arch. Also 6–8 therme. [prob. a. F. therme (13th c. in Godef., Compl.) in pl., ad. L. thermæ, a. Gr. θέρμαι hot baths, pl. of θέρμη heat.] A public bath or bathing establishment.
1549. Thomas, Hist. Italie (1549), 28 b. A noumbre of hotehouses in euerie Therme.
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. I. Trophies, 1112. O cleer Therms, If so your Waves be cold; what is it warms, Nay burns my heart?
1613. Daniel, Hist. Eng., I. 25. Britaine … could not but partake of the magnificence of their goodly structures, Thermes, Aquaductes, High wayes.
1629. Maxwell, trans. Herodian (1635), 175. The Theaters, Therms, and all the splendor and glory thereof.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., II. 74/1. A public Bath or Therme.
1890. Bridgett, Blunders & Forg., ii. 32. The same author describes the therms at Paris.
