Obs. Forms: 1 ęrmþ(u, ięrmþ(u, yrmþ(u, 3 ærmðe, (2 ermde), 2–3 ermðe. [OE. ęrmþu, repr. OTeut. type *armiþâ: see ARM a. and -TH. Also without umlaut: see ARMTH(E.] Poverty; wretchedness.
Beowulf, 1259 (Gr.). Grendles moder … yrmþe ʓemunde.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. ii. To sellenne witu & ermþa þam yfelum monnum.
a. 1000. Ags. Ps. civ. 14 [cv. 16]. Cwom ofer eorþan ermþu.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 113. He … nule on his ermðe edmodnesse halden.
c. 1205. Lay., 87. Eneas þe duc mid ermden at-wond. Ibid., 16143. Þurh þe muclen ærmðe & þurh þene mucle hærm.
