disme

English

Etymology

Middle French dixme, Old French disme (“tenth, tithe”), from Latin decimus (“tenth”). Doublet of dime.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /daɪm/

Noun

disme (plural dismes)

1. (US, dated, 18th century) A dime minted in 1792.
2. (obsolete) A tenth; a tenth part; a tithe.
   • c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:

     Since the first sword was drawn about this question, Ev'ry tithe soul 'mongst many thousand dismes, Hath been as dear as Helen.

   • a. 1734, John Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani.

     The pope began to exercise his new rapines by a compliance with king Edward, in granting him two years’ disme from the clergy.

   • 1886, Christopher Saint German, The Doctor and Student:

     I have heard say, that a writ of right of dismes is given by the statute of Westm. 2, and that speaketh only of dismes, and not of pensions.

Anagrams

• Deism, Diems, deism, demis, dimes

Middle English

Noun

disme

1. a tenth; a tenth part; a tithe
   • late 14^th C., John Gower, Confessio Amantis

     And thus the wars they beginne, Whereof the holy church is taxed, That in the point, as it is axed, The disme go'th to the battaile.

Old French

Etymology

From Latin decimus.

Adjective

disme m (oblique and nominative feminine singular disme)

1. tenth (ordinal adjective)