Now Sc. and north. dial. Forms: 3– as in LEAM sb.1; also 4 lume. [f. the sb. Cf. ON. ljóma, also OE. ʓeléomod having rays (of a comet), Saxon Leechd., II. 272.] intr. To shine, gleam; to light up.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8197. On þe morn, quen dai suld lem.
c. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., 25. Ase jaspe the gentil that lemeth with lyht. Ibid., 52. Hire lure lumes liht, Ase a launterne a nyht.
c. 1330. King of Tars, 162. Alle the feldes feor and neer Of helmes leomede lihte.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 699. A triet Image … of true golde … With light that was louely lemyng þer-in.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., lxv. There come fliand a gunne, And lemet as the leuyn.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 326. The lyft lemit vp beliue, and licht was the day.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), III. 232. With birneis bricht, Lyke ony lanterne lemit all of licht.
1575. Mirr. Mag., Elstride, xxxv. And when she spake, her eyes did leame as fire.
17[?]. Dame Oliphant, xxiv. in Child, Ballads (1886), II. 410/1. He carried the match in his pocket That kindled to her the fire … That leamd oer Lincolnshire.
1768. Ross, Helenore (1789), 55. Now by this time, the sun begins to leam.
a. 1878. H. Ainslie, Pilgrim. Land of Burns, etc. (1892), 240. There leem’d a light frae yon high tower.
