Now only attrib. and in Comb. Forms: α. 1 ymbren, 6–8 embring, -yng, 6 im-, ymbring, 6–7 imb-, embering. β. in Comb. 3 umbri-(ü), ymbri-, 4 ymber-, 5 embyr-, ymbre-, 6 embre-, (amber-), 7– ember. [The OE. ymbren (app. neut.: pl. ymbren), perh. a corruption (due to attrib. use, of OE. ymbryne masc., period, revolution of time, f. ymb about, round + ryne course, running.
It seems however not wholly impossible that the word may have been due to popular etymology working upon some Vulgar Lat. corruption of quatuor tempora; cf. Ger. quatember Ember-tide; for the possibility of OE. mb for L. mp, and for the suffix, cf. OE. ęmbren from L. amp(h)ora. The ON. imbru(-dagar), OSw. ymber(-dagar) appear to be ad. Eng.; OSw. had also tamper-dagar from tempora.]
The English name of the four periods of fasting and prayer (L. quatuor tempora) appointed by the Church to be observed respectively in the four seasons of the year. Each of these fasts occupies three days, viz. a Wednesday and the following Friday and Saturday; these are called Ember days, and the weeks in which they occur are called Ember weeks. Since the Council of Placentia A.D., 1095, the Ember days have been the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday next following (1) the first Sunday in Lent, (2) Whitsunday, (3) Holy Cross Day, 14 Sept., (4) St. Lucia’s Day, 13 Dec. In the Roman Church the Ember-Saturdays, and in the Church of England the Sundays immediately following, are the days on which ordinations usually take place.
† 1. As an independent sb.; = Ember-day (only in α. forms). Obs.
c. 1010. Laws of Æthelred (Thorpe), VI. xxiii. Ymbren & fæstena. Ibid., xxv. Heah-freolsdaʓum & riht-ymbrenum.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Rubric to Luke viii. 40. Ðis sceal on friʓedæʓ on þære pentecostenes wucan to þam ymbrene.
1547. Salesbury, Welsh Dict., Katcor [i.e., cadgor, a fast], Embryng.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 28. Keepe Embrings wel, and fasting daies.
2. attrib. and Comb., as ember († embring)-day, -fast, -Friday, -time, -tide, -week; ember-eve, the vigil of an Ember day.
α. a. 1000. Laws of Ælfred, xliii. On iiii. ymbren-wican.
a. 1036. Laws of Cnut (Eccl.), xvi. Si hit Ymbren-fæsten si hit lengcten-fæsten. Ibid., xvii. We forbeodað ordal & aðas freolsdaʓum & ymbren-daʓum.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de Worde), II. xvi. (1506), 125. To faste foure tymes in the yere the ymbrynge tyme.
1548. Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 19. Preamb., Abstinence, which hath been used … upon … the Embring Days, and other Days.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XII. xiv. 247. He … must come to church, vpon an embering fridaie.
1590. Tarleton, News Purgat. (1844), 64. [The pope] that made the imbering-weekes in honour of his faire and beautifull curtizan Imbra.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1684), II. 30/1. Counselling … the said Roger Dods, upon an Embring day, to sup with Bread and Cheese.
1752. Carte, Hist. Eng., III. 227. Abstinence from flesh in Lent, and on … embring days.
β. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 70. Holdeþ silence … iðe Umbridawes [v.r. ymbri wikes].
138[?]. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 203. Þe Wednesday Gospel in ymber weke in Septembre moneþe.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 139. Embyrday, angarium vel quatuor temporum.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., III. x. 155. By the kalender we knowe … the ymbre dayes.
c. 1550. Bale, K. Johan, 41. Bothe amber dayes & lentes.
1550. Wyll of Deuyll (Collier), 4. I geue … the Embredays to pope Calixtus.
1608. Shaks., Per., I. Cho. 6. O sing a Song of old … sung at Feastiuals, On Ember Eues, and Holy dayes.
1622. Middleton, etc. Old Law, III. i. (1656), 31. Are all faln into fasting daies and ember weeks, that Cooks are out of use?
1634. Canne, Necess. Separ. (1849), 117. And pope Calixtus in the year 206 ordained Ember fasts.
1704. Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, II. iii. (1739), 469. These Fasts … may … be said to be Ember Days.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 281. The four Seasons of the year called the Ember-Weeks.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), I. App. 386. The Ember fasts, on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, four times in the year.
1849–53. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, IV. xi. 64. On the ember-days, the deacon and subdeacon wore … the chasuble.
1849. Miss Mulock, Ogilvies, xii. (1875), 90. How near it is to Ember weeks.
