also 4 acleim, 5 acleyme, 6–7 acclame. [Strictly there are two verbs: the current ACCLAIM ad. cl. L. acclāmā-re f. ac- = ad- to, at + clāmā-re to shout (cf. mod. Fr. acclamer), the spelling assimilated to CLAIM; and an earlier northern acleim, acclame, ad. med.L. acclāmā-re to claim (see many instances in Du Cange); the form of the latter suggests an OFr. *aclame-r, aclaime-r, but this is unknown to Littré and Godef.]
I. From med.L. acclāmāre = vindicāre, asserere.
† 1. To lay claim to, to claim. (In Scotch and northern writers.) Obs.
c. 1320. Syr Bevis, 1344. Ech yer [he] … Acleimede his eritage.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 495. How Donald of the Ylis come in Ros and acclamit the Erldome thairof.
1609. Skene, Reg. Majest., 12. That it may be knawin … quhilk of them hes maist richt, to the lands acclamed.
1717. Wodrow, Corresp. (1843), II. 326. Other Protestant Churches where this power is acclaimed.
II. From the classical L. senses.
2. trans. To applaud, extol; welcome with acclamation.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 243. A magnificent Prince that is honord & acclaimed of all his subjects.
1865. Cornh. Mag., Aug., 246. Beatrice … acclaimed by angels … descends to accompany him in his visit to Paradise.
1879. McCarthy, Hist. own Times, II. 165. An immense amount of national enthusiasm accompanied and acclaimed the formation of the volunteer army.
1881. Times, Feb. 24. The spirit which acclaimed the speeches of Mr. Bright.
b. (With complement.) To name with acclamation as; to proclaim or announce with applause.
1749. Smollett, Regicide, V. ix. (1777), 121. The shouting crowd Acclaims thee king of traitors.
1876. Swinburne, Erechtheus, 462. The twelve most high Gods judging with one mouth Acclaimed her victress.
c. intr. To shout applause.
1652. Stapylton, Herodian, 16. The Romans did this brave young Emp’rour crown … Acclaiming from their steeples and their towers.
1857. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. VI. vii. 343. And all men accuse, and uproar, and impetuously acclaim.
3. trans. To shout; to call out; spec. to utter an ACCLAMATION 3.
1690. L’Estrange, Alliance of Div. Off. (1846), vi. § 3. 247. We presently all rise up acclaiming, ‘Glory be to Thee, O Lord.’
1850. Mrs. Browning, Poems, I. 166. Who art thou, victim, thou—who dost acclaim Mine anguish in true words, on the wide air?
