Pa. t. and pa. pple. warmed. Forms: 1 werman, wærman, wirman, wyrman; wearmian; 2–3 Orm. warrmenn, 3 werme, wormie, 3–7 warme, 5– warm. [Two formations: (i) OE. (*wierman), węrman, wirman trans. = OS. warmian (MLG., (M)Du. warmen), OHG. warmen, wermen (MHG. wermen, mod.G. wärmen), ON. verma (Sw. värma, Da. varme), Goth. warmjan:—OTeut. *warmjan; (ii) OE. wearmian intr. = OHG. war(a)mên (MHG., early mod.G. warmen):—OTeut. type *warmǽjan; both f. OTeut. *warmo- WARM a.]
I. trans. To make warm.
1. To make (one’s body, limbs, etc.) warm by approach to a fire, exposure to the sun’s rays, exercise, clothing, etc.; to impart warmth to (a person or animal suffering from cold).
c. 900. Bæda’s Hist., III. xiv. (1890), 196. Se cyning þonne, forðon he of huntað cwom ʓestod æt þam fyre & hine wyrmde.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xviii. 14. Þa þeʓnas stodon æt þam gledon, & wyrmdon hiʓ.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2711. To wasshenn hemm, to warrmenn hemm, To beddenn hemm & frofrenn.
c. 1205. Lay., 12609. Nu þu scalt þe warmen [c. 1275 wormie] ber.
c. 1275. Passion of our Lord, 230, in O. E. Misc., 43. Peter stod … and wermede hym at the glede.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23090. O naked-hed quen i drogh arme, Yee gaf me clething me to warme.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 332. For no cold þat vs comeþ in oure kinde age, We ne faren to no fir our fingrus to warme.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 431. Þan he oppynd þe dure & said vnto hym: And you be a man, þou hase myster to hafe þe dure opynd, and to hafe meatt and warm þe.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 169. Prayng hym that he wold brynge her in to some hous where she myghte warme and chauffe her wyth her chyld for he was nyhe ded for cold.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 238 b. All the Ladyes entered the tentes and there warmed them a space.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, II. ix. 101. I felt so great cold, as I was forced to go into the sunne to warme me.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xix. 121. His hands must be their own fire, and warm themselves with working.
1798. Sophia Lee, Canterb. T., Young Lady’s T., II. 74. A group of fishermen sat warming themselves in the sun.
1831. Scott, Ct. Robt., xxvi. Think not I will once more warm in my bosom the household snake which had so nearly stung me to death.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. xiv. You little serpent, warmed by my fire.
1860. Tyndall, Glaciers, I. xi. 72. We rose … renewed the fire and warmed ourselves.
1902. R. Bagot, Donna Diana, i. 4. Shall we go to Aragno’s on our way home and have some coffee to warm us?
absol. 1611. Bible, Isa. xlvii. 14. There shall not be a coale to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
b. Said of a fire, the sun, etc. Also absol.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 216 b. Whiche sight as much pleased the citizens, as a fier paynted on the wall, warmed the olde woman.
1583. Babington, Commandm., 413. When they are colde, they goe to the fire, and not to the water to warme them; and can they not tell which dooth warme and which dooth coole?
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, i. 271. All are but parts of one stupendous whole … That … Warms in the sun, refreshes in the breeze.
c. To increase the animal heat of. In quot. absol.
1610. Markham, Masterp., II. clxxiii. 483. It looseth and scattereth humors, warmeth and moisteneth.
d. Said of the blood.
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, II. xvii. He was as honest a soul, added Trim, (pulling out his handkerchief) as ever blood warmed.
1810. Scott, Lady of Lake, V. xiv. For I have sworn this braid to stain In the best blood that warms thy vein.
1896. Housman, Shropshire Lad, xxxi. The blood that warms an English yeoman.
2. In various figurative uses.
a. To inspire with affection or kindly feelings; to cause to ‘glow’ with pleasure.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 266. It calefyeth & warmeth the hert of man or woman with the flame of loue.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., Introd. Pref. (1848), p. xxx. Whilst pious Reflections are making, they are proper to Instruct the Mind, and Warm the Affections.
1773. Mrs. Chapone, Improv. Mind (1774), I. 78. The effusions of a heart warm’d with the tenderest affection.
1836. [J. Grant], Random Recoll. Ho. Lords, xvi. 391. That eloquence which approves itself to the judgment, though it never warms the heart by appeals to the passions.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., lvii. It will warm my heart to witness the happiness of those friends who are dearest to me.
1847. C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xi. The charm of adventure sweetens that sensation, the glow of pride warms it.
1864. Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 554. Once indeed, Warm’d with his wines, or taking pride in her, She look’d so sweet, he kiss’d her tenderly.
1905. C. G. Lang, Parables Jesus, 16. Sometimes the word is spoken through human lives—as when the example of a true man or woman warms the heart and fires the will.
absol. 1883. R. W. Dixon, Mano, I. viii. 21. Those lightsome words that warm like summer days.
b. To render eager or zealous; to rouse from indifference. Also absol. Now rare.
c. 1580. Hooker, Sir P. Carew (1857), 42. Sir Peter Carew was then present, and one unto whom, as they thought, the speeches were specially directed … and indeed, he being somewhat warmed theirin, deviseth how to compass the matter.
1638. Davenant, Madagascar, 10. When honours warmes him, and his blood is young.
1706. Epistle after Battle Ramillies, 106 Prior’s Wks. 1907, II. 372. The rescu’d chief, by the past danger warm’d, Our weaken’d houshold with new fury storm’d.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 521, ¶ 2. I had arrived at a particular Skill in warming a Man so far in his Narration, as to make him throw in a little of the Marvelous.
1737. Winston, Josephus, Hist., I. i. § 4. When he was warmed by this great success, he made an assault upon the garrison that was in the city.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 380. Calm is my soul, nor apt to rise in arms, Except when fast approaching danger warms.
1764. Churchill, Gotham, III. 323. The Soul, with great and manly feelings warm’d, Panting for Knowledge, rests not till inform’d.
1765. Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 59. I am not used to defend my conduct;… I have been warmed to it by the imputation you threw on me.
1857. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 308. Anne, who is so difficult to warm up to bare satisfaction point.
† c. To exhort to valor. (Often in Dryden and Pope.) Obs.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, VII. 657. The Gods invok’d, the Rutuli prepare Their Arms, and warm each other to the War. Ibid., VIII. 927. The Queen her self,… With Cymbals toss’d, her fainting Souldiers warms.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XVI. 653. First to the Fight his native Troops he warms.
d. Of drink: To excite, stimulate.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 3. When the common people are once warmed with drinke, they are apt to doe them injury.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Epodes, xi. 12. When the gay Liquor warm’d my opening Soul.
† e. To provoke, excite (temper). Obs.
1752. Chesterf., Lett. to Son, 26 Sept. Keep your own temper, and artfully warm other people’s.
3. To make (a material object or substance) warm; to heat moderately; to ‘take the chill off.’
a. 1000. Riddles, xii[i]. 10. Wonfeax Wale … wæteð in wætre, wyrmeð hwilum feʓre to fyre.
c. 1000. in Assmann, Ags. Hom., xi. 84. For ðy he cwæð be ðam colan wætere, ðæt nan man ne ðorfte hine beladian, ðæt he fæt næfde, on hwy he hit wyrman mihte.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 1109. The laurer crowned Phebus with his hete Gan … To warmen of þe Est See þe wawes wete.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 40. Þe Iuyse of celidone y-medled wiþ vinegre and warmed at þe fire … quenchiþ wele þe wickid hete.
1530. Palsgr., 771/2. You must warme your medecyne or you drinke it.
a. 1589. R. Willes, in Hakluyt, Voy., 611. Before the Sunne hath warmed the ayre and dissolued the ise,… there can be no sailing.
1617. S. H., Preserv. Health (1624), 45. In the Winter time, warme well your garments at the fire, and warm the linings of the same.
17[?]. Watts, Hymns & Spir. Songs, II. cxlvii. (1751), 259. E’er there was Rain to bless the Earth, Or Sun to warm the Ground.
1747–96. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, xv. 269. Skim it, warm it blood warm, and drink it.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., VI. 168. In summer, they [sc. fish] are seen in great numbers in the shallows near the shore, where the sun has power to warm the water to the bottom.
1859. H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xix. The tea’s cold; put it on the embers and warm it a bit.
1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Mrs. Hallib. Troub., I. i. You can get my slippers warmed, Jane.
1900. Jrnl. Soc. Dyers, XVI. 12. Powerful jets with water warmed by steam.
1907. J. A. Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (ed. 6), 159. The negative should be slightly warmed.
† b. Said jocularly for: To occupy (one’s bed).
1599. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., III. ii. I thinke we shall not warme our beds to day.
c. To warm up (U.S. to warm over): to make warm again (cooked food that has become cold). Also (rarely) without adv.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, lix. She requests to have that little bit of sweetbread that was left, warmed up for her supper.
1853. Soyer, Pantroph., 380. Another custom … was that of warming the remains of a preceding banquet for other guests.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, iii. 68. We lived for three days on a most recommendable stew,… which appeared, warmed up fresh, at every meal.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, iv. Valerie went … to the kitchen to warm up an appetizing little dish prepared by the femme de ménage.
fig. 1876. Ld. Hartington, in Ld. E. Fitzmaurice, Earl Granville (1905), II. 167. All the old anti-Turk abuse was warmed up again.
1879. O. W. Holmes, Motley, xxi. 162. [The reply] took up the old exceptions, warmed them over into grievances.
d. To impart warmth of color to.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxxv. (1856), 321. A peculiar purple, slightly warmed or bronzed at its margins.
1862. Miss Braddon, Lady Audley, iii. Not one glimmer of gold or auburn warmed the dull flaxen of her hair.
4. To heat (a building, a room) to a moderate temperature.
1858. Lardner, Hand-bk. Nat. Phil., 278. Warming buildings by hot water.
1874. Micklethwaite, Modern Par. Churches, 200. A perfect method of warming churches has yet to be invented.
1915. Blackw. Mag., March, 345/1. The room was warmed by a brazier.
† 5. To inaugurate (a new house) by a feast or entertainment. Obs. Cf. HOUSE-WARMING 2.
1617. in Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), II. 50. On Monday, to warm it [the renovated house], he made a great feast.
1661. Heylin, Eccl. Restaur. (1674), 237. Sir Thomas Tresham … took possession of his place, which having scarce warmed, he was taken from it by the stroke of death.
1800. Gentl. Mag., LXX. II. 786/2. The Prince, it is said, will be present at the first dinner that warms this room.
† 6. To be well warmed: to be settled in (a residence, position of dignity or profit). Obs. Cf. WARM a. 7.
1565. Allen, Defence Purg. (1886), 16. Ere they be well warmed in their benefices.
1711. Country-Man’s Let. Curat, 79. Even before she was well warm’d on the Throne.
† 7. Mil. To throw (an enemy) into commotion by a cannonade. To warm the field: to carry on a furious cannonade. Obs.
Cf. F. chauffer un poste, ‘le canonner vivement’ (Littré).
1705. Addr. Blessington, in Lond. Gaz., No. 4089/2. The English warm’d the Field to that degree, that Thirty Squadrons … were forc’d to fly.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xi. (1840), 187. Resolving to give him a broadside that should warm him.
b. Sporting. To warm up: to give (one’s competitor) reason to fear defeat.
1868. Field, 4 July, 14/3. First Trinity rowed over for the trial heat, and in the final heat on the second day ‘warmed up’ University to some tune.
8. dial. To beat, flog.
1824. Carr, Craven Gloss., Warm, to beat. ‘I’ll warm thy jerkin for the.’
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Warm, to beat. ‘Aw’l warm yor hide.’
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxix. Old Dorothy, whose hand has warmed my haffits before now.
1853. ‘C. Bede,’ Verdant Green, I. i. You take out your strap and warm him!
1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Mrs. Hallib. Troub., I. xxi. Won’t Charlotte warm his back for him!
1892. M. C. F. Morris, Yorks. Folk Talk, 95. Every Yorkshireman knows what warming a child means; perhaps not a few … by bitter experience.
1915. ‘Q’ (Quiller-Couch), in Blackw. Mag., Jan., 102/2. To ‘warm’ a child in Polpier signifies to beat him with a strap.
II. intr. To become warm.
9. Of a living body, a material thing or substance: To be raised in temperature.
a. 1000. Phœnix, 213. Wyrta wearmiaþ.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., xxvi. (Z.), 154. Caleo, ic wearmiʓe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4035. Wyndis wastid away, warmyt the ayre.
c. 1648–50. Brathwait, Barnabees Jrnl., III. (1818), 95. Thence to Cambridge where the Muses Haunt the Vine-bush … Like sparks up a chimney warming.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., iv. (1842), 141. A large thermometer … may from the lapse of time necessary to allow of its proper change, occasion an alteration of temperature, by allowing the body tried to cool or warm.
1868. Louisa M. Alcott, Little Women, i. Beth put a pair of slippers down to warm.
1872. O. W. Holmes, Poet, i. (1885), 19. A cold day warming up to 32°.
1889. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, xi. Here’s some damper and mutton … while tea warms.
1903. S. E. White, Forest, xiv. 199. The weather had warmed, the sun shone.
b. Of color: To become ‘warmer’ or more ruddy.
1831. G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, xv. On a bright morning of July, when the grey of the sky was just beginning to warm with the rising day.
1906. Westm. Gaz., 8 June, 8/1. His head and underparts are of a pearly grey that warms to a pinkish hue on the breast.
10. Of a person, his heart, feelings, etc.: To become affectionate, kindly, or genial (to, towards a person).
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3376. And I in longing am Laght & Lappit full sore, With hete of þi hegh loue, þat my hert warmys.
1779. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, Feb. Mr. Thrale was … at first, cold and quiet, but soon … warmed into sociality.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxv. I judged that … your Grace’s heart wad warm to the tartan.
1833. L. Ritchie, Wanderings by Loire, 46. Every heart seemed … to warm towards the little devotee.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xx. Mr. Dombey, in his friendlessness, inclined to the Major. It cannot be said that he warmed towards him, but he thawed a little.
1874. L. Stephen, Hours in Library (1892), I. iv. 141. Carlyle … cannot, indeed, but warm to Scott at the end.
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, i. His heart warmed over Baretti as they walked along together.
11. To become eager, animated or enthusiastic. Also, with up. To warm (up) to: to become interested in, acquire zest for, to ‘put one’s back into’ (one’s work, a contest, etc.).
1749. Smollett, Gil Blas, XI. xiv. (1782), IV. 209. I expected every moment to see them warm, and to go to loggerheads, the usual end of their dissertations.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Mr. Watkins Tottle, i. ‘I’ll tell you,’ replied Mr. Gabriel Parsons, warming with the subject, and the brandy-and-water,—‘I know a lady [etc.].’
1846. Disraeli, in Moneypenny & Buckle, Life (1914), III. 11. I have not yet added much to my abortive MSS. of the German Schloss of last year, but am beginning to warm up.
1858. Thackeray, Virgin., xxxviii. Papa’s first nervousness is over: his noble voice clears, warms to his sermon.
1867. H. Latham, Black & White, 5. Congress will by that time have met, and be warming to their work.
1868. E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. iv. 72. When he found that his competitor was formidable, he warmed to the race.
1879. McCarthy, Own Times, II. xxix. 364. He warmed up as he went along.
1885. Mary E. Wilkins, in Harper’s Mag., March, 594/1. She warmed up on the subject to everybody who came into the shop.
