Forms: 3–7 ame, 4 eyme, 4–7 ayme, 6–7 aime, 7– aim. [In this word probably two vbs, are confounded, 1. Picard. amer, OFr. and Pr. esmer:—L. æstimā-re; 2. OFr. (aasmer, aemer, eesmer, eamer,) aesmer:—late L. ad-æstimā-re.]
† 1. trans. To esteem, consider, take account of. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. cxliii. 3. Or the sone of man, for thou eymest hym [1388 Thou arettist him of sum valu].
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, III. 762. Iff þe any thing have amyt abill me to, Þat þe me faithfully informe.
† 2. To estimate, calculate, reckon (a number or value). Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 240. An arme of þe se men kennes Þe depnes may non ame.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1596. No mon vpon mold · miȝt ayme þe noumber.
c. 1440. Morte Arthure, 4069. And alle Arthurs oste was amede with knyghtes Bot awghtene hundrethe of alle.
† 3. To guess, to conjecture. (With simple obj. or subord. cl.) Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Prov. xxiii. 7. For in licnesse of a deuynour … he eymeth [1388 gessith] that he knowith not. Ibid., 1 Sam. i. 13. Heli therfor eymyde hir dronken.
a. 1593. H. Smith, Wks. (1866), I. 268. No marvel if he did aim that his death was near at hand.
1602. Warner, Albion’s Eng., X. lix. 258. Supposing, by her Blushings, all would ayme her altred plight.
† 4. To calculate, devise, arrange, plan. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, V. 1679. Oppon þe auter was amyt to stond An ymage full noble. Ibid., V. 1562. Ymagry ouer all amyt þere was, Of beste and babery.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 223. My speech should fall into such vilde successe Which my Thoughts aym’d not.
5. To calculate one’s course with a view to arriving (at a point); to direct one’s course, to make it one’s object to attain. Hence fig. To have it as an object, to endeavor earnestly. Const. (to obs.) at; dat. inf.; sometimes for, perhaps by confusion with make for. † a. refl. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XVI. 7229. Ector to Achilles amyt him sone.
b. intr.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 98. Whan Henry was ryued þer, þer he wild ame.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, V. 2023. Antenor Amyt after anone To the palis.
1598. J. Dickenson, Greene in Conceipt, 24. Which aym’d wholly at singularitie, glorying to bee peerelesse in hir pompe.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. i. 138. Madam, you wander from the good We ayme at.
1649. Selden, Laws of Eng., II. xxvi. (1739), 116. That ease that the King aimed to enjoy.
1758. S. Hayward, Serm., xvi. 471. Perfection is what the Christian is aiming at.
1872. Jenkinson, Guide Eng. Lakes (1879), 293. Aim for the Steeple.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, ix. 91. In politics they aimed at being on the successful side.
6. intr. To calculate or estimate the direction of anything about to be launched (at an object); to deliver a blow, or discharge a missile (at anything) with design or endeavor to strike. Hence fig. To try to hit, gain, or bring into one’s power; to have designs upon, to seek to obtain. Const. at.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 735. And eymede ful euene to ȝyue þe strok.
1573. Twyne, Æneid., XI. (R.). This goddesse faire … from this hillocke farre at Aruns aimes within her sight.
1659. Pearson, Creed (1839), 230. Our translation, aiming at the sense, rendereth it, [etc.].
1718. Pope, Iliad, IV. 130. Aim at his breast, and may that aim succeed.
1769. Junius Lett., Pref. 18. Those who persuade you to aim at power without right.
1821. W. Russel, Mod. Europe, I. xxxvii. Edward … aimed at the absolute sovereignty and dominion of that kingdom.
7. trans. To direct (a missile, or blow); especially, to direct it with the eye before its discharge; to point or level a gun, etc. (at). Hence fig. To direct any act or proceeding against.
1573. Phaër, Æneid, X. (R.). Then Turnus, aiming long in hand a dart of sturdy oke … at Pallas forth it flung.
1603. Drayton, Odes, xvii. 67. Which didst the Signall ayme, To our hid forces.
1702. Logan, Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., IX. 99. Hee aimed a blow home at the charter.
1727. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1755), 11. Mrs. Bull aimed a knife at John.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 210. The laws enacted … against the Roman Catholics had really been aimed at himself.
8. absol. In both the preceding senses: To take aim; to form designs.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., IV. iii. 65. My Lord, I aime a Mile beyond the Moone. Ibid. (1608), Peric., II. v. 47. That never aim’d so high, to love your daughter.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, II. xxv. 136. They look about with two eyes, yet they never ayme but with one.
1779. Cowper, Olney Hymns, ‘Jehovah Nissi.’ Who gave him strength to sling And skill to aim aright.
Mod. dial. [To a boy throwing stones] ‘Now then, Charlie, you mustn’t aim.’
