Obs. Forms: 1 ʓeomor, 3 ȝeo(u)mer, ȝimer, 3–4 ȝomer, Kentish ȝemer, yemer. [OE. ʓeómor OS., OHG. jâmar. A neut. sb. is represented by OFris. iâmer, OHG. jâmar, also âmar, MHG. jâmer (G. jammer) sorrowful desire. (ME. yēmer may partly reflect OE. ʓéamrung, ʓémrung of Vesp. Psalter.)] Sorrowful, wretched; grievous, doleful.
Beowulf, 49. Him wæs ʓeomor sefa.
a. 1000. Husband’s Message, 22 (Gr.). Siððan ðu ʓehyrde on hliþes oran galan ʓeomorne ʓeac on bearwe.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 169. Þe he þolede þe ȝimere pine he makede ane reuliche meninge.
c. 1205. Lay., 16566. Þer wes þa Hengest cnihten alre ȝeomerest.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1831. Twa hundret cnihtes,… þat ȝeuen anan up hare ȝeomere bileane.
c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 30. Þo … þet þurch yemere werkes oþer þurch yemer i-wil liesed þo blisce of heuene.
1340. Ayenb., 215. Þer me ssel … do al out alle seculere niedes, yemere þoȝtes, and þenche an his sseppere.
Hence † Yomerness Obs., wretchedness, misery.
c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 28. Þo gode werkes þet is biter to þo yemernesse of ure flesce.
