Warm a. (and sb.²)

Forms: 1 wearm, 2 wærm, 3 Orm. warrm, 3–7 warme, 3– warm. [Com. Teut.: OE. wearm = OFris. warm (mod.WFris. waerm, NFris. wārəm), MDu., Du. warm, OS. warm (MLG. war(e)m, LG. warm), OHG. war(a)m (MHG., G. warm), ON. varmr (Norw., Sw., Da. varm), Goth. warm- in warmjan to warm, cherish:—OTeut. *warmo-, also *werm- (in ON. verme wk. masc. warmth, OHG. wirma, MHG. wirm(e) fem. warmth).

  The further relationship of this word is somewhat doubtful. In spite of certain difficulties it is probably to be identified with Indogermanic *g^iehormo-, or *g^whermo- found in Skr. gharmá heat, Zend gar^əma- hot, Gk. θερμός hot, L. formus warm, OPrussian gorme heat, Albanian zjarm heat, Armenian yerm warm, derivatives of *g^ieher- with a radical sense of heat. For another possible example of initial w in Teut. from *g^ieh or ghw see WILD a. Compare also the similar phonetic phenomena in Latin whereby older g^w gave g before ŭ and consonants, v before other vowels (e.g., gurgēs, vorāre).

  Some scholars have referred the word to a root *wer- found in Lith, vìrti to cook (trans.), OSl. vrĕti to boil, cook (intr.), variti to cook (trans.), varŭ hot. The primary sense of this root, however, seems to be rather ‘to well up, bubble’ than ‘to be hot’; cf. Lith. versmẽ a spring. The root is confined to the Balto-Slav. langs., and in them has no derivative corresponding in sense and suffix to the Teut. adj., which on the other view represents a widespread Indogermanic formation.]

  A.  adj.

  1.  Having a fairly high temperature; affording or giving out a considerable degree of heat (less than that indicated by hot).

  a.  of natural agencies and things, as the weather, air, climate, soil.

  Out of God’s (Christ’s) blessing into the warm sun: see GOD sb. 5 c.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 5. Sie lyft … is æʓþer ʓe ceald ʓe wæt ʓe wearm.

a. 1000.  Boeth. Metr., xi. 61. Sumor æfter cymeð, wearm ʓewideru.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 622. Þar inne ic habbe god ihold A wintre warm a sumere cold.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 410. Is no weder warmer þan after watery cloudes.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., I. 219. In spryngyne of the mone is best to sowe, In dayis warm.

1540.  Palsgr., Acolastus, II. i. H iij. To leappe out of the halle, into the kytchyn, or out of Chrystis blessynge in to a warme sonne.

1549.  Compl. Scot., vi. 58. [Rain falls] sum tyme in soft & varme schouris.

1577.  B. Googe, trans. Heresbach’s Husb., I. 34. Pease … must be sowen in warme groundes.

1727.  E. Laurence, Duty of Steward, 75. On a warm Soil well shelter’d with Trees and Hills.

1750.  Gray, Elegy, 87. The warm precincts of the chearful day.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist., VI. 347. The prisoners of congelation … waiting the approach of a warmer sun, to restore them at once to life and liberty.

1833.  Arnott, Physics (1853), 35. England is much warmer in winter than central Germany, which lies south of England.

1854.  Poultry Chron., I. 249. We … stand much in need of warm weather, and especially, warm nights for the young poultry.

1915.  Blackw. Mag., April, 467. A warm south wind was melting the fall [of snow].

  b.  of other things, typically with reference to artificial heating.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 914. His swerd sche tok a-swythe That warm was of hire louys blod & hot.

1577.  B. Googe, trans. Heresbach’s Husb., III. 119 b. In winter, your stable should rather be warme, then hot.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. i. 6. Whil’st yet with Parthian blood thy Sword is warme.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, XI. 323. They rake the yet warm Ashes, from below.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 11 March 1651. They … carried him before a warme fire to bring him to himselfe.

1741.  M. Grindal (title), Warm Beer, a Treatise proving … that Beer so qualify’d, is far more wholesome than that which is drank Cold…. With a full Confutation of all the Objections … against Drink being used Warm.

1764.  Whytt, Observ. Nervous Disorders (1767), 434. The warm bath affects the nerves with an agreeable sensation, removes spasms in the small vessels, [etc.].

1848.  Dickens, Dombey, v. Promise me to take a little something warm before you go to bed.

1849.  G. P. R. James, Woodman, vii. Our houses are more warm and air-tight than those of that day.

1871.  A. Meadows, Midwifery (ed. 2), 339. Warm poultices should also be kept over the abdomen.

  c.  fig. To keep a seat or place warm: to occupy it temporarily for another who is not yet qualified to hold it. (Cf. WARMING-PAN 3 c.)

1845.  Jerrold, St. Giles, vi. (1851), 55. Of course, the borough will be kept warm for the young gentleman…. He may count upon my vote.

1853.  Mrs. Gaskell, Ruth, xxi. Before the Cranworths had determined who should keep the seat warm till the eldest son came of age.

  2.  Of the body, the blood, etc.: Having the degree of heat natural to the living organism.

a. 1000.  Riddles, v. 7. Wearm lim ʓebundenne beaʓ bersteð hwilum.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 10146. Forrþi þatt itt [the tunic] iss neh þe lich & haldeþþ warrm þe mare.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 36. Þe blode was boþe warme & fresh, þat of þe schankes lete.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sompn. T., 119. Though I him wrye a-nyght and make hym warm.

1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 148. Thou art wyse inough, if thou keepe thee warme.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., III. ii. 9. A fur’d gowne to keepe him warme.

1693.  Dryden, Persius, vi. 13. For me, my warmer Constitution wants More cold, than our Ligurian Winter grants. Ibid. (1697), Æneis, II. 867. Go you, whose Blood runs warm in ev’ry Vein.

1754.  Gray, Progr. Poesy 40. O’er her warm cheek, and rising bosom.

1855.  F. Holbrook, in Poultry Chron., III. 398/2. Learn it [the calf] to drink new milk, warm from the cow.

1878.  Browning, La Saisiaz, 21. At the least warm touch of hand.

1919.  Blackw. Mag., Nov., 644/2. I found the carcase of a hartebeeste still warm.

  fig.  1737.  Pope, Hor. Ep., II. i. 147. Then Marble, soften’d into life, grew warm.

  b.  Of persons: Glowing with exertion or exercise, with eating and drinking, etc.; often with mixture of one of the senses 10–2. Of exercise: Strenuous enough to raise one’s temperature.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. v. 118. I am not warme yet, let vs fight againe.

1665.  Dryden, Ind. Emp., III. i. And Fighting gains us but to dye more warm.

1746.  Francis, trans. Horace, Art of Poetry, 322. A lawless Croud, with Wine and Feasting warm.

1753.  Jane Collier, Art Torment., I. ii. 61. For although it is noble sport to have a girl of sense to work upon, yet ’tis warm exercise.

1769.  Ann. Reg., 25. There is nothing that an army will not attempt or endure for a general who keeps the soldiers warm in continual action.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., xc. 9. ’Twas well, indeed, when warm with wine, To pledge them with a kindly tear.

1900.  Pall Mall Mag., May, 43. I was warm from my company, and was propelled by an abundant flow of vitality.

  c.  Applied to tears.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 187. And with warme water at his eyghen wasshen hem after.

1483.  Caxton, Golden Leg., 196/1. Thenne she … prayed god wyth warme teerys to helpe hyr.

1588.  Shaks., Tit. A., III. i. 20. In Winter with warme teares Ile melt the snow.

1648.  Bp. Hall, Sel. Th., lxxvi. 221. But if … we shall suffer our selves to be drawn away into some heinous wickedness, it must cost warm water to recover us.

  d.  Of a kiss, embrace (combining the literal idea of bodily warmth with that of affection).

1588.  Shaks., Tit. A., V. iii. 153. Oh take this warme kisse on thy pale cold lips.

a. 1764.  R. Lloyd, Whim, 45, Wks. 1774, II. 167.

1822.  [Mary A. Kelty], Osmond, I. 29. Imprinting on it another fond warm kiss.

1866.  Trollope, Claverings, iv. With the kiss of the dear, modest, affectionate girl still warm upon his lips.

  e.  = WARY-BLOODED. rare.

1793.  T. Beddoes, Calculus, etc. 242. The ordinary temperature of the blood of warm animals.

  3.  Of clothing, or the natural integument of animals: Made of material which retains heat in the body.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 418. Þet heo [i.e., your clothes] beon unorne & warme & wel i-wrouhte.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 23090 (Edinb.). Of nakidhed quen I drow harme, Ye gaf me cleþing þat was warme.

a. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, 30/36. Hit wer almes forto ȝeue ȝondyr pore man warmer cloþes þen he haþe.

1535.  Coverdale, Job xxxvii. 17. And how thy clothes are warme, when the londe is still thorow the south wynde?

1653.  in Verney Mem. (1904), I. 547. Here is now some cold snowie weather approaching, which incites mee to putt on warmer cloths.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 39. These are generally cloathed with a warmer coat of feathers.

1849.  G. P. R. James, Woodman, xi. Would that I had brought warmer garments.

1917.  H. Gibson, Diplom. Diary, 259. Mrs. Whitlock and everybody else is busy getting warm clothing for the poor and for the refugees from all parts of Belgium who were unable to save anything from their ruined homes.

  4.  Of a drug or edible: Producing a sensation of heat in the body.

1737.  J. Stevenson, in Med. Ess., IV. 387. Common Practice bids us … give warm, generous Medicines, Alexipharmicks, and all of that Tribe that heats, stimulates and forces Sweat.

1822–7.  Good, Study Med. (1829), I. 251. A pretty free dose of turpentine, or some of the warmer balsams.

1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 689. Its seed-pods … make a warm aromatic pickle.

  5.  Of a scent or trail: Fresh, strong.

1713.  Gay, Rural Sports, II. 68. The scent grows warm; he stops; he springs the prey.

1832.  P. Egan’s Bk. Sports, 211/2. As the scent grew warmer, the certainty of finding was confirmed.

  6.  Of the person chosen to seek or guess, in children’s games: Being near the object sought; being on the verge of finding or guessing. Also fig.

1860.  All Year Round, 4 Feb., 339/2. Here I get ‘warm,’ as children say.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. vi. He’s warm…. He’s precious warm. He’s close.

1893.  Nation (N.Y.), 24 Aug., 139/3. Showing how the author was ‘warm,’ and passed without seeing it very near to the object of his search.

  † 7.  Comfortable, comfortably settled (in a seat, throne, office); securely established in (possession of). Also, with converse construction, to feel the crown warm upon one’s head. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1630. Be not to rakel þough þou sitte warme.

c. 1430.  How Wise Man taught Son, 114, in Babees Bk., 51. If þou be weel at eese, And warme amonge þi neiȝboris sitte.

1601.  Imp. Consid. Sec. Priests (1675), 55. Her Highness had scarcely felt the Crown warm upon her head, but it was challenged from her.

1610.  B. Jonson, Alchemist, II. vi. A Gentleman, newly warme in his land.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, II. xvii. § 4. 481. The Philistims hearing that Dauid was now anointed king … thought to try him in the beginning, before hee was fully warme in his seat.

1647.  N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xlvii. (1739), 78. The conquering King was scarce warm in his Throne, whenas the Pope demanded Fealty of him for the Crown of England.

a. 1670.  Wood, Life (O.H.S.), I. 129. A. W. seemed very sorry at this news, because he was well and warme where he was.

1715.  M. Davies, Athen. Brit., I. 47. Before he was quite warm in Winchester, he fell into the King’s displeasure.

1809.  W. Irving, Knickerb., VII. iii. (1900), 258. Scarcely had the worthy Mynheer Beekman got warm in the seat of authority on the South River than enemies began to spring up all around him.

  8.  Comfortably off, well to do; rich, affluent. Now chiefly colloq.

1571.  Campion, Hist. Irel., II. ix. (1633), 114. But you are well and warme and so hold you.

1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 8. But I must plaie the farmer, and yet no whit the warmer.

a. 1624.  Bp. M. Smith, Serm. (1632), 118. All things seeme to fall out alike, to the one and to the other: nay, the wicked seeme to be the warmer, and to haue a greater portion in this life.

1626.  Middleton, Anything Quiet Life, I. i. You are warm, and blest with a fair wife.

1699.  Farquhar, Love & Bottle, I. 2. Your warm fellows are so far above the sense of our Misery, that they can’t pitty us.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 450, ¶ 2. For who does not know or imagine the Comforts of being warm or living at Ease?

1742.  Fielding, J. Andrews, II. xiv. ‘Though I am but a curate,’ says Trulliber, ‘I believe I am as warm as the vicar himself.’

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar W., xvi. They who had warm fortunes were always sure of getting good husbands.

1767.  A. Young, Farmer’s Lett. to People, 74. These farmers, and their warm, comfortable families, are of great consequence to the well being of agriculture itself.

1834.  Macaulay, in Life & Lett. (1880), I. 381. A warm man; a fellow who will cut up well.

1888.  Rider Haggard, Col. Quaritch, xxviii. He is about the warmest man in our part of the country.

1908.  J. S. Fletcher, Mothers in Israel, 304. With the serene consciousness of his value as a warm man.

1920.  Guardian, 5 Nov., 1034/4. In 1836 he was presented … to the very snug vicarage of Cheddar, and a year later he took to himself the still warmer benefice of Wiveliscombe.

  9.  Of fighting, conflict, an onset: Vigorously conducted; pressing hard on or harassing the foe; also fig. Of a combatant: Dangerous to tackle. Of a locality: Dangerous to live in, inhabited by turbulent spirits. Phr. warm work, hot fighting. To make it (or things) warm for (a person): to attack or ‘go for’ him, to involve in hostilities or broils.

1627.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Armado, C 2. The Sweat, a vessell of warme imployment or hot seruice.

1667.  Hatton Corr. (Camden), 53. You may easily imagine this does give us a warme alarum.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War (1905), 235. They had from the Camp of Shaddai such frequent, warm, and terrifying alarms.

1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 163. I saw the Mercury standing out of the bay, by which I judged the ship was too warm for her.

1759.  R. Rogers, Jrnls. (1769), 119. The Canadians and Indians … were soon stopped by a warm fire from the Rangers and Mohocks.

1760.  Cautions & Advices to Officers of Army, 182. If we had [been discovered], they might have made warm Work of it.

1793.  Washington, Lett., Writ. 1891, XII. 380. If he should be detected in any knavish pranks I will make the country too warm for him to remain in.

1813.  Southey, Nelson, II. ix. 255. Nelson then smiled, and said, ‘This is too warm work, Hardy, to last long.’

1817.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. v. 527. The action … was close, warm, and general.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, vi. This being warmer work than they had calculated upon, speedily cooled the courage of the belligerents.

1847.  Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Church, iii. 28. In his Second Epistle to Timothy … there are many traces of a warm persecution.

1874.  ‘Max Adeler,’ Out of Hurly-Burly, xv. 252. The bishop saw clearly enough that if he gave presents to the other children, and not to the late Simpson’s, the bride would make things warm for him.

1884.  Good Words, June, 399/1. The ‘habituals’ … are, as a body, congregated together in one particularly warm little street…. Outsiders do not care to venture into this warm spot.

  b.  A warm reception: a vigorous onslaught or resistance; a demonstration of hostile feeling.

  The phrase prob. belonged originally to sense 12 c, in which it is still current.

1702.  [see RECEPTION 5 a].

1737.  [S. Berington], Mem. G. di Lucca (1738), 37. We thought, by that warm Reception, they would have given us over.

1841.  G. P. R. James, Brigand, xxvi. We must give him [the rival] a warm reception.

  10.  Of persons, party-feeling, controversy, etc.: Ardent, zealous, keen; eager, excited, heated. Const. for, upon.

  Very common in the 17th and 18th c.; now somewhat rare.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 230. Yong conseil, which is to warm, Er men be war doth ofte harm.

1668.  Temple, Lett. to Ld. Keeper, Wks. 1731, II. 99. Which I could not have known, if the Marquis were not a very warm Talker, and sometimes farther than he intended.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War (1905), 314. Then said the warm man, and true hearted Mr. Zeal-for-God, Cut them off.

1687.  Atterbury, Answ. Consid. Spirit Luther, 20. Yet the Pamphlet is very warm with Luther for impiously accusing the Religious of uncleanness.

1705.  Hearne, Collect., 24 Aug. (O.H.S.), I. 34. He is now very warm for them.

1720.  De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xiii. (1840), 233. So warm were the men upon it, that they grew … clamorous.

1737.  Waterland, Eucharist, 113. Smalcius, a warm Man, and who seldom knew any Bounds.

1742.  E. Montagu, in Mrs. Montagu’s Corr. (1906), I. 130. The Debates were very warm, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer was terribly roasted.

1776.  Trial of Nundocomar, 59/2. The Counsel for the Prisoner speaking in a warm and improper manner to the Jury.

1791.  Burke, Th. Fr. Affairs, Wks. 1842, I. 575. Of all men, the most dangerous is a warm, hot-headed, zealous atheist.

1847.  Dickens, in Forster, Life (1872), I. ii. 49. I never can forget, that my mother was warm for my being sent back.

1850.  Grote, Greece, II. lviii. (1862), V. 161. A warm and even angry debate arose upon his present speech.

1874.  Geo. Eliot, Coll. Breakf.-P., 348. Doting reasoners Who hugged some reasons with a preference As warm Laertes did.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xix. (1885), 163. They … found the young man there in a state of warm indignation at the libellous paragraph.

  b.  Of the passions or disposition in general: Prone to excitement, ardent, impulsive; apt to disregard the voice of cool reason.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, XII. xiii. As Jones had the vices of a warm disposition, he was entirely free from those of a cold one.

a. 1768.  Secker, Serm. (1770), III. 50. They are just entering into the World … with lively Spirits and warm Passions to mislead them.

  11.  Hot-tempered, angry.

1547.  Q. Catherine Parr, in S. Haynes, St. Papers (1740), 61. My Lord your Brother hathe thys Afternone a lyttell made me warme. Yt was fortunate we war so muche dystant, for I suppose els I schulde have bytten hym.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, IX. 168. This warme and bitter wrath it grew of strife.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 440, ¶ 4. This insensibly grew into some warm Words. Ibid., No. 481, ¶ 3. They say he’s a warm Man, and does not care to be made Mouths at.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 505. I … begun to be a little warm with him.

1822.  Galt, Provost, xxxvii. A fine bold rattling lad, warn in the temper.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 123. He was mortified and irritated by the tidings. He held warm and menacing language.

1855.  D. Costello, Stories fr. Screen, 131. ‘It’s an expression of mine when I’m angry.’ ‘You’re warm,’ says he.

  12.  Of the heart, feelings, etc.: Full of love, gratitude, approbation, etc.; very cordial or tender.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Cock & Fox, 60. Quhen I behald ȝour fedderis fair and gent,… My hart is warme.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 150. The soule melteth whan it waxeth warme in deuocyon.

1740.  New Hist. Jamaica, IV. 86. He had a warm Side to the Royal Party, and encouraged the loyal Sufferers.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, V. iii. He was not yet free from doubt of misconstruing compassion, or at best esteem, into a warmer regard.

1822.  [Mary A. Kelty], Osmond, I. 73. Her heart was warm in the cause of her young friend.

1828.  Macaulay, Ess. Hallam, ¶ 43. The conduct of Hampden in the affair of the ship-money met with the warm approbation of every respectable Royalist in England.

1834.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Boarding-ho., ii. A very warm friendship soon sprung up between them.

1864.  D. G. Mitchell, Seven Stories, 57. I was beginning to feel a warm interest in the people over the way.

1904.  Verney Mem., II. 239. Her warm heart … made her welcome in every household.

  b.  with agent-noun or equivalent sb., as a warm friend, supporter. Also of persons: Full of tenderness or affection.

1765.  Museum Rust., IV. 314. A certain noble lord, a warm friend to every improvement in husbandry.

1827.  Lytton, Pelham, ii. Yet to those he loved, no one could be more open and warm. Ibid. (1838), Alice, III. vii. We should have thought that Lord Vargrave was her warmest admirer.

1842.  Dickens, Amer. Notes, ix. I have frequently heard this admitted, even by those who are its warmest advocates.

1854.  Patmore, Angel in Ho., I. II. vii. (1879), 205. Others as chaste and warm there are.

1891.  E. Peacock, N. Brendon, II. 379. They were now warm friends.

  c.  of utterances or manifestations.

1742.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 277. I beg you would present my warmest thanks to my Lord Carteret.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar W., xxxi. As you once had my warmest vows of constancy, you shall now have them repeated.

1782.  Cowper, Lett. to J. Hill, Nov. I received a note from old Mr. Small, which was more than civil—it was warm and friendly.

1814.  Byron, Lara, I. vii. Warm was his welcome to the haunts of men.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 206. He concluded by acknowledging in warm terms his obligations to the King of France.

1885.  ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, ix. She dispatched a warm invitation.

  13.  Characterized by, of the nature of, prone to, sexual desire; amorous.

1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 605. The warme effects which she in him finds missing, She seekes to kindle with continuall kissing.

c. 1630.  Milton, On May Morning, 6. Hail bounteous May that dost inspire Mirth and youth and warm desire.

1897.  Flor. Marryat, Blood Vampire, iv. She’s rather a warm customer, and if she takes a fancy to a man, ’e won’t well know ’ow to get out of it.

  14.  With reference to fancy and imagination, ideas, expectations, and the like: Ardent, lively, glowing.

1668.  Evelyn, trans. Freart’s Idea Perf. Paint., 49. Our Painters Idea was not, it seems, so warm.

1699.  T. Allison, Voy. Archangel, 52. Notwithstanding it froze extream hard at this time, yet we had warm hopes of getting to Sea.

1702.  Post Man, 23–6 May, 2/1. Yesterday there was a warm report that Her Majesty’s Ship the Lenox … had attacked a Fleet of French Merchant Ships.

1746.  Hervey, Medit. (1818), 33. May we learn to renounce our own will, and be ready to make a sacrifice of our warmest wishes.

1838.  Prescott, Ferd. & Is., II. viii. (1846), II. 424. Their imaginations were warm with the beauty and novelty of the scenes which met their eyes in the New World.

1849.  Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, v. § 24. 160. There is not one tender touch, not one warm stroke, on the whole façade.

1872.  E. W. Robertson, Hist. Ess., 192. Bridferth has drawn a very warm picture of the scene from which the indignant abbot snatched the king.

  b.  Of imaginative composition: Indelicate in its appeal to sexual emotion.

1814.  Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, xv. I do not know the play; but, as Maria says, if there is anything a little too warm … it can be easily left out.

1826.  Disraeli, Viv. Grey, III. vii. And then he stumbled on rather a warm scene in an old Château in the South of France.

1831.  Scott, Ct. Robt., x. He … avoided those warm descriptions which had given such offence to the Countess Brenhilda.

1846.  Hints on Husband-Catching, 18. The most immoral doctrines, the warmest scenes.

  15.  Of color: Suggestive of warmth; said esp. of rich red or yellow, and tints mingled with these.

1764.  Goldsm., Trav., 137. The canvas glow’d, beyond e’en Nature warm.

1815.  J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 752. Where a richer and warmer effect … is required, strong body colours must be employed.

1820.  Keats, Eve of St. Agnes, xxv. Full on this casement shone the wintry moon, And threw warm gules on Madeline’s fair breast.

1858.  Kingsley, Misc. (1860), I. iv. 198. The delicate yellow-green … fly, with its warm grey wings.

1860.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. IX. xi. 320. If the tones of the picture are kept low…, and the reflected lights warm.

1892.  Photogr. Ann., II. p. lv. Prints can be made either of warm or cold tones.

1897.  Sarah Grand, Beth Bk., xxxvii. The walls were painted a pale warm pink.

  b.  qualifying an adjective of color.

1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 155. The warm-blue breathings of a hidden hearth.

  16.  Of a bill: Exorbitant in its charges. colloq.

1892.  Daily News, 20 July, 5/4. He had expressed the opinion that a certain bill for stoves was ‘a warm one.’ ‘Excuse my ignorance,’ interrupted the Lord Chief Justice, ‘but what does “warm” mean?’

  17.  Comb. and spec. collocations: a. parasynthetic, as warm-backed, -colo(u)red, -complexioned, -constitutioned, -tempered adjs.; b. warm bath, a bath of warm water (often as a medical treatment); also warm bathing; † warm head, a warm-headed person; warm-headed a., having a heated fancy or excitable temperament; warm-house, a kind of hot-house; warm with colloq., (spirits) mixed with hot water and sugar (cf. cold without).

1847.  R. S. Surtees, Hawbuck Gr., iii. An atmosphere war-ranting the *warm-backed waistcoat.

1731.  R. Porter, in Med. Ess. (1737), III. 371. I resolved therefore to try what might be the Advantage of a *warm Bath, by relaxing the Intestine, and opening the Passage.

1858.  J. H. Walsh, Dom. Med., 370. Action on the skin by means of the warm-bath or the vapour-bath.

1744.  J. Stevenson, in Med. Ess., V. II. 867. *Warm Bathing, by relaxing and enlarging the Capacities of the Vessels, makes a Derivation of the Fluids into the Parts bathed.

1813.  J. Thomson, Inflammation, 173. Hot fomentations and warm-bathing.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xxvi. It was comfortably hung with a sort of *warm-coloured worsted.

1856.  Bryant, Old Man’s Funeral, 17.

1761.  A. Murphy, All in Wrong, II. 28. A smooth-faced, fiery eyed, *warm-complexioned, taper young fellow.

1775.  Adair, Amer. Ind., 190. The *warm-constitutioned young widows.

1684.  Def. Resol. Case of Consc. conc. Symbolizing with Ch. Rome, 32. By what figure do you call one Start-up *Warm Head a new Generation?

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., IV. iv. § 1. The advantage will be on the *warm-headed Man’s side, as having the more Ideas, and the more lively.

1749.  Lavington, Enthus. Meth. & Papists (1820), 95. Our rambling, warm-headed, itinerant preachers.

1843.  Florist’s Jrnl. (1846), IV. 175. They may then be placed in the *warm-house.

1903.  Westm. Gaz., 8 Oct., 10/2. The tubers … were first planted in a warm-house.

1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. ii. 437. *Warm-temp’red show’rs it sendeth in the Spring.

1796.  Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 244. The Ensign [was] more warm tempered and wrong-headed.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xxii. I know Lady Ashton is a warm-tempered and prejudiced woman.

1838.  Bentley’s Misc., IV. 575. A second tumbler of brandy and water, *‘warm with,’ stood exhaling its fragrance at my elbow.

1840.  T. A. Trollope, Summer in Brittany, I. 213. They have some other object and enjoyment in life besides the consumption of ‘warm with’ or ‘cold without.’

  B.  absol. and sb.²

  1.  That which is warm; a state, or sensation, of being warm; warmth. rare.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 538. Hi beoþ houhful & wel arme And secheþ yorne to þen warme.

c. 1350.  St. Christina, 251, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 95. Of al þe fire scho felid no warm. Þan come scho furth with-outen harm.

1379.  Glouc, Cath. MS., 19, No. 1, fol. 9 b. The more nere the sonne ys to vs the more hete or warme.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VI. xii. 16. A hait fyry power, warme, and dew.

a. 1547.  Surrey, ‘The sonne hath twise,’ 7. The winters hurt recouers with the warm.

1839.  A. Pike, in Blackw. Mag., XLV. 819. A pleasant warm is felt upon the sea.

  b.  In the warm: (of a solution, etc.) in a warm state.

1903.  Brit. Med. Jrnl., 21 March, 654. The union of toxin and antitoxin occurs in fixed ratios, more rapidly in concentrated solution and in the warm.

  2.  British (Service) warm, a warm short overcoat worn especially by officers of the army.

1901.  Imp. Yeom., Rep. D.A.G., 15 May (1902), 123. The coat or jacket known as ‘British Service Warm,’ which is practically an overcoat made to wear over uniform, thick and warm.

1912.  Blackw. Mag., June, 803/2. In a ‘British Warm’ and patched breeches.