Key Cath. xxv. 151 A large volume containing six Tomes. 1672 J. Fraser Polichron. (S.H.S.) 503, I read over to him my own Triennial Travells abroad, in 3 tombes. 1731 Hist. Litteraria II. 493 To the IVth Tome will be prefixed a Collection of..Pieces, relating to the Life and Writings of the Author. |
2. A book, a volume; now usually suggesting a large, heavy, old-fashioned book.
| 1573 (title) The whole workes of..Tyndall..Frith, and..Barnes..collected and compiled in one Tome together. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iv. vii. (1651) 167 To what end are such great Tomes? 1730 Shenstone Ode to Health 30 Adieu, Ye midnight lamps! ye curious tomes! 1789 J. White Earl Strongbow I. 159 Father Hugh..prayed my acceptance of a little tome, covered with fine vellum. 1849 Miss Mulock Ogilvies iv, Ponderous tomes, in century-old bindings,—dusty piles of newspapers. 1890 Hall Caine Bondman ii. ix, ‘Bring me the Statute Book’, and the great tome was brought. |
3. fig.
| 1622 Donne Serm., Job xxxvi. 25 (1649) II. xxxi. 273 Who knowes..how many volumes of Spheares involve one another, how many tomes of Gods Creatures there are? 1654 Fuller Two Serm. 54 Seventhly, the Booke of men's Afflictions. Some account this onely a distinct Tome, or Volume, of the former Booke [Book of Men's Actions]. 1867 Bailey Univ. Hymn 9 He through your space-spread tome..His starry rede To man predictive speaks. |
4. A papal letter or epistle. Hist.
[ad. L. tomus, a. Gr. τόµος, applied esp. to synodical and pontifical letters or epistles: see Du Cange.]
| 1788 Gibbon Decl. & F. xlvii. (1836) 827 The tome of Leo was subscribed by the Oriental bishops. 1867 Manning Petri Privilegium (1871) 73 The Council of Chalcedon was directed by S. Leo to condemn Eutyches, whom he had already condemned. The Fathers of the Council would define nothing until they had heard the Tome, or dogmatic letter of the Pontiff. |
Hence (nonce-wds.) ˈtomecide (ˈtɒmɪ-) [-cide 1], a destroyer of books; ˈtomeful (ˈtəʊmfʊl), as much as fills a tome; ˈtomelet, a small volume.
| 1849 Curzon Visits Monast. 382, I ought, perhaps, to have slain the *tomecide. |
| 1859 Sala Tw. round Clock (1861) 141 How many *tomesful [error for tomefuls] of gossiping scandal will be talked! 1846 Worcester cites Q. Rev. for *Tomelet. 1884 Irish Monthly Jan. 52 This dainty tomelet. |
▪ II. tome
obs. f. taum, toom.