Meanings
plural dismes
- USdatedobsoleteA dime minted in 1792.
- obsoleteA tenth; a tenth part; a tithe.
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.
2 more examples
Since the first sword was drawn about this question, Ev'ry tithe soul 'mongst many thousand dismes, Hath been as dear as Helen.
c. 1602 (date written), 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]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.
1886, Christopher Saint German, The Doctor and Student
Origin
- Latindecimus“tenth”
- Old Frenchdisme“tenth, tithe”
- Middle Frenchdixme
- Englishdisme
From Middle French dixme, Old French disme (“tenth, tithe”), from Latin decimus (“tenth”). Doublet of dime.
More words from Middle French, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
disme. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disme
“disme.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disme. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “disme,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disme.
Source: disme on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.