[In sense 1 prob. a. OF. termer (14th c. in Godef.) to bring to an end; to limit, fix; in sense 2, f. TERM sb.]
† 1. trans. To bring to an end or conclusion; to terminate. Obs. (Cf. AF. OYER et terminer.)
c. 1410. [see terming below].
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 89. They shold here the cause, and … terme hit with a dew ende.
1570. Levins, Manip., 210/43. To Tearme, terminare.
2. To express or denote by a term or terms. † a. To express in particular terms, or in a specified form of words; to phrase. (Usually with as.) Obs.
a. 1557. trans. More’s Treat. Passion, Wks. 1376/2. Now doth this man … two ways … continue his pilgrimage, that is to witte as maister Gersonne in the Latin tong termeth it,… in a naturall continuance, and in a moral continuance.
1557. Recorde, Whetst., N iij b. Scholar. This rule is very obscure in woordes. Master. Then will I terme it thus [etc.].
1584. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 433. No merchant … should transporte … any goodes that apertayned to unfreemen (as it is termed).
b. To give a particular or specified name to; to name, call, denominate, designate. Now only with compl. (for which as is substituted in a relative clause); formerly with other constructions.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 2. Master of the holy palace (as they terme it).
1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Familye of Loue, Brief Descr. The Heresie termed, The Familie of Loue.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., To Rdr. Good Bookes may be tearmed wise guides.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 36. The brain, which we tearme the seat of reason.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 27. Incensing the people against … Officers, whom he term’d Blood-suckers.
1794–6. E. Darwin, Zoon. (1801), I. 94. This produces the contraction of fibres, which, if it be perceived at all, introduces pleasure or pain; which in their active state are termed sensation.
1872. Mivart, Elem. Anat., 282. Such muscles are termed rotators.
† c. With obj. and inf.: To state, affirm.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1212/1. His enimies (whome he termed to be sir Oswold Ulstrop, and maister Vaughan) were about the parke.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, Ded. 7. Terming those to be best soldiers that could liue without pay.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 107. Tearming vs … to haue monstrous backes, against the execution of Iustice.
† 3. To spend or pass (time) as in term. Obs.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 4. They Terme away their Dayes in Obsequious services of others, not allowing Themselves a Dayes vacation.
Hence Terming vbl. sb.; also attrib.
c. 1410. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), Prol. Men wote well that the grettest termynge [Bodl. MS. termynynge] of sekenes þat may be is swote.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Eph., Prol. To seke the edification of the playne vnlearned by playne termyng of wordes.
1591. Sparry, trans. Cattan’s Geomancie, 176. The place, house, or fygure is … all one thing … yet there is some difference in the tearming.
1643. Trapp, Comm. Gen. xxiii. 2. We read in the Gospel of minstrels and people making a noise at the terming-house, as they call it.
