Forms: 5–7 enorme, 6– enorm. [a. Fr. énorme:—L. ēnormis, f. ē out + norma mason’s square, pattern.]
† 1. Deviating from the ordinary rule or type; unusual, extraordinary, extravagant. Obs.
c. 1510. Barclay, Mirr. Good Mann. (1570), D iiij. A pure minde and simple … With none enorme maners, nor grieuous spot of crime.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 53. Seand the se so furius and enorme.
1638. Read, Chirurg., xxiv. 180. If any enorme wound fall out whereby there is a solution of unity in the jaw bones.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, II. i. II. xxii. Nought scorching, nought glowing, nothing enorm.
a. 1734. North, Exam., II. V. ¶ 163 (1740), 420. The Author … should have … said not a Word of the Matter, much less given in the enorm Depositions in the very Words.
† 2. Of sins and crimes (rarely of persons): Abnormally wicked, monstrous, outrageous. Obs.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., II. viii. 82. The grete and enorme synnes that they [Sodom and Gomorrha] commysed.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 17/2. Heere commeth the enorme and horrible abuse of excommunication, suspension, [etc.].
1570–87. Holinshed, Scot. Chron. (1806), II. 447. The said desperate & enorme persons.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, VIII. lxxi. 156. The neast of treason false and guile enorme.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., VI. (1677), 318. The enorm crimes (so they called them) whereof he was guilty.
3. Abnormally large, vast, monstrous; = ENORMOUS 3. arch.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Agricola (1612), 188. But there is beside a huge and enorme tract of ground.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXXI. ii. 402. The Alani … wander … in … enorme and huge cantons [pagos immensos].
a. 1734. North, Lives (1826), III. 286. Expecting to see an enorm spectre.
1817. Coleridge, Sibyl. Leaves, II. 281. Condensed blackness and abysmal storm … Arms the Grasp enorm.
1871. G. Macdonald, Wks. Fancy & Imag., II. 169. Mocking the enorm Strength on its forehead.
b. Sc. Law. Enorm † hurt, lesion (in Roman Civil Law læsio ultra dimidium vel enormis). An injury (sustained by one of the parties to a contract) which amounts to more than one-half the value of the subject-matter.
c. 1550. Sir J. Balfour, Practicks (1754), 179 (Jam.). All contractes,—made by minoris in thair les age, to thair enorm hurt and skaith, ar of nane avail.
1888. Ld. Halsbury, in Law Times Rep. (N.S.), LIX. 2/2. Validity, subject to reduction on the ground of enorm lesion, of the contract in question.
4. quasi-sb.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 356. It sould proceid … As neidfull war withoutin ony enorme.
