What does ympe mean?
“Ympe” is an obsolete English noun denoting a person who was lame or had a crippled limb. It appears in medieval language and is not part of ordinary modern vocabulary. In its historical context, the word was direct and categorical rather than euphemistic, but its dated social connotations mean it should not be used casually to describe someone today. Modern speakers are more likely to encounter it in specialized dictionaries, historical texts, or discussions of Middle English. Its principal interest is linguistic: “ympe” preserves an older vocabulary of physical condition and disability that differs from the more familiar modern terms “lame person” and “cripple.” Knowing the word can therefore help readers interpret historical writing, though neutral contemporary language is preferable in present-day contexts.
nounA lame or crippled person; an invalid.
- A lame or crippled person.
"The old ympe was helped to the gate by two companions."
"The ympe sat beside the hearth."
"He was known as an ympe because he could not walk properly."
The plural is historical and rarely encountered in modern usage.
"Several ympes were carried or guided along the road."
Now almost vanished from English, “ympe” survives as a stark medieval label for a person with a physical disability.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ympe
“Ympe” is a Middle English word descended from Old English “imp,” which could denote a lame person or one with a deformity. The modern English descendant “imp,” in the sense of a small demon, developed through the idea of a misshapen or ugly creature. The Middle English form “ympe” is therefore related in origin to “imp,” although its recorded historical sense concerns physical disability rather than a supernatural being.
How ympe is actually used
The word is obsolete and survives chiefly in dictionaries and medieval texts; modern usage should avoid it as a label for a person with a disability.
Easily confused with ympe
“Ympe” was a historical word for a lame or crippled person, whereas “imp” can refer to a small devil or a minor mischief-maker.