Obs. (in later use only Sc.) Forms: 3–6 tome, 4 tom, (toume, towme, toym), 5 toom, 6 tume. [a. ON. tóm sb. neut. emptiness, vacuity, leisure, OSw. tōm leisure, occasion, ODa. tōm time, occasion; f. tómr adj. empty: see TOOM a.] Vacant or unoccupied time; time free or sufficient for doing something, leisure; a space or interval of time, a while.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 11636. In hor bed hii founde hom in toune þo hii come … Vor to wel cloþi hom hii ne ȝeue hom no tome.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14595. Haf i na tome at ga þar-to.
c. 1315. Shoreham, i. 2119. Þaȝ he by hyre ne ligge nouȝt, Oþer halt hys ine hys house, In tome.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 134. More … Þen I cowþe telle þaȝ I tom hade.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 642. Or þe toþir had toym to tak His suerde, þe king sic swak him gaiff.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 3126. Of Generides dome To speke had thei nomore tome.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 18. Ȝit will I tell, for I haif space & tume, How efterwart he set ane seig to Rome.
b. Time convenient or proper for doing something; opportunity, occasion.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1153. Ȝif ȝe wolde tith [MS. tyȝt] me a tom telle hit I wolde.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 249. His Bacheler, which hadde tome, Whan that his lord be nihte slepte, This Ring,… Out of his Pours awey he dede.
c. 1440. York Myst., xl. 18. Atte townes for to tarie take we no tent, But take vs tome at þis tyme to talke of sume tales.
c. 1450. Bk. Curtasye, 10, in Babees Bk., 299. Ther-to the nedys to take the tome.
