Forms: 5 beem, beme, 8– beam. [?:—OE. béamian (given by Bosworth on Somner’s authority), f. BEAM sb.1]
I. From the ‘beam’ of light.
† 1. trans. To shed light upon, irradiate, illumine.
c. 1430. Life St. Kath., 86 (1884), 46. For aungels come from heuene and counforted hir, beeming þat place of derkenesse wyth vnspekable cleernesse.
2. trans. To throw out or radiate (beams or rays of light); to emit in rays. Often extended by forth, out, in. Also fig.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 30/1. Beme lygthte, radio.
c. 1690. South, Serm. (1843), II. xii. 207. That God beams this light into man’s understanding.
a. 1716. South, Serm., IV. 9 (R.). God beams in peculiar evidences and discoveries of the truth to such as embrace it in their affections.
c. 1750. Shenstone, Love & Hon., 187. The genial sun … Beams forth ungentle influences.
1785. Burke, Nab. Arcot’s Debts, Wks. 1842, I. 321. What are the sciences they beamed out to enlighten it?
1871. Macduff, Mem. Patmos, xviii. 241. That eye which once beamed affection now rayless.
3. intr. To shine radiantly. lit. and fig.
1640. S. Marshall, Serm. (1641), 9. No excellencie … like to that which beames out from God in the Covenant of grace.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 52. Her whole countenance beamed with smiles.
1839. Bailey, Festus, I. Yon sun beams hotliest on The earth when distant most.
II. From the ‘beam’ of timber.
4. To stretch (cloth) over a beam; to use a beam in Tanning (see BEAMING vbl. sb. 2).
[1558. Act 1 Eliz., xii. § 1. Deceitfull persons … doe vse to cast the pieces of Cloth ouer a beame … and doe by sundry deuices racke, stretch, and draw the same.]
1605. in N. Riding Qr. Sessions Rec. (1884), I. 9. Did beame ten webbes of lynnen cloth of the length of 20 virgates the piece.
1885. [see BEAMING vbl. sb. 2].
5. To roll (yarn or warp) on the beam of a loom.
1864. R. Arnold, Cotton Fam., 34. The yarn, which has now become ‘warp,’ is then ‘beamed.’
6. To shore up or support by a beam.
1538. [see BEAMING vbl. sb. 2].
