(Also 7 tombe.) [app. a. F. tome (16th c. in Godef., Compl.), ad. L. tomus, a. Gr. τόμος volume, section of a book, f. ablaut series τεμ-, τομ-, τμ-, to cut.]
† 1. Each of the separate volumes which compose a literary work or book; rarely, one of the largest parts or sections of a single volume. Obs.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 84. A tome proprely is but a peace vnperfecte of a boke, neuer the lesse, it is taken for a great quantyte of a whole warke.
1548. Udall (title), The first tome of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the newe Testamente. Ibid. (1549), The second tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the newe testament.
1563. Homilies (title-p.), The seconde Tome of Homelyes, of such matters as were promysed and Intituled in the forner part of Homelyes.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, II. 53. The said volume is diuided into three tomes.
1659. Baxter, Key Cath., xxv. 151. A large volume containing six Tomes.
1672. J. Fraser, Polichron. (S.H.S.), 503. I read over to him my own Triennial Travells abroad, in 3 tombes.
1731. Hist. Litteraria, II. 493. To the IVth Tome will be prefixed a Collection of … Pieces, relating to the Life and Writings of the Author.
2. A book, a volume; now usually suggesting a large, heavy, old-fashioned book.
1573. (title) The whole workes of … Tyndall … Frith, and … Barnes … collected and compiled in one Tome together.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. IV. vii. (1651), 167. To what end are such great Tomes?
1730. Shenstone, Ode to Health, 30. Adieu, Ye midnight lamps! ye curious tomes!
1789. J. White, Earl Strongbow, I. 159. Father Hugh … prayed my acceptance of a little tome, covered with fine vellum.
1849. Miss Mulock, Ogilvies, iv. Ponderous tomes, in century-old bindings,—dusty piles of newspapers.
1890. Hall Caine, Bondman, II. ix. ‘Bring me the Statute Book,’ and the great tome was brought.
3. fig.
1622. Donne, Serm., Job xxxvi. 25 (1649), II. xxxi. 273. Who knowes … how many volumes of Spheares involve one another, how many tomes of Gods Creatures there are?
1654. Fuller, Two Serm., 54. Seventhly, the Booke of men’s Afflictions. Some account this onely a distinct Tome, or Volume, of the former Booke [Book of Men’s Actions].
1867. Bailey, Univ. Hymn, 9. He through your space-spread tome … His starry rede To man predictive speaks.
4. A papal letter or epistle. Hist.
[ad. L. tomus, a. Gr. τόμος, applied esp. to synodical and pontifical letters or epistles: see Du Cange.]
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlvii. (1836), 827. The tome of Leo was subscribed by the Oriental bishops.
1867. Manning, Petri Privilegium (1871), 73. The Council of Chalcedon was directed by S. Leo to condemn Eutyches, whom he had already condemned. The Fathers of the Council would define nothing until they had heard the Tome, or dogmatic letter of the Pontiff.
Hence (nonce-words) Tomecide [-CIDE 1], a destroyer of books; Tomeful, as much as fills a tome; Tomelet, a small volume.
1833. Even. Post (N. Y.), 27 April, 2/2. ’Tis too horrible!—’tis *tome-cide ‘in the first degree!’
1849. Curzon, Visits Monast., 382. I ought, perhaps, to have slain the tomecide.
1859. Sala, Tw. round Clock (1861), 141. How many *tomesful [error for tomefuls] of gossiping scandal will be talked!
1846. Worcester cites. Q. Rev., for *Tomelet.
1884. Irish Monthly, Jan., 52. This dainty tomelet.
