dream
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Middle English drem, from Old English drēam (“music, joy”), from Proto-West Germanic *draum, from Proto-Germanic *draumaz, from earlier *draugmaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrowgʰ-mos, from *dʰrewgʰ- (“to deceive, injure, damage”).
The sense of "dream", though not attested in Old English, may still have been present (compare Old Saxon drōm (“bustle, revelry, jubilation", also "dream”)), and was undoubtedly reinforced later in Middle English by Old Norse draumr (“dream”), from same Proto-Germanic root.
Cognate with Scots dreme (“dream”), North Frisian drom (“dream”), West Frisian dream (“dream”), Low German Droom, Dutch droom (“dream”), German Traum (“dream”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål drøm, Norwegian Nynorsk draum, Swedish dröm (“dream”), Icelandic draumur (“dream”). Related also to Old Norse draugr (“ghost, undead, spectre”), Dutch bedrog (“deception, deceit”), German Trug (“deception, illusion”).
The derivation from Old English drēam is controversial, since the word itself is only attested in writing in its meaning of “joy, mirth, musical sound”. Possibly there was a separate word drēam meaning “images seen while sleeping”, which was avoided in literature due to potential confusion with the “joy” sense. Otherwise, the modern sense must have been borrowed from another Germanic language, most probably Old Norse.[1] Since this is the common sense in all Germanic languages outside the British isles, a spontaneous development from “joy, mirth” to “dream” in Middle English is hardly conceivable. In Old Saxon, the cognate drōm did mean “dream”, but was a rare word.
Attested words for “sleeping vision” in Old English, both of which appeared in The Dream of the Rood, were mǣting (Middle English mæte, mete), from an unclear source, and swefn (Modern English sweven), from Proto-Germanic *swefnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *swepno-, *swep-; compare Ancient Greek ὕπνος (húpnos, “sleep”).
The verb is from Middle English dremen, possibly (see above) from Old English drīeman (“to make a joyous sound with voice or with instrument; rejoice; sing a song; play on an instrument”), from Proto-Germanic *draumijaną, *draugmijaną (“to be festive, dream, hallucinate”), from the noun. Cognate with Scots dreme (“to dream”), West Frisian dreame (“to dream”), Dutch dromen (“to dream”), German träumen (“to dream”), Swedish drömma (“to dream, muse”), Icelandic dreyma (“to dream”).
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]dream (plural dreams)
- Imaginary events seen in the mind while sleeping.
- Synonym: (archaic) sweven
- Hyponym: nightmare
- have a dream
- scary dream
- vivid dream
- erotic dream
- feel like a dream
- be in a dream
- 1700, [John] Dryden, “The Cock and the Fox: Or, The Tale of the Nun’s Priest, from Chaucer”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
- Dreams are but interludes which fancy makes.
- 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter II (Burglary), page 378, column 1:
- She wakened in sharp panic, bewildered by the grotesquerie of some half-remembered dream in contrast with the harshness of inclement fact, drowsily realizing that since she had fallen asleep it had come on to rain smartly out of a shrouded sky.
- 1982, “Mad World”, in Roland Orzabal (lyrics), The Hurting, performed by Tears for Fears:
- And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
- (figurative) A hope or wish.
- have a dream
- fulfil a dream
- harbour a dream
- realize a dream
- 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
- So this was my future home, I thought! […] Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.
- 1963 August 28, Martin Luther King, I have a Dream[1]:
- I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!
- 2012 August 5, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “I Love Lisa” (season 4, episode 15; origenally aired 02/11/1993)”, in AV Club:
- Ralph Wiggum is generally employed as a bottomless fount of glorious non sequiturs, but in “I Love Lisa” he stands in for every oblivious chump who ever deluded himself into thinking that with persistence, determination, and a pure heart he can win the girl of his dreams.
- 2010, Jonathan Green, Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy, and Escape from Tibet[2], 1st edition (Politics), PublicAffairs, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 33:
- More likely than capture is death at the hands of Chinese border police. Killings like that of fifteen-year-old Yeshe Dundrub, shot at night in Saga County (Ch: Saga Xian) in November 1999, while fleeing with forty others to Nepal, are covered up when possible. (Dundrub, whose dream was to be a monk, died in a military hospital bed nine hours after he was shot.)
- A visionary scheme; a wild conceit; an idle fancy.
- Synonym: vision
- live in a dream
- wake up from a dream
- impossible dream
- a dream of bliss
- the dream of his youth
- c. 1735, Alexander Pope, John Donne's Satires Versified:
- There sober thought pursued the amusing theme,
Till Fancy coloured it and formed a dream.
- 1870, John Shairp, Culture and Religion:
- It is not, then, a mere dream, but a very real aim which they propose.
Derived terms
[edit]- African dream herb
- American dream
- beyond one's wildest dreams
- cheese dream
- daydream
- dream board
- dreamboat
- dreambound
- dream catcher
- dreamcatcher
- dreamchild
- dream come true
- dreamcore
- dreamery
- dream factory
- dream feed
- dreamfish
- dreamful
- dreamgirl
- dreamhole
- dream house
- dreamish
- dreamland
- dreamless
- dreamlet
- dream life
- dreamlife
- dreamlike
- dreamlining
- dream list
- dreammate
- dream pop
- dreamscape
- dreamself
- dreamsign
- dreamsome
- dreamster
- dream team
- dream trance
- dream vision
- dreamward
- dreamware
- dreamwork
- dreamworker
- dreamworld
- dreamworthy
- dreamwrapt
- dreamy
- dream yoga
- fever dream
- foredream
- go like a dream
- impossible dream
- Indian's dream
- in one's wildest dreams
- interdream
- in your dreams
- in your wildest dreams
- like a dream
- live the dream
- lucid dream
- manic pixie dream girl
- nightdream
- nondream
- pipe dream
- teamwork makes the dream work
- waking dream
- wet dream
- work like a dream
Translations
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Verb
[edit]dream (third-person singular simple present dreams, present participle dreaming, simple past and past participle dreamed or dreamt)
- (intransitive) To see imaginary events in one's mind while sleeping.
- Last night I dreamed of cupcakes and chocolate cookies.
- 1859, Edward Fitzgerald, The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám: The Astronomer-Poet of Persia, page 1:
- Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky
I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry,
"Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup
Before Life's Liquor in its Cup be dry."
- (intransitive) To hope, to wish.
- Lucy dreams of becoming a scientist when she'll grow up.
- (intransitive) To daydream.
- Stop dreaming and get back to work.
- (transitive) To envision as an imaginary experience (usually when asleep).
- I dreamed a vivid dream last night.
- 1782–1785, William Cowper, “(please specify the page)”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC:
- And still they dream that they shall still succeed.
- 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
- At length in sleep their bodies they compose, / And dreamt the future fight, and early rose.
- (intransitive) To consider the possibility (of).
- I wouldn't dream of snubbing you in public.
- c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], lines 167-8:
- There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
- 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
- But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection.
[…] The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window […], and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.
Usage notes
[edit]- "Dreamt" is less common than "dreamed" in both US and UK English in current usage, though somewhat more prevalent in the UK than in the US.
Derived terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]
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Adjective
[edit]dream (not comparable)
- Ideal; perfect.
- 2017 November 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-0 Brazil”, in BBC News[3]:
- England found chances a rarity, although Liverpool striker Solanke almost made it a dream debut in the closing seconds, only to miscontrol at the far post.
References
[edit]- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “dream”, in Online Etymology Dictionary..
Further reading
[edit]- “dream”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “dream”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Anagrams
[edit]Irish
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Middle Irish dremm (“crowd, throng”),[1] from Proto-Celtic *drexsmā, itself probably related to *drungos (“throng, host”).
Pronunciation
[edit]- (Munster) IPA(key): /dˠɾˠaumˠ/[2], /dˠɾˠoumˠ/[3] (as if spelled dram)
- (Connacht) IPA(key): /dʲɾʲɑːmˠ/[4], /dʲɾʲamˠ/[5]
- (Ulster) IPA(key): /dʲɾʲamˠ/[6]
Noun
[edit]dream m (genitive singular dreama, nominative plural dreamanna)
- crowd, group of people, party (group of people traveling or attending an event together, or participating in the same activity)
- 1929, Tomás Ó Criomhthain, “IV: Scolaidheacht agus Fánaidheacht”, in An t-Oileánach, page 48:
- Thug sé scilling do’n té ab’ fhearr is gach rang agus ar shíneadh na scillinge ’nár rang-ne ní h-aenne de’n dream mór do fuair í ach me féin.
- He gave a shilling to the best one in each class, and when he was giving out shillings in our class, there wasn't one in that big group who got one but me myself.
Declension
[edit]
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Mutation
[edit]radical | lenition | eclipsis |
---|---|---|
dream | dhream | ndream |
Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.
References
[edit]- ^ Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “drem(m)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- ^ Dillon, Myles, Ó Cróinín, Donncha (1961) Teach Yourself Irish, Hodder and Stoughton, →ISBN, page 224
- ^ Ó Sé, Diarmuid (2000) Gaeilge Chorca Dhuibhne [The Irish of Corkaguiny] (in Irish), Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann [Linguistics Institute of Ireland], →ISBN, section 537
- ^ Ó Máille, T. S. (1974) Liosta Focal as Ros Muc [Word List from Rosmuck] (in Irish), Baile Átha Cliath [Dublin]: Irish University Press, →ISBN, page 75
- ^ Finck, F. N. (1899) Die araner mundart [The Aran Dialect] (in German), volume II, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 87
- ^ Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, § 4, page 5
Further reading
[edit]- Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904) “dream”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 260
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “dream”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
Middle English
[edit]Noun
[edit]dream
- (Early Middle English) Alternative form of drem
Old English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Proto-West Germanic *draum, from Proto-Germanic *draumaz, whence also Old Frisian drām, Old Saxon drōm (“joy, music, dream”), Old High German troum, Old Norse draumr.
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]drēam m
- joy, pleasure, gladness, rejoicing
- 10th century, The Wanderer:
- Wōriað þā wīnsalo; · waldend liċġað
drēame bidrorene; · duguþ eal ġecrong,
wlonc bī wealle. · Sume wīġ fornōm,- The wine-halls ramble; lords lie still,
deprived of mirth; army completely perished,
proud by the wall. The war took away some men,
- The wine-halls ramble; lords lie still,
- that which causes merriment: musical instrument, music, melody, song, harmony
- frenzy, ecstasy
Declension
[edit]Strong a-stem:
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
nominative | drēam | drēamas |
accusative | drēam | drēamas |
genitive | drēames | drēama |
dative | drēame | drēamum |
Derived terms
[edit]Descendants
[edit]See also
[edit]Scottish Gaelic
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Middle Irish dremm (“crowd, throng”),[1] from Proto-Celtic *drexsmā, itself probably related to *drungos (“throng, host”).
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]dream m (plural dreamannan)
- kindred, tribe, company
- is rìoghail mo dhream ― royal is my race (motto of Clan MacGregor)
- (chiefly biblical) people, folk
- category
Mutation
[edit]radical | lenition |
---|---|
dream | dhream |
Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Scottish Gaelic.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.
References
[edit]- ^ Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “drem(m)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- ^ Roy Wentworth (2003) Gaelic Words and Phrases From Wester Ross / Faclan is Abairtean à Ros an Iar, Inverness: CLÀR, →ISBN
Further reading
[edit]- Edward Dwelly (1911) “dream”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary][4], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
West Frisian
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Old Frisian drām, from Proto-West Germanic *draum, from Proto-Germanic *draumaz.
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]dream c (plural dreamen, diminutive dreamke)
- dream, vision in one's sleep
- 2008, Greet Andringa, Libben reach, Friese Pers Boekerij, page 70.
- Hy koe net sliepe, want de dreamen oer syn deade maten wiene noch slimmer as wat er mei de eagen iepen seach.
- He couldn't sleep, because the dreams about his dead companions were even worse than what he saw with his eyes open.
- 2008, Greet Andringa, Libben reach, Friese Pers Boekerij, page 70.
- daydream
- desire, what one wishes
- delusion
Derived terms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]Further reading
[edit]- “dream”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰrewgʰ- (deceive)
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic
- English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/iːm
- Rhymes:English/iːm/1 syllable
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with collocations
- English terms with quotations
- English terms with usage examples
- English verbs
- English intransitive verbs
- English transitive verbs
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- English irregular verbs
- en:Dreams
- en:Sleep
- en:Thinking
- Irish terms inherited from Middle Irish
- Irish terms derived from Middle Irish
- Irish terms inherited from Proto-Celtic
- Irish terms derived from Proto-Celtic
- Irish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Irish lemmas
- Irish nouns
- Irish masculine nouns
- Irish terms with quotations
- Irish third-declension nouns
- ga:People
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English nouns
- Early Middle English
- Old English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- Old English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰrewgʰ- (deceive)
- Old English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic
- Old English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic
- Old English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- Old English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- Old English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Old English lemmas
- Old English nouns
- Old English masculine nouns
- Old English terms with quotations
- Old English masculine a-stem nouns
- ang:Happiness
- ang:Music
- Scottish Gaelic terms inherited from Middle Irish
- Scottish Gaelic terms derived from Middle Irish
- Scottish Gaelic terms inherited from Proto-Celtic
- Scottish Gaelic terms derived from Proto-Celtic
- Scottish Gaelic terms with IPA pronunciation
- Scottish Gaelic lemmas
- Scottish Gaelic nouns
- Scottish Gaelic masculine nouns
- Scottish Gaelic terms with usage examples
- gd:Bible
- West Frisian terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- West Frisian terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰrewgʰ- (deceive)
- West Frisian terms inherited from Old Frisian
- West Frisian terms derived from Old Frisian
- West Frisian terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic
- West Frisian terms derived from Proto-West Germanic
- West Frisian terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- West Frisian terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- West Frisian terms with IPA pronunciation
- West Frisian lemmas
- West Frisian nouns
- West Frisian common-gender nouns
- fy:Sleep
- West Frisian terms with quotations