Venom sb. and a.

Forms: α. 3–6 venym, 4 uenym, fenym (femyn), 4–5 wenym, venyme; 3 uenim, 3–7 venim, 4 wenim, 4–7 venime, 6 venimme; 4–5 wenem, 5–7 venem(e. β. 4–6 venum (6 Sc. winam); 4–7 venome, 7 venombe, 4– venom (4, 9 dial., vemon, 9 dial. wenom); Sc. 5 wennome, 6 vennom(e. [a. AF. and OF. venim (venym), variant of venin (see VENIN¹):—L. venēn-um (whence also It., Sp., Pg. veneno) poison, potion, drug, dye, etc.

  The change of the final n to m may have been due to dissimilation (a different effect of which appears in the OF. variant velin and It. veleno), but cf. pilgrim, vellum.]

  A.  sb. 1. The poisonous fluid normally secreted by certain snakes and other animals and used by them in attacking other living creatures.

  The venom of snakes is secreted in a poison gland communicating with the fangs, through which it is ejected in the act of striking.

  α.  c. 1220.  Bestiary, 139, in O. E. Misc., 5. Oc he [sc. a serpent] speweð or al ðe uenim ðat in his brest is bred.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14871. Strangli was þis folk felun,… Was nedder nan o mar wenim.

c. 1325.  Prose Psalter xiii. 5. Venim of aspides, .i. nedders.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 195. The galle of the dragon shal been hire drynke, and the venym of the dragon hire morsels.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6313. A serpent him our qweld…; Bot his venym it did na sare.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. viii. The serpent came oute and slewe the child through his venym.

1555.  Eden, Decades (Arb.), 67, marg. Serpentes without venime.

1652.  J. Wright, trans. Camus’ Nat. Paradox, III. 49. Like Spiders which make venim of Roses.

  β.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 20959. Þe nedder o venum sa strang.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, xiii. 5. Venome of snakis [is] vndire þe lippes of þa.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 4797. As gotis out of guttars in golanand wedres, So voidis doun þe vemon be vermyns schaftis.

1614.  Disc. Strange & Monstrous Serpent, B 4. [The dragon] will cast his venome about foure rodde from him.

a. 1645.  Milton, Arcades, 53. What the … hurtfull Worm with canker’d venom bites.

1727–46.  Thomson, Summer, 909. He [sc. a serpent]…, Whose high-concocted venom thro’ the veins A rapid lightning darts.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist., VII. ix. 195. The venom contained in this bladder is a yellowish thick tasteless liquor.

1813.  Byron, Corsair, I. xi. 28. Man spurns the worm, but pauses ere he wake The slumbering venom of the folded snake.

1821–2.  Shelley, Chas. I., I. 127. As adders cast their skins And keep their venom, so kings often change.

1873.  Mivart, Elem. Anat., 438. Poisonous serpents however are provided with an extra glandular structure placed beneath and behind the orbit. This gland it is which secretes the venom.

  † b.  Of venom, = VENOMOUS a. 3. Obs.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 311. Þeyȝ þere be no grete bestes of venym, ȝit þere beeþ venemous attercoppes.

  2.  Poison, esp. as administered to or drunk by a person; any poisonous or noxious substance, preparation or property; a morbid secretion or virus. Now rare.

  α.  c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., 408/207. Venim ich habbe, strong i-novȝh, þat ho-so þarof nimeth ouȝt … to deþe he worthþ i-brouȝt.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1010. Ech gras þat þerinne wexþ, aȝen venim is.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 21055. Venim he drank wit-outen wath.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 152. For venym for-doth venym.

1380.  Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.), 1133. Whi schuld venym or stynk lette vs to visite men in presun?

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xvii. 80. If venym or puyson be broȝt in place whare þe dyamaund es, alsone it waxez moyst.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 195. Many kingys … that myght not be ouercome with armys by wenym loste thar lywis.

1527.  Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, C j. Water of the same … is good to be dronke for venym and impoysonynge.

1555.  Eden, Decades (Arb.), 108. Fogeda,… throwgh the maliciousnes of the veneme [of a poisoned arrow], consumed and was dryed vp by lyttle and lyttle.

1593.  Q. Eliz., Boeth., I. pr. iii. 6. Thou haste not knowen Anaxagoras flight, nor Socrates Venim, nor Zenos torment.

1616.  Surflet & Markh., Countrie Farme, 179. Garlicke eaten fasting, is the Countrey mans Treacle in the time of the Plague,… as also against all manner of Venime and Poyson.

  β.  a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, xxx. 5. As venome is hid vndire a swet morsell.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, v. (John), 329. I wil þat þu drinke þe venome I sal þe gyfe.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 186. Ther is no venome so parlious in sharpnes, Os when it hathe of treacle a lyknes.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Orpheus & Eurydice (Asloan), 106. This cruell wennome was so penitryf, As natur is of all mortall poisoun.

1584.  Cogan, Haven Health, ccxliii. 265. The houses and the houshoulde stuffe, vnlesse they bee purified with fire … and such like, keepe their venom for the space of a yeare or more.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., IV. i. 62. Anoynted let me be with deadly Venome.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxix. 173. Till (if Nature be strong enough) it break at last the contumacy of the parts obstructed, and dissipateth the venome into sweat.

1685.  Temple, Ess., Gardens, Wks. 1720, I. 178. A great Preservative against the Plague, which is a sort of Venom.

1797.  Coleridge, Rev. G. Coleridge, 29. Some [trees] … Have tempted me to slumber in their shade…; then breathing subtlest damps, Mixed their own venom with the rain from Heaven, That I woke poisoned!

1896.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 731. Infection of the deeper tissues and of the whole body is chiefly due to absorption of soluble venom from the place where the growth of microbes is proceeding.

1910.  Contemp. Rev., March, 337. Fields of nightshade that are sufficient to themselves in their own foul venom.

  3.  fig. Something comparable to or having the effect of poison; any baneful, malign or noxious influence or quality; bitter or virulent feeling, language, etc.

  α.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 15389. Of all venim and of envi ful kindeld vp he ras.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 574. Þe venym & þe vylanye & þe vycios fylþe, Þat by-sulpez mannez saule in vnsounde hert.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 417. Ȝif manye wolden holde togedere in þis bileue aȝenus þe fend, it were a triacle aȝenus venym þat emperour prelatis sowen in þe folc.

c. 1400.  Pilgr. Sowle, II. xlv. (1859), 51. They have ben wretched and irous, ful of venym, of rancour, and of hate.

c. 1450.  Myrr. our Ladye, 205. God gaue mankynde fowde of lyfe wherin the enmy spued venym by a worde of lesyng.

1509.  Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps., xxxviii. Wks. (1876), 79. They laye before a man venym pryuely hyd vnder the colour of apperynge vertue.

a. 1569.  Kingesmyll, Man’s Est., vi. (1580), 33. That venime hath infected the whole race.

1607.  Hieron, Wks., I. 361. Hauing in him the arrowes of the Almightie, the venime thereof drinking vp his spirit.

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Surv. Leviath. (1676), 168. The veneme of this Book wrought upon the hearts of men.

  β.  1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 166. To speik … I sall nought spar…. I sall the venome devoid with a vent large.

1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., iv. 152. Lat men be war, and keip thame suire Fra wemenis vennome.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 215. Quha venum verie poysonable and deidlye in Germanie had souked out of Luther, and otheris Archheritikis.

1599.  B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., III. ii. Well, I am resolv’d what Ile doe.—What, my good spirituous sparke?—Mary, speake all the venome I can of him.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 533. Who this had seene, with tongue in Venome steep’d, ’Gainst Fortunes State would Treason haue pronounc’d.

1675.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 467. He was gone into the country, swoln with his new honour, and with venom against the fanatics.

1715–6.  Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), V. 170. Dr. Charlett continued his venom ag[ains]t non-jurors.

1759.  Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, III. 416. A dose of venom apparently prepared, and administered to poison the province.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xxxiii. The venom of your present language is sufficient to remind her, that she speaks with the mortal enemy of her father.

1860.  Emerson, Cond. Life, Fate, Wks. (Bohn), II. 321. Whilst art draws out the venom, it commonly extorts some benefit from the vanquished enemy.

  b.  With of (sin, envy, etc.).

  α.  c. 1315.  Shoreham, IV. 93. Þorwe þe fenym of senne Þat al mankende slakþ.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 530. Certes than is love the medicine that casteth out the venime of envie fro mannes herte.

1497.  Bp. Alcock, Mons Perfect., B iij. Y^e deuyl … sessed neuer with his venym of dyscorde.

1557.  Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 245. Beware also the venym swete or crafty wordes and flattery.

  β.  1435.  Misyn, Fire of Love, 64. If any odyr gretter, fayrar or strengar be cald in þe pepyll, onon he is heuy touchyd with venum of envy.

c. 1440.  Alph. Tales, 122. He told so mekull horrible venom of syn at þaim irkid to here hym.

1562.  Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 40. The sweit venum of deuyllish eloquence of wordis.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. iv. 45. Mingled with Venom of Suggestion.

1643.  R. Baker, Chron., Rich. I., 91. If it may not have the name, yet certainely it had the venome of a bitter Taxation.

1654.  R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 445. It were to be wished all the Venome of Detraction were spent against it selfe.

1697.  Prior, A Satire, 51. The Venom of a spiteful Satire.

  † c.  Used in addressing persons. Obs. rare.

1592.  Breton, Pilgrim. Paradise, Wks. (Grosart), I. 12/2. The pilgrime gan replie, Die ougly venum in thy villany.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., II. ii. 2. And. No faith, Ile not stay a iot longer: To. Thy reason deere venom, giue thy reason.

  4.  With a and pl. A poison; a particular kind of poison or virus.

  α.  1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 153. Of alle venymes, foulest is þe scorpioun.

1402.  Hoccleve, Lett. Cupid, 258. With oo venym another was distroyed.

1460–70.  Bk. Quintessence, 16. Þanne it schal be no nede to vse in this perilous cure venemys, as some lechis doon.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), U iij b. Suche herbes and venims that might poyson them in theyr meates.

1556.  Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 102. One Richard Roose … dyd caste a certyne venym or poyson into a vessell replenysshed with yeste or barme.

1594.  West, 2nd Pt. Symbol., Chancerie, § 29. Discerning and tempering by just proportions good venims from evil.

1604.  Jas. I., Counterbl. to Tobacco (Arb.), 100. The stinking Suffumigation whereof they yet vse against that disease, making so one canker or venime to eate out another.

1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 255. [Salamanders’] biting is deadly, having as many venims as colours.

  β.  1513.  Douglas, Æneid, VII. iv. 88. King Picus…, Quham, revist for his lufe, throu vennomys seyr, Circes his spous smate wyth ane goldin wand.

1580.  Frampton, trans. Monarde’s Two Med. agst. Venome, 115. These venoms partly doe kill us; partly we use them for our profite, and bodily health.

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 480. A man, whose nature infected with a stronger venome, poysoned other venemous creatures, if any did bite him.

1859.  Tennyson, Vivien, 459. Were all as tame … as their Queen was fair? Not one to flirt a venom at her eyes, Or pinch a murderous dust into her drink?

1904.  Brit. Med. Jrnl., 10 Sept., 571. The anti-effect of different specific antivenoms upon their venoms. Ibid., 574. The toxicity of the most powerful venoms.

  b.  fig. (Cf. 3.)

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccclxxxiv. 647. These people … retourned into their owne countreis; but the great venym remayned styll behynde, for Watte Tyler, Jacke Strawe, and John ball … wolde nat departe so.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 82. Ane winam aganis the poure man.

1583.  Babington, Commandm. (1590), 346. There is no speciall calling amongst men, whereunto by name this vice is not forbidden as a venome of all vertue.

1757.  Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., Wks. X. 411. Taunts and mockeries … which infused a mortal venom into the war.

1910.  A. R. Macewen, Antoinette Bourignon, ii. 54. The souls of the wicked will be gathered together in one corner of the earth, amidst all the poisons and venoms with which sin has polluted God’s handiwork.

  † 5.  A coloring matter; a dye. Obs. rare.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., II. met. 5 (1868), 50. Þei couþe nat medle the briȝte flies of þe contre of siriens wiþ þe venym of tirie.

1552.  Huloet, Venym,… is generallye [to denote] anye thynge whych altereth coloure, or nature of that wherwith it is myxt.

  6.  attrib. and Comb. a. Comb., as venom-breeding, -hating, -spewing, -sputtering; venom-fanged, -noyed, -spotted adjs.; venom-maker; venom-cold adj.

  Venom mouthed: see VENOMED ppl. a. 4.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter lvii. 5. Crist … lures not charmers and venym makers.

1382.  Wyclif, Ps. lvii. 6. The vois of the enchaunteres; and of the venym makere.

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 926. Medee … By-tauȝt Iason a riche ryng, That alle venym for-dede & strued,—That he schul not be venym-noyed.

1598.  Marston, Sco. Villanie, III. xi. 229. Avaunt lewd curre, presume not to speake, Or with thy venome-sputtering chaps to barke ’Gainst well-pend poems.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., I. 52. Jernsey,… whose venom-hating ground The hard’ned emeril hath.

1760.  Fawkes, Anacreon, Odes, xlii. 12. By rankling Malice never stung, I shun the venom-venting Tongue.

1828.  Blackw. Mag., XXIV. 481. The venom-spotted coils and serpent eyes.

a. 1847.  Eliza Cook, There’s a Hero, iv., in Poems (1848), III. 43.

1864.  J. C. Atkinson, Stanton Grange, 220. A venom-fanged viper.

1889.  R. B. Anderson, trans. Rydberg’s Teut. Mythol., 92. The venom-cold Elivogs.

1904.  Brit. Med. Jrnl., 10 Sept., 581. The treatment of venom poisoning.

1918.  Catholic Union & Times (Buffalo, NY), 7 Nov., 4/6. The chapel will be scrutinized by approved preachers, who shall have won their spurs by venom-spewing on all things Catholic.

  b.  Simple attrib., as venom-albumen, -flood, -globulin, -peptone, -snake, etc.

1845.  Zoologist, III. 1031. I found also five pairs of rudimental fangs,… apparently unattached to the venom-sac.

1847–9.  Todd’s Cycl. Anat., IV. 291/1. In the most deadly venom-snakes … the poison fangs acquire their largest size.

1855.  Bailey, Mystic, 54. Fire, ice and scalding venom-floods of hell.

1883.  Science, II. 24/1. Three distinct proteids may be isolated from the venom of the moccason and the rattlesnake. These they propose to call respectively, venom-peptone, venom-globulin, and venom-albumen.

1897.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 811. One observer classing a venom proteid with the albumins or globulins.

  B.  adj. Venomous; virulent, malignant, spiteful. Obs. exc. dial.

a. 1350.  St. Laurence, 158, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 109. And seyn bete his body bare With scorpions þat uenym ware.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xi. (Bodl. MS.). The venem spiþer hatte Aranea.

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 20959 (Trin.). Þe venym nedder þat was strong.

c. 1511.  1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.), Introd. p. xxxiv/1. Forestis full of snakes and other venym beestes.

1538.  Bale, God’s Promises, III., in Dodsley, Old Plays (1780), I. 18. In my syght, he is more venym than the spyder.

1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., V. 69. The venome clamors of a iealous woman.

1594.  Nashe, Unfort. Trav., Wks. (Grosart), V. 116. Things like sheep-lice, which aliue haue the venomest sting that may be.

1600.  Breton, Melanch. Hum., Wks. (Grosart), I. 13/1. Tis a subtill kinde of spirit, Of a venome kinde of nature.

1892.  E. Anglian Daily Times (E.D.D.). A man remarked to two boys fighting, ‘You-a-munshy [you amongst you] fare as wenom as harnets.’