Obs. [variant of ERMTH(E, OE. ęrmþ(u, OTeut. *armiþâ, f. ARM a. poor + -TH. Prop. with umlaut, but occas. found without it, as OE. earmþu, ME. ærmðe, armðe: cf. warmth.] Poverty, wretchedness, misery.
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. 2. Ȝif þá earmþa ealle sóðe sint.
c. 1205. Lay., 20438. Þa wes Ænglene lond mid ærmþe of-fulled.
c. 1220. Hali Meid., 37. Þeos & oðre armðen þat of wedlac awakeneð.
a. 1275. Prov. Alfred, 523, in O. E. Misc., 133. Wer hachte is hid, þer is armþe inoch.
