Forms: 3–8 summe, sume, 4–5 soumme, 4–6 somme, chiefly Sc. sowm, 4–8 chiefly Sc. soume, sowme, 5–6 som, 5–7 some, 5–8 summ (6 soom(e, soomme, Sc. soum, sowmme, 7 somm), 4– sum. [a. AF., OF. summe, somme, from 13th cent. = Pr. soma, somma, It. somma, Pg. summa, Sp. suma:—L. summa fem. (sc. res, pars) of summus highest, for *supmus, superl. of stem sup- of super above, superus higher (see SUPERIOR). Cf. MDu. somme (Du. som), MLG., MHG., G. summe.]
1. A quantity or amount of money.
a. sum of money, gold, silver, † pence, etc.
c. 1290. Beket, 386, in S. Eng. Leg., 117. Þe king nam fro ȝer to ȝere … ane summe of panes i-deld þi eche side.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21423. A summe [Gött. sume, Fairf. soume] o monee.
13[?]. Evang. Nicod., 853, in Herrig’s Archiv, LIII. 407. A sowme of tresore haue þai tane.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxvi. (Nycholas), 108. With syk a sowme of gold.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), ii. 13. To whom the Emperour had leyde hem to wedde, for a gret summe of Sylvre.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 67. Yvory or vnicorne bone Is bought for a grete somme of gold.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxix. 12. I tuik fra my Lord Thesaurair Ane soume of money for to wair.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 296. Quhill thame selfes thay redeimed with a soum of siluer.
1632. Galway Arch., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 484. What some or somes of money is due.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 109. 32. He supply’d her … with a convenient Summ of Money.
1797. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T. (1799), I. 329. My father … had long ago vested large sums of money in foreign banks.
1839–41. Lane, Arabian Nts., I. 71. The servant receives presents of small sums of money.
1875. Encycl. Brit., II. 531/1. Suppose that several sums of money are added, and the farthings amount to 29 [etc.].
b. absol. = ‘sum of money.’
Principal sum: see PRINCIPAL a. 6.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 60. They gonnen trete, Hir prisoneres to chaungen … And for the surplus yeven sommes grete. Ibid. (c. 1386), Frankl. T., 492. What somme sholde this Maistres gerdon be?
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxii. 104. Þe somme þat þis citee ȝeldez ȝerely commez to fyue hundreth thowsand florenez.
1496–7. Act 12 Hen. VII., c. 12 § 4. Yf any of the Collectours … reare more somme than … owe to be areared in or upon any Toun.
1535. Coverdale, Acts xxii. 28. With a greate summe optayned I this fredome.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 137. He shall … make assurance heere in Padua Of greater summes then I haue promised.
1690. in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874), 27. That the said soume is only to be payed to the collaterall aires of the said Lord William.
1709. J. Ward, Introd. Math. (1713), 245. Any Principal or Sum put to Interest.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxiv. Montoni had lost large sums to Verezzi.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xlvii. Such moneys as he required beyond the very moderate sums which his father was disposed to allow him.
1891. Kipling, Light that Failed, iii. The Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done.
c. A quantity of money of a specified amount.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 811. The somme of fourty pound.
1450. in Exch. Rolls Scotl., V. 425, note. The said sowm of five markis.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 173. He kept to hymselfe the money that his brother lefte … to the some of LX thousande crownes.
1679–88. Moneys Secr. Serv. Chas. II. & Jas. II. (Camden), 2. Six other sumes of 150ll each.
1710. in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874), 151. All & haill the sowme of ten thousand merks Scots money.
1836. Penny Cycl., V. 165/2. The above sum of 758l. 16s.
a. 1901. Besant, Five Years’ Tryst (1902), 38. The sum of £178. 4s. 10d.
d. Gross sum, † sum in great or gross, lump sum.
1421. in Rymer Fœdera (1710), X. 162/2. The said Ambassiatours shall cast to what Some the Wages aboveseid wole drawe to for every of hem … and profre hym that Some in grete.
1523, etc. [see GROSS a. 6].
1612. Hieron, Life & Death Dorcas, 8. I am forced … in stead of a bill of particulars, which in this case would be very comfortable, to present all in one grosse summe.
1642. Coke, Instit., II. 659. The rent was paid as a summe in grosse.
1821–2. Shelley, Chas. I., ii. 272. The expenses … Have swallowed up the gross sum of the imposts.
1867, etc. [see LUMP sb.1 8].
† e. transf. A quantity of goods regarded as worth so much. Obs. (Cf. SUM sb.2)
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 11866. Þan payet kyng Priam all the pure sowmes Of gold, & of gay syluer, & or goode whete.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 172. A grete Some of catele to charlys appertenynge.
1528. Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.), II. 175. Newby sold … a serten sum of malte.
1680. Acts Assembly Nevis (1740), 6. The Sum of One hundred Pounds of Muscovado Sugar for every such Offence.
1872. Schele De Vere, Americanisms, 64. The term Sums of Tobacco, which is still occasionally met with in official papers, has its origin in the fact that for many generations, in old Virginia times, all taxes raised for the support of government officers, ministers, etc., were assessed in so many pounds of tobacco.
† f. A unit of coinage; a money of account. Obs.
1634. Peacham, Compl. Gent. (ed. 2), xii. 117. The Greeke summes were a Mina and a Talent.
† 2. A number, company or body (of people); a host, band. Obs.
Frequent in ME. alliterative poetry.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 509. Of þat soumme ȝet arn summe such sottez … As lyttel barnez on barme þat neuer bale wroȝt.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 606. Thus they semble in sortes, summes fulle huge.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1136. A soume of soudiours.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 89. Þay gedyrt a grete some of men vnto þe castell.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., a j. The best Rules … for ordring of all Companies, summes and Numbers of men.
1601. Breton, Rauisht Soule, Wks. (Grosart), I. 7/1. By Him Who should both Death and Hell destroy, And be the Sauiour of His chosen summe.
† 3. Arith. A number; occas. a whole number as distinguished from a fraction. Obs.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 90. Be which [sc. algorism] multiplicacioun Is mad and diminucioun Of sommes be thexperience Of this Art and of this science.
1543. Recorde, Gr. Artes, 118 (E.E.T.S.), 2. For example I wyll set downe this summe 287965. Ibid., 118 b. When you wyll adde two summes, you shall fyrst set downe one of them … And afterward set downe the other summe.
1655. Marq. Worcester, Cent. Inv. (1663), 58. Numerations and Substractions of all Summes and Fractions.
1651. Hobbes, Absurd Geom., Wks. 1845, VII. 370. A third of the sum below is 12, the sum above is 14.
1709. J. Ward, Introd. Math. (1713), 11. The Number (or Sum) out of which Substraction is required to be made.
4. The total number (of individual persons or things capable of, or regarded as capable of, numeration). Now only as transf. use of sense 6. † By sum: in all. In sum (obs. or arch.): all together.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., V. met. iii. (1868), 160. Þan knoweþ it to-gidre þe somme and þe singularites, þat is to seyn þe principles and eueryche by hym self.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVII. 29. [He] hath saued þat bileued so and sory for her synnes, He can nouȝte segge þe somme.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 448. Sexty myle on a daye, the somme es bott lyttille!
c. 1400. trans. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh., 109. Þes makyn in some tene thowsand flyghtynge men.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1291. He … assemblit his sad men … Seuyn thousand be sowme all of sure knightes.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., IX. ii. 108. Of his folk war mony slayn,… Þe sowme [v.r. nomer] of þaim I couythe noucht say.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cxxxviii. 17. How deare are thy councels vnto me o God? O how greate is the summe of them?
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 338. Whose foul Idolatries, and other faults Heapt to the popular summe.
1699. Bentley, Phal., ii. 29. Allowing the Summ of xxviii Years.
1718. Prior, Solomon, III. 110. By one countless Sum of Woes opprest.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xxviii. ‘Now,’ cried I, ‘the sum of my miseries is made up.’
1840. Whewell, Philos. Induct. Sci., I. p. xxxix. An Induction is not the mere sum of the Facts which are colligated.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., v. 307. Human nature considered as one great whole,—i.e. in the sum of its phenomena.
1874. Ruskin, Val D’Arno, ix. (1886), 115. The victories of Charles, and the massacres, taken in sum, would not give a muster-roll of more than twenty thousand dead.
1877. Huxley, Physiogr., 228. The solid animal fabric returns to swell the sum of the fluids and gases from which it has been derived.
† b. With reference to accounts of money or arithmetical addition; in full whole sum, total sum: = SUM-TOTAL. Also fig. Obs.
c. 1400. Brut, ccv. 234. Þai lete fille v barelles ferers wiþ siluer—þe somme amontede v Ml li.
1512. Croscombe Church-w. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.), 32. The holle sum of all the coste xxijll. xjs. vijd.
1543. Recorde, Gr. Artes, 122 (E.E.T.S.), 2. The hole summe, that amounteth of the addytion.
1573. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 227. It was entred after the Totall soomme.
1623. Cockeram, II. The whole summe, totall.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 38. Soume of the Valuatioun of the Toun of Kirkcudbryt, iijm. iije. libs.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 143. His ambiguities his total sum.
5. The total amount or quantity, the totality, aggregate or whole (of something immaterial).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11577. It was a mikel sume o quain O þaa childer þat war slain.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 26. Of the cause, for whiche I com, I pray you paciently here the hole som.
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Gl., 646. Wks. 1910, II. 160. To write, the summe of my conceit, I do not meane.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 140. The stretching of a span, buckles in his summe of age.
1718. Prior, Solomon, III. 873. Thy Sum of Duty let Two Words contain;… Be Humble, and be Just.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 330. Sighs, Tears, Groans,… make up the Sum of its Variety.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), I. 43. A greater sum of happiness can exist in a greater number.
1827. Macaulay, Ess., Macchiavelli (1897), 48. Public events had produced an immense sum of misery to private citizens.
6. Math. The number, quantity or magnitude resulting from the addition of two or more numbers, quantities or magnitudes. † In early use also, the result of multiplication, a product.
c. 1430. Art Nombryng (E.E.T.S.), viii. 14. Multiplie .3. by hym-selfe, and þe some of alle wolle be .9.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., *ij. Number, we define, to be, a certayne Mathematicall Summe, of Vnits.
1685. Wallis, Treat., Alg. lxxix. 306. The Sum of an Arithmetical Progression.
1709. J. Ward, Introd. Math. (1713), 322. The Sum of the two sides of any plain Triangle.
1715. trans. Gregory’s Astron. (1726), 1. 79. The right Lines SP, PF taken together, are equal to the greater Axis: Wherefore half their Sum (that is, EP) is equal to half the greater Axis CA.
1836. Penny Cycl., VI. 388/1. The perpendiculars at these points are in arithmetical progression, 0, a, 2 a, &c. … na: the sum of all of which is 1/2 n(n + 1) a.
1840. Lardner, Geom., 83. The figure A B D E, having no angle greater than 180° will have the sum of its external angles equal to four right angles.
1878. Cayley, Math. Papers (1896), X. 186. I use the expression a sum of squares to denote the sum of all or any of the squares each multiplied by an arbitrary coefficient.
b. In the calculus of finite differences, the quantity resulting from addition of the values of a function obtained by giving to the variable successive values differing by unity; denoted by the symbol Σ.
† Formerly also applied to an integral (INTEGRAL B. 4 a), considered as the sum of an infinite number of consecutive values of the function.
1696. Halley, in Phil. Trans., XIX. 202. An Easie Demonstration of the Analogy of the Logarithmick Tangents to the Meridian Line or sum of the Secants.
† c. The aggregate of the terms of an equation when all on one side, i.e. equated to zero. Obs.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Sum of an Equation, is when the absolute Number being brought over to the other side with a contrary Sign, the whole becomes equal to 0. And this Descartes calls the Sum of the Equation proposed.
7. A series of numbers to be added or cast up.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 27. They might cast the summe without pen, or counters.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xlix. 3. When as thy loue hath cast his vtmost summe.
1641. R. Marriot, Serm. Commem. Mrs. Dering, 12. He that goes about to cast an account must know his rules…. Else, when he hath cast up his summes, he cannot tell whether they be done right or wrong.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 191. They will in a trice,… cast up the difficultest Sums.
1804–6. Syd. Smith, Mor. Philos. (1850), 404. An expert arithmetician adds up the longest sum with the most unerring precision.
8. An arithmetical problem in the solution of which some particular rule is applied; also, such a problem worked out. colloq.
1803. Man in Moon, 24 Dec. (1804), 100. To add up a sum of addition.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, s.v. Summing, Solving any question in arithmetic, is doing a sum.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., i. Sums in simple interest.
1862. Draper, Intell. Devel. Eur., xvi. (1868), 361. Any one who will try to do common multiplication or division sum by the aid of the old Roman numerals.
1881. W. Harris, Serm. Boys & Girls, 96. Some of you boys and girls are very clever at working sums.
9. That which a statement, discourse, writing, or a system of laws, etc., amounts to, or is in essence; an abridged statement containing the substance of a matter; a summary, epitome. Obs. or arch.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. pr. viii. (1868), 81. Of alle whiche forseide þinges I may reducen þis shortly in a somme.
c. 1450. Merlin, 84. Of her wordes this was the somme.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 45. This is the soume of the wangel that our lord Iesus christ godis sone is giffine to vsz … and he and al his is owris.
1535. Coverdale, Ezra vii. 11. This is the summe of the letter, that kynge Artaxerses gaue vnto Esdras the prest. Ibid. (1541), Old Faith (1547), D vj b. He wolde brynge in to a shorte summe and set in wrytynge, all the lawe that the feathers had.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., Pref. 3. I haue set before the beginnyng of euery boke, the some or argument.
1626. Gouge, Serm. Dignity Chivalry, § 1. The Summe of this Chapter is A Declaration of the Magnificence of Salomon.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1557. Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., Mark xii. 34. This is the sum of the duties of the first table [of the Commandments].
1837. Sir F. Palgrave, Merch. & Friar, Ded. p. vi. The sum of the objections was this.
1842. Borrow, Bible in Spain, xxiv. He … gave me the history of his life, the sum of which was, that [etc.].
† b. A summary treatise or manual; = SUMMA 3.
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, lf. 54 b. Here … biginnez þe summe þat is icleped Cadit Assisa.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. iii. (1883), 97. Varro reherceth in his sommes that ye riche men ben alle louyd by this loue.
1531. Dial. on Laws Eng., II. xxxv. 71. In the said summe called summa Rosella in the said title alienatio, the xiii. article is asked this question.
1541. Coverdale, Old Faith (1547), E v. He [sc. Moses] made yet an Enchiridion and Summe of all the Actes of hys tyme and of the lawe of God, whyche is called Deuteronomium.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 42. Some good sum of Philosophy may be learned.
1680. H. Dodwell, Two Lett. (1691), 232. For Aquinas, you need hardly read anything but his Sums.
a. 1770. Jortin, Life Erasmus (1788), I. 85. The Collectors of Sums, that is, of Common-places of Philosophy and Divinity.
10. In sum [F. en somme, L. in summa]. a. (Expressed) in a few words, briefly or summarily. Also † in a sum. Now arch. and rare.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., I. pr. iv. (1868), 17. Axest þou in somme of what gilt I am accused?
1382. Wyclif, Dan. vii. 1. In sum [gloss or litil wordis; 1388 schortli; Vulg. summatim].
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 1 b. A treatyse … that sholde conteyne in somme the sentences of illumyned doctours, concernynge perfeccyon.
1555. Philpot, Exam. (1559), 47. The declaration of these thinges more at large, which nowe I wryte in somme.
1561. Norton & Sackv., Gorbovc, I. i. This is in somme what I would haue ye wey.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. iv. 13. To Register, what by cogitation, wee find to be the cause of any thing … and what we find things … may produce, or effect: which in summe, is acquiring of Arts.
1862. F. Hall, Hindu Philos. Syst., 112. My meaning, in sum, is, that, whereas [etc.].
(b) 1537. trans. Latimer’s Serm. Convoc., ii. B vij b. This alone I can say grossly, and as in a sum.
a. 1690. J. Fraser, Polichron. (S.H.S.), 418. [They] interrogat him if he appointed not his sone Richard, replyed in a sume, Yea.
b. Used absol. as an illative phr.: To conclude in few words; to sum up; in brief, in short.
1562. Pilkington, Expos. Abdyas, Pref. 9. In summe, no violent thinge can longe endure.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xlvi. § 1. In summe, [they] taught the world no lesse vertuously how to dye, then they had done before how to liue.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., I. ii. 25. They hold that the Church of Rome is a true Church;… That it is lawfull to pray for soules departed [etc.]; in summe they believe all that is taught by the Church, but not by the Court of Rome.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 6 July 1679. He was also dextrous in Chronology, Antiquities, Mathematics. In sum, an Intellectus universalis.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Pref., Wks. (1910), 276. In sum, I seriously protest, that no Man ever had … a greater Veneration for Chaucer than my self.
1761. H. Walpole, Lett. to G. Montagu, 5 May. We have lost a young genius…. He was shot very unnecessarily, riding too near a battery: in sum, he is a sacrifice to his own rashness—and to ours.
1876. Douse, Grimm’s L., 107. Hence, in sum, we arrive at simple and symmetrical expressions of all the cases of irregularity.
11. Sum and substance: the essence (of anything); the gist or pith (of a matter).
In quot. 1591, by a twist of the phr., used as = one’s all.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. i. 15. My riches, are these poore habiliments, Of which, if you should here disfurnish me, You take the sum and substance that I haue.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., IV. iii. § 2. This in effect is the summe and substance of that which they bring by way of opposition against those orders.
1657. Sanderson, Serm., Pref. § 5 (1681), A 3 b. This is the sum and substance of the usual Censures and Objections of our Anti-Ceremonian Brethren.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., V. § 15. What is the Sum and Substance, Scope and End of Christ’s Religion, but the Love of God and Man?
1852. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xii. 144. That the Sermon on the Mount contains the sum and substance of Christianity.
1889. Jessopp, Coming of Friars, iv. 168. If any of us were to write down the sum and substance of his knowledge.
† 12. The upshot, issue, conclusion. Obs.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1559, Hypsipyle. The somme [4 other MSS. soth(e] is this that Iason weddit was Vn-to this queen.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 402. This was concludit amangis themselffis, and declairit into the king the sowme of the consall.
1654. Z. Coke, Logick, 8. That whatsoever is conceivable of a thing, may be drawn to a right summe.
1670. Dryden, 2nd Pt. Conq. Granada, IV. ii. On this assault … Depends the sum and fortune of the war.
13. The ultimate end or goal; the highest attainable point. Obs. or arch.
1340. Ayenb., 260. He ssolde him resti ine god þet is þe ende and þe uoluellinge and þe somme of his wylninges.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Summus, The summe & knot of all his glorie was, that he wente into the prouince of Asia, &c.
1631. R. Bolton, Comf. Affl. Consc., ii. (1635), 9. Death the end and summ of all feared evils.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 522. Thus I have … brought My Storie to the sum of earthly bliss Which I enjoy. Ibid., XII. 575. Thou hast attained the summe Of wisdom; hope no higher.
1706. Stanhope, Paraphr., III. 513. He is … the summe and ultimate End of all we can hope for.
1866. Neale, Sequences & Hymns, 124. Thee, our wishes’ full and perfect sum.
b. The sum of things [trans. L. summa rerum: see SUMMA 5 a]: the highest public interest, the public good, the common weal; also (by reference to sense 5), the totality of being, the universe.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 673. Had not th’ Almightie Father … Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen This tumult.
1704. Swift, Batt. Bks., Misc. (1711), 257. The Modern Chiefs were holding a Consult upon the Sum of Things.
1771. Junius Lett., lix. (1788), 322. Concessions, such as these, are of little moment to the sum of things.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., lxxxviii. The glory of the sum of things Will flash along the chords and go.
† c. The sum of sums: = SUMMA 5 b. Obs.
1592. Nashe, Str. Newes, H 2 b. The summe of summes is this.
