ppl. a. Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4 clumsed, clumsd, clomsed, clumst(e, klumst, clowmst, clomst, 4–5 clumsid, -yd, (7, 9 dial. clumpst). [f. CLUMSE v. + -ED.]
1. Benumbed with cold; numb, palsied, bereft of sensation and power of grasping.
1388. Wyclif, Isa. xxxv. 3. Coumforte ȝe clumsid, ether comelid, hondis. Ibid., Zeph. iii. 16. Sion, thin hondis be not clumsid.
1483. Cath. Angl., 69. Clumsyd, eneruatus, euiratus.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, s.v. Clumps, Clumpst with cold, i. e. benumbed.
1873. Swaledale Gloss., Clumpsed.
2. fig. Dazed: a. Mentally benumbed or stunned, dumbfounded. b. Of a faculty: Rendered powerless, stupefied.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12213 (Cott.). Clumsd he was quen he can here. Ibid., 12227 (Fairf.). My hert is clumsed for to here.
a. 1400. Gospel of Nichodemus, in Herrig’s Archiv, LIII. 418. Þe fendes … Said we er clomsed gret and smalle With yhone kaytyf so kene.
c. 1440. Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), II. xlv. The fende … as a clumsid caytyf bounden wyth the mighte of Jhesu.
3. fig. Hardened in sin, dead to moral influences.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xvii. 6. Men that er klumst in thaire synn. Ibid., cxviii. 70. Thaire hert is lopird, that is, clumst, thorgh pride and enuy. Ibid., cxix. 6. When i forbad thaim thaire illis, thai ware clumste, and strafe agayns me. Ibid. (1340), Pr. Consc., 1651. He es outher clomsed, or wode.
4. dial. (Cf. CLUMSE a.)
1877. N. W. Lincolnsh. Gloss., Clumpst, stolid, surly, uncouth, ill-mannered, taciturn.
Hence † Clumsthead, † Clumstness, mental or moral stupefaction; moral deadness.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lvii. 4. Þaire woednes is clowmsthed [MS. N. clumsthede], þat will not be turned. Ibid., xxx. 27. Connynge of ill & clomstnes in syn.
