I. ˈdēm verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English demen, from Old English dēman; akin to Old High German tuomen to judge, Old Norse dœma, Gothic domjan; denominative from the root of English doom
transitive verb
1.
a. obsolete : to sit in judgment upon : decide
at the one side six judges were disposed to view and deem the deeds of arms that day — Edmund Spenser
b. archaic : administer
the deemster was a hard judge and deemed the laws in rigor — Hall Caine
2. : to come to view, judge, or classify after some reflection : hold , think
essentially he deemed himself a liberal — Robert Grant †1940
this criticism I deem to be without foundation — H.W.Dodds
it is deemed advisable to refrain from making definite statements until clinical … proof is available — H.G.Armstrong
3. archaic : expect , hope
a creature … whom she deemed to render happy — Lord Byron
intransitive verb
1. : to form or have an opinion : believe , suppose — used with of
I cannot deem otherwise of them — J.P.Kennedy †1870
2. : to become aware : be cognizant — used with of
something unearthly which they deem not of — Lord Byron
Synonyms: see consider
II. noun
( -s )
obsolete : judgment , surmise
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English (Scots) deme lady, dame, mother, alteration of Middle English dame
Scotland : girl ; specifically : a servant girl