Obs. Forms: 1–2 fręmian, fręmman, 3 freme(n, -ien, (fremmen, froemen, south. vreomien). [OE. fręmian, fręmman trans. and intr. = OFris. fremma, OS. fremmian, OHG. (gi-)fremen, ON. fremja:—OTeut. *framjan, f. *fram forward: see FROM.]
1. trans. To help forward, promote the interests of; to benefit; to refresh (with food, etc.). Also, to indulge.
Beowulf, 1832.
| Ic on Hiȝelace wat … þæt he mec fremman | |
| wile weordum ond worcum. |
a. 1000. Andreas, 936 (Gr.).
| Ðæt ic eaðe mæȝ anra ȝehwylcne | |
| fremman & fyrðran freonda minra. |
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2367.
| Ha … bisohte … þæt he for his freolec, | |
| firstede hire, & fremede. |
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1245.
| Ȝhe gan fremen ysmael | |
| Wið watres drinc and bredes mel. |
2. intr. a. To profit, be of service. b. To gain ground, make progress; = FRAME v. 1 and 2.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xxxvii. 20. Ðonne biþ ȝesyne, hwæt him his swefn fremion.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xvi. 26. Hwæt fremað æneȝum menn þeah he [etc.].
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 111. Ne ligge nefre on þine heorde, þet hauelese monnam meie fremian.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 282, 284. Gif þu hauest … eni oðer þing þet ham wolde ureomien.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter, lxxxviii[i]. 22. Noghte freme in him sal þe faa.
3. trans. To accomplish, effect, perform.
Beowulf, 2800.
| Fremmað ȝe nu [MS. ȝena] | |
| leoda þearfe! |
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 30 (Gr.).
| Þæs enȝles mod, | |
| þe þone unræd onȝan ærest fremman. |
c. 1205. Lay., 24009.
| Heo scullen me mon-radene | |
| mid moscipe fremmen. |
c. 1300. Havelok, 439.
| And alle haueden sworen him oth, | |
| Riche and poure, lef and loth, | |
| Þat he sholden hise wille freme. |
