sb. Obs. Forms: 4 apostym, 4–8 -teme, 7–8 -tem; 5–7 -tume, 6 -tom, 6–8 -thume. [a. OFr. aposteme, apostume (13th c. in Littré), ad. L. apostēma, a. Gr. ἀπόστημα separation, spec. separation of purulent matter into an abscess, f. ἀποστα-, ἀποστῆναι to stand off, withdraw (cf. abs-cess). Much distorted by false etymology; in OFr. made apostume, as if connected with L. postumus; also changed in 14th c. to empostume; whence an Eng. impostume found side by side with apostem(e c. 1500, which, further corrupted to IMPOSTHUME (cf. posthumous), became in 18th c. the only form. Accented aposte·m in 14th c.; apo·stem in 17th; a·postem by Johnson.]
1. A gathering of purulent matter in any part of the body; a large deep-seated abscess.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 2995. Som, for envy, sal haf in thair lyms, Als kylles and felouns and apostyms.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 100. To serche woundes and hurtes and to cutte apostumes.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, T iv. Mulberies verye ripe…: breke wonderfully the apostoms.
1616. Surflet & Markh., Countr. Farm, 729. The Linnet is troubled … with hot apostemes, conuulsions, and gowts. The Finch is wont to haue impostumes.
a. 1631. Donne, Poems (1650), 238. A dangerous Apostem in thy brest.
1655. Culpepper, Riverius, VI. vii. 143. Others put a Wax Candle … into the Œsophagus to break the Aposthume.
1714. Phil. Trans., XXIX. 75. If an Aposteme breaks out.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Aposthume or Apostem … called also abscess and imposthume.
2. fig.
c. 1380. Wyclif, De Eccl., vi. Wks. 1871, III. 353. Apostemes þat ben harmful in þe Chirche.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1054/2. So is sedition … the apostume of the realme, which when it breaketh inwardlie, putteth the state in great danger of recouerie.
1681. Baxter, Answ. Dodwell, iv. § 24. 40. This opens the Core of the Aposthume.
