Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ-
Proto-Indo-European *-mos
Proto-Germanic *draumaz
Proto-West Germanic *draum
Old English drēam
Middle English drem
English dream
From Middle English dream, dreem, dreeme, drem, dreme, dræm, from Old English drēam, drēm, drīm (“joy; melody, music; frenzy”), from Proto-West Germanic *draum, from Proto-Germanic *draumaz (“dream”), from earlier *draugmaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrowgʰ-mos, from *dʰrewgʰ- (“to deceive”).
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.
Cognates
Cognate with Scots dreme (“dream”), Saterland Frisian Droom (“dream”), West Frisian dream (“dream”), Dutch droom (“dream”), German Traum (“dream”), Limburgish Droum (“dream”), Luxembourgish Dram (“dream”), Yiddish טרוים (troym, “dream”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål drøm (“dream”), Faroese dreymur (“dream”), Icelandic draumur (“dream”), Norwegian Nynorsk draum, drøm (“dream”), Swedish dröm (“dream”); also Breton drouk (“bad; evil”), Cornish drog (“bad; evil; invalid; nasty; wicked; wrong”), Irish droch- (“bad; ill-”), Manx drogh (“bad; evil”), Scottish Gaelic droch (“bad”), Welsh drwg (“bad; naughty”), Avestan 𐬛𐬭𐬎𐬲𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌 (družaⁱti, “to deceive, mislead”), Bactrian λρωγο (lrōgo, “lie; falsehood”), Baluchi دروگ (darog, “lie; falsehood”), Central Kurdish درۆ (dro, “lie”), Northern Kurdish derew (“lie”), Pashto دروغ (droğ, “lie; falsehood”), Persian دُروغ (doruġ / durōġ, “lie; falsehood”), Sanskrit द्रुह्यति (druhyati, “to hurt; to bear malice or hatred; to be a foe or rival”).
The verb is from Middle English dreamen, dreme, dremen, dreomen, possibly (see below) from Old English drēman, drīeman, drȳman (“to rejoice; to play an instrument joyously; to sing a song joyfully”), from Proto-West Germanic *draumijan, from Proto-Germanic *draumijaną (“to be dream”), from the noun.
Cognates
Cognate with North Frisian drem, driime (“to dream”), Saterland Frisian drööme (“to dream”), West Frisian dreame, dreamje (“to dream”), Bavarian dramma, trama (“to dream”), Central Franconian drööme (“to dream”), Cimbrian truamen (“to dream”), Dutch dromen (“to dream”), German träumen (“to dream”), Low German draimen (“to dream”), Luxembourgish dreemen (“to dream”), Yiddish טרוימען (troymen, “to dream”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål drømme (“to dream”), Faroese droyma (“to dream”), Icelandic dreyma (“to dream”), Norwegian Nynorsk drømma, drømme, drøyma, drøyme (“to dream”), Swedish drömma (“to dream, muse”).
more details
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. 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”).
Meanings
(not-comparable) Ideal; perfect.
If a girl who talked like that was not his dream girl, he didn't know a dream girl when he heard one. 2014, P.G. Wodehouse, Jeeves and the Yule-Tide Spirit and Other Stories, Random House, →ISBN, page 158:
Gonna drive back down where you once belonged / In the back of a dream car, twenty foot long 1975, David Bowie, “Golden Years”, in Station to Station:
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. 2017 November 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-0 Brazil”, in BBC News:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ-
Proto-Indo-European *-mos
Proto-Germanic *draumaz
Proto-West Germanic *draum
Old English drēam
Middle English drem
English dream
From Middle English dream, dreem, dreeme, drem, dreme, dræm, from Old English drēam, drēm, drīm (“joy; melody, music; frenzy”), from Proto-West Germanic *draum, from Proto-Germanic *draumaz (“dream”), from earlier *draugmaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrowgʰ-mos, from *dʰrewgʰ- (“to deceive”).
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.
Cognates
Cognate with Scots dreme (“dream”), Saterland Frisian Droom (“dream”), West Frisian dream (“dream”), Dutch droom (“dream”), German Traum (“dream”), Limburgish Droum (“dream”), Luxembourgish Dram (“dream”), Yiddish טרוים (troym, “dream”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål drøm (“dream”), Faroese dreymur (“dream”), Icelandic draumur (“dream”), Norwegian Nynorsk draum, drøm (“dream”), Swedish dröm (“dream”); also Breton drouk (“bad; evil”), Cornish drog (“bad; evil; invalid; nasty; wicked; wrong”), Irish droch- (“bad; ill-”), Manx drogh (“bad; evil”), Scottish Gaelic droch (“bad”), Welsh drwg (“bad; naughty”), Avestan 𐬛𐬭𐬎𐬲𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌 (družaⁱti, “to deceive, mislead”), Bactrian λρωγο (lrōgo, “lie; falsehood”), Baluchi دروگ (darog, “lie; falsehood”), Central Kurdish درۆ (dro, “lie”), Northern Kurdish derew (“lie”), Pashto دروغ (droğ, “lie; falsehood”), Persian دُروغ (doruġ / durōġ, “lie; falsehood”), Sanskrit द्रुह्यति (druhyati, “to hurt; to bear malice or hatred; to be a foe or rival”).
The verb is from Middle English dreamen, dreme, dremen, dreomen, possibly (see below) from Old English drēman, drīeman, drȳman (“to rejoice; to play an instrument joyously; to sing a song joyfully”), from Proto-West Germanic *draumijan, from Proto-Germanic *draumijaną (“to be dream”), from the noun.
Cognates
Cognate with North Frisian drem, driime (“to dream”), Saterland Frisian drööme (“to dream”), West Frisian dreame, dreamje (“to dream”), Bavarian dramma, trama (“to dream”), Central Franconian drööme (“to dream”), Cimbrian truamen (“to dream”), Dutch dromen (“to dream”), German träumen (“to dream”), Low German draimen (“to dream”), Luxembourgish dreemen (“to dream”), Yiddish טרוימען (troymen, “to dream”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål drømme (“to dream”), Faroese droyma (“to dream”), Icelandic dreyma (“to dream”), Norwegian Nynorsk drømma, drømme, drøyma, drøyme (“to dream”), Swedish drömma (“to dream, muse”).
more details
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. 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”).
Meanings
Imaginary events seen in the mind while sleeping.
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. 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:
Dreams are but interludes which fancy makes. 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:
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 1982, “Mad World”, in Roland Orzabal (lyrics), The Hurting, performed by Tears for Fears:
Crazy things like that only happen in dreams.
Last night I had a vividly scary dream about an immortal snail that chased me around and could kill me if it touched me.
(figuratively) A hope or wish.
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.) 2010, Jonathan Green, Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy, and Escape from Tibet, PublicAffairs, →ISBN, page 33:
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! 1963 August 28, Martin Luther King, I have a Dream:
This year I fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting the South Pacific.
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. 2012 August 5, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: The Simpsonbs (Classic): ‘I Love Lisa’ (season 4, episode 15; originally aired 02/11/1993)”, in The A.V. Club:
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. 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
A visionary scheme; a wild conceit; an idle fancy.
impossible dream
There sober thought pursued the amusing theme, / Till Fancy coloured it and formed a dream. c. 1735, Alexander Pope, John Donne's Satires Versified:
live in a dream
the dream of his youth
It is not, then, a mere dream, but a very real aim which they propose. 1870, John Shairp, Culture and Religion:
ml സ്വപ്നം (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · dsb cowanje (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ca somni (hope or wish) · sw ndoto (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · la quiēs (hope or wish) · mwl suonho (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · co sonniu (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hrx Draum (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · nn draum (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · bug nipi (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · nb drøm (hope or wish) · lb Dreem (hope or wish) · uz tush (hope or wish) · cs sen (hope or wish) · la nox (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · jam jriim (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · rif tarjit (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · yi חלום (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · be сьне́ньне (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ar حُلْم (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ba төш (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · el όνειρο (hope or wish) · ur رویا (hope or wish) · as সপোন (hope or wish) · vi giấc mộng (visionary scheme) · ar حلم (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · nci temictli (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hy երազանք (hope or wish) · fo dreymur (hope or wish) · la somnium (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · be ма́ра (hope or wish) · hi आरज़ू (hope or wish) · tg хаёл (hope or wish) · ltg sapyns (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hi ख़्वाब (hope or wish) · mi maruāpō (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · vec vizion (visionary scheme) · orv мечта (hope or wish) · koi он (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sk sen (hope or wish) · gl soño (hope or wish) · bg сън (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · nb drøm (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ang swefn (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · zh 夢想 /梦想 (hope or wish) · lad סואינייו (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · he חֲלוֹם (hope or wish) · mfe rev (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mfe rev (hope or wish) · ur سَپْنا (hope or wish) · bo གཉིད་ལམ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · uz xayol (hope or wish) · lb Wonsch (hope or wish) · id mimpi (hope or wish) · mn мөрөөдөл (hope or wish) · ko 꿈 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hsb són (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sh ма̀шта (hope or wish) · fi visio (visionary scheme) · ta கனவு (visionary scheme) · br hunvre (hope or wish) · fur insium (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ki kĩroto (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ga brionglóid (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ar مَنام (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hi सपना (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · rom suno (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · evn толкин (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ru грёза (hope or wish) · sjd нагерь (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lmo sogn (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · br hunvre (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · vi ước mơ (hope or wish) · uz orzu (hope or wish) · tyv дүш (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tr düş (hope or wish) · yue 夢想 /梦想 (hope or wish) · de Wunsch (hope or wish) · km ការយល់សប្តិ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · de Traum (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mi wawata (hope or wish) · ug ئارزۇ (hope or wish) · yue 夢 /梦 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fur sium (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · pms seugn (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · orv грѣза (hope or wish) · ro vis (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · rm semi (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · de Draam (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · grc ἐνύπνιον (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · si ස්වප්න (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · kaw ipi (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ru сон (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sn chiroto (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ln ndoto (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · bg съ́нища (hope or wish) · fr vœu (hope or wish) · njo-jgl pungmang (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · vec insonjo (hope or wish) · mww npau suav (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hu álom (hope or wish) · ko 드림 (hope or wish) · rif tarjit (hope or wish) · yi טרוים (hope or wish) · av макьу (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · zza hewn (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · scn sonnu (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mpi sware (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ast suañu (hope or wish) · ms mimpi (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ab аԥхыӡ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tr düş (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ka სიზმარი (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ug چۈش (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lus mang (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sq ëndërr (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fy dream (hope or wish) · ta கனா (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · uk сновиді́ння (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · egy D21-S29-G43-X1-T13-D4 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ceb damgo (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tk düýş (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fr rêve (visionary scheme) · fi haave (visionary scheme) · mk мечта (hope or wish) · arc ܚܠܡܐ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · rm siemi (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sh са̏н (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · id impian (hope or wish) · grc ὄνειρος (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · gd bruadar (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ta கனவு (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · eo sonĝo (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ka ოცნება (hope or wish) · ur خَیال (hope or wish) · kpv ун (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · az röya (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hu álom (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tzm ⵜⴰⵡⴰⵔⴳⵉⵜ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ba хыял (visionary scheme) · te స్వప్నం (hope or wish) · lt svaja (hope or wish) · fa خِیال (hope or wish) · as হেঁপাহ (hope or wish) · ar حُلْم (hope or wish) · duu mlvng (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lb Dram (hope or wish) · ko 희망 (hope or wish) · kk түс (hope or wish) · frr Droom (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · es sueño (hope or wish) · ojp 夢 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fi uni (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tr rüya (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · km សប្តិ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tg орзу (hope or wish) · sh sȁn (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tr arzu (hope or wish) · lv sapnis (hope or wish) · nv naʼiidzeeł (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ket ъкбаӈ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sv dröm (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ms harapan (hope or wish) · ja 夢想 (hope or wish) · kab targit (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · frm resve (hope or wish) · mr स्वप्न (hope or wish) · tg рӯъё (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fo dreymur (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ikz ekerooto class 7 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mr स्वप्न (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · io sonjo (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ja 夢 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · bcl pangiturog (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ja ドリーム (hope or wish) · grt জুমাং (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ca il·lusió (hope or wish) · ko 꿈 (hope or wish) · nl droom (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · bg сън (hope or wish) · ace lumpoë (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · os фын (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ar رُؤْيَا (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · yua wayakʼ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mak cini (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · osx drom (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ko 몽상 (hope or wish) · fr souhait (hope or wish) · ta கனா (hope or wish) · nuj ehirooto class 7 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · km សុបិន (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · nl hoop (hope or wish) · ta கனா (visionary scheme) · kmr xewn (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · cu сънъ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ady пщӏыхьапӏэ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fr rêve (hope or wish) · ur سَپْنا (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · el όραμα (hope or wish) · uz tush (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · be сне́нне (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ca somni (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · id mimpi (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · vec insonjo (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fa خَیال (hope or wish) · tt хыял (hope or wish) · pi supina (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · bxd ja̠p⁵⁵ maʔ⁵⁵ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · is draumur (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · nn draum (hope or wish) · my အိပ်မက် (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ur خْوَاب (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · el όνειρο (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sh sȁn (hope or wish) · lzz იზმოჯე (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · uk сон (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mwl suonho (hope or wish) · aqc хийал (hope or wish) · ast suañu (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fr songe (hope or wish) · shn ၽၼ် (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · as সপোন (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fi unelma (hope or wish) · sip གཉིད་ལམ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · gu સ્વપ્ન (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · th ความใฝ่ฝัน (hope or wish) · sh snòviđēnje (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hi ख़्वाब (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · arn pewma (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lt svajonė (hope or wish) · it sogno (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · eo revo (hope or wish) · orv мечьта (hope or wish) · ba хыял (hope or wish) · osa hǫ́bre (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mi marupō (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · zu iphupho (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ja 希望 (hope or wish) · or ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · la somnium (hope or wish) · ky түш (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · bn স্বপ্ন (hope or wish) · hy երազ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fr rêve (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · gld толкин (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mhr омо (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fy dream (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mns-nor ӯлем (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · kk арман (hope or wish) · ms impian (hope or wish) · uk мрі́я (hope or wish) · bn স্বপ্ন (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · haw moe (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · vi giấc mơ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ky түш (hope or wish) · mnc ᡨᠣᠯᡤᡳᠨ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · af droom (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ht rèv (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ar حلم (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · kn ಕನಸು (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · es sueño (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ce гIан (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · shi tawargit (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sh сно̀виђе̄ње (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · pl marzenie (hope or wish) · ru мечта́ (hope or wish) · az xəyal (hope or wish) · yai хун (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · agr kaha (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · bo རྨི་ལམ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · pdt Droom (nds) (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · rif tirja (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ist sugno (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sc bisu (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ar أَحْلام (hope or wish) · eve толкун (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lo ຝັນ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · be мро́я (hope or wish) · lo ຄວາມຝັນ (hope or wish) · kn ಸ್ವಪ್ನ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · it sogno (hope or wish) · bal واب (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hy անուրջ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mt ħolma (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · kk түс (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · de Traum (hope or wish) · cy breuddwyd (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tt төш (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mn зүүд (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tl panaginip (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · orv мьчьта (hope or wish) · pt sonho (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · el ενύπνιο (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · rm sömmi (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ryu 夢 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · zh 夢 /梦 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · cu мъчьта (hope or wish) · sh màšta (hope or wish) · be сон (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lut sqəlalitut (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ttt xo (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · chr ᎠᏍᎩᏘᏍᏗ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · es ensueño (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ne सपना (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tl pangarap (hope or wish) · hil damgo (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ar حلم (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · bn খোয়াব (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ro vis (hope or wish) · fa خواب (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · km មមាល (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · frm resve (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · izh uni (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · om abjuu (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · oc sòmi (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fr voeu (hope or wish) · gug ke (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · hi सपना (hope or wish) · et unistus (hope or wish) · kbd пщӏыхь (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · khw خوشپ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · yua náay (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · gl soño (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · haw moeʻuhane (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · pt sonho (hope or wish) · lb Dram (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ky түштөгүдөй (hope or wish) · ru сновиде́ние (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · cwa ekirooto class 7 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tk düýş (hope or wish) · te స్వప్నము (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · cho nusika (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · et unenägu (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fa آرِزو (hope or wish) · fi haave (hope or wish) · sl sánje (hope or wish) · mi moemoeā (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ta கனவு (hope or wish) · ain タラㇷ゚ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · pl sen (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fr songe (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · cs sen (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · eu amets (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · okm ᄭᅮᆷ〮 (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · te కల (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mww npau (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lv sapnis (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sl sanje (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ur خْوَاب (hope or wish) · sv dröm (hope or wish) · kmr xeyal (hope or wish) · vi giấc mơ (visionary scheme) · hi ख़याल (hope or wish) · pam pananinap (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · udm ум (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · kmr aşop (hope or wish) · sh са̏н (hope or wish) · enm sweven (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · khb ᦚᧃ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · th ฝัน (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sk sen (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · mk сон (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lg ekirooto (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lad suenyo (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · kmr xewn (hope or wish) · mi tahakura (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ckb خەون (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · es ensueño (hope or wish) · mni ꯃꯡ (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · vi giấc mơ (hope or wish) · non draumr (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · lt sãpnas (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · th ความฝัน (hope or wish) · ur آرْزُو (hope or wish) · wmw nloto (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fa آرْزو (hope or wish) · ml കിനാവ് (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ar حلم (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ga taibhreamh (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · az yuxu (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sa स्वप्न (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · fa رُؤْیا (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · enm drem (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · cdm माङः (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · tg хоб (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · pt desejo (hope or wish) · ja 望み (hope or wish) · da drøm (hope or wish) · tr hayal (hope or wish) · bg мечта́ (hope or wish) · ru грёза (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · he חֲלוֹם (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · da drøm (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · ja 夢 (hope or wish) · nl droom (hope or wish) · mba damugo (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · war i-nop (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sce zhaojin (imaginary events seen while sleeping) · sk sen (visionary scheme)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ-
Proto-Indo-European *-mos
Proto-Germanic *draumaz
Proto-West Germanic *draum
Old English drēam
Middle English drem
English dream
From Middle English dream, dreem, dreeme, drem, dreme, dræm, from Old English drēam, drēm, drīm (“joy; melody, music; frenzy”), from Proto-West Germanic *draum, from Proto-Germanic *draumaz (“dream”), from earlier *draugmaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrowgʰ-mos, from *dʰrewgʰ- (“to deceive”).
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.
Cognates
Cognate with Scots dreme (“dream”), Saterland Frisian Droom (“dream”), West Frisian dream (“dream”), Dutch droom (“dream”), German Traum (“dream”), Limburgish Droum (“dream”), Luxembourgish Dram (“dream”), Yiddish טרוים (troym, “dream”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål drøm (“dream”), Faroese dreymur (“dream”), Icelandic draumur (“dream”), Norwegian Nynorsk draum, drøm (“dream”), Swedish dröm (“dream”); also Breton drouk (“bad; evil”), Cornish drog (“bad; evil; invalid; nasty; wicked; wrong”), Irish droch- (“bad; ill-”), Manx drogh (“bad; evil”), Scottish Gaelic droch (“bad”), Welsh drwg (“bad; naughty”), Avestan 𐬛𐬭𐬎𐬲𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌 (družaⁱti, “to deceive, mislead”), Bactrian λρωγο (lrōgo, “lie; falsehood”), Baluchi دروگ (darog, “lie; falsehood”), Central Kurdish درۆ (dro, “lie”), Northern Kurdish derew (“lie”), Pashto دروغ (droğ, “lie; falsehood”), Persian دُروغ (doruġ / durōġ, “lie; falsehood”), Sanskrit द्रुह्यति (druhyati, “to hurt; to bear malice or hatred; to be a foe or rival”).
The verb is from Middle English dreamen, dreme, dremen, dreomen, possibly (see below) from Old English drēman, drīeman, drȳman (“to rejoice; to play an instrument joyously; to sing a song joyfully”), from Proto-West Germanic *draumijan, from Proto-Germanic *draumijaną (“to be dream”), from the noun.
Cognates
Cognate with North Frisian drem, driime (“to dream”), Saterland Frisian drööme (“to dream”), West Frisian dreame, dreamje (“to dream”), Bavarian dramma, trama (“to dream”), Central Franconian drööme (“to dream”), Cimbrian truamen (“to dream”), Dutch dromen (“to dream”), German träumen (“to dream”), Low German draimen (“to dream”), Luxembourgish dreemen (“to dream”), Yiddish טרוימען (troymen, “to dream”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål drømme (“to dream”), Faroese droyma (“to dream”), Icelandic dreyma (“to dream”), Norwegian Nynorsk drømma, drømme, drøyma, drøyme (“to dream”), Swedish drömma (“to dream, muse”).
more details
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. 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”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To see imaginary events in one's mind while sleeping.
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." 1859, Omar Khayyam, “(please specify the quatrain number in uppercase Roman numerals)”, in [Edward FitzGerald], transl., Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, the Astronomer-Poet of Persia. […], facsimile edition, London: Bernard Quaritch, […], →OCLC, page 1:
Although people primarily dream during the REM phase of sleeping, they can dream during non-REM sleep as well.
(intransitive) To hope, to wish.
Lucy dreams of becoming a scientist when she grows up.
(intransitive) To daydream.
Stop dreaming and get back to work.
(transitive) To envision as an imaginary experience (usually when asleep).
At length in sleep their bodies they compose, / And dreamt the future fight, and early rose. 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
And still they dream that they shall still succeed. 1782–1785, William Cowper, “(please specify the page)”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC:
I dreamed a vivid dream last night.
(intransitive) To consider the possibility (of).
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. 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:
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. 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
tr düş görmek (see imaginary events while sleeping) · kl sinnattorpoq (see imaginary events while sleeping) · mt ħolom (see imaginary events while sleeping) · cs snít (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ja 夢を見る (see imaginary events while sleeping) · lb dreemen (see imaginary events while sleeping) · grc ἐνυπνιάζομαι (see imaginary events while sleeping) · km យល់សប្តិ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · uz tush koʻrmoq (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ja 夢見る (to hope, to wish) · la somniō (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sh nádati se (to hope, to wish) · pt sonhar (to hope, to wish) · hy երազ տեսնել (see imaginary events while sleeping) · scn nzunnari (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sh са́њати (to hope, to wish) · fi unelmoida (to hope, to wish) · sh sánjati (to hope, to wish) · nl dromen (to hope, to wish) · nap sunnà (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ta கனவுகாண் (to hope, to wish) · ckb خەو بینین (see imaginary events while sleeping) · es ensoñar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · eo sonĝi (see imaginary events while sleeping) · pt sonhar (to create an imaginary experience) · ne सपना देख्नु (see imaginary events while sleeping) · bn স্বপ্ন দেখা (see imaginary events while sleeping) · yua náay (see imaginary events while sleeping) · id memimpikan (see imaginary events while sleeping) · cho nusika (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ast soñar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · id bermimpi (to hope, to wish) · hi सपना देखना (see imaginary events while sleeping) · vi mong ước (to hope, to wish) · yi חלומען (see imaginary events while sleeping) · el ονειρεύομαι (to create an imaginary experience) · rm siemiar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ast suañar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · es ensoñar (to create an imaginary experience) · wyi yayŭt-gin (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ain ウェンタラㇷ゚ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ro visa (see imaginary events while sleeping) · gl soñar (to hope, to wish) · mr स्वप्न पाहणे (see imaginary events while sleeping) · vi ước mong (to hope, to wish) · da drømme (to hope, to wish) · ce саха хуьйла (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ovd dröma (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ru мечта́ть (to create an imaginary experience) · et und nägema (see imaginary events while sleeping) · rom dikhel suno (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ast suañar (to hope, to wish) · mk сонува (see imaginary events while sleeping) · yao kusagamila (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ht reve (see imaginary events while sleeping) · mi tahakura (see imaginary events while sleeping) · bo རྨི་བ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ka ნდომა (to hope, to wish) · uk сни́тися (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ko 꿈꾸다 (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sn -rota (see imaginary events while sleeping) · osa hǫ́bre (see imaginary events while sleeping) · de träumen (to create an imaginary experience) · az röya görmək (see imaginary events while sleeping) · tet mehi (see imaginary events while sleeping) · it sognare (to hope, to wish) · unm ashimwi (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ta கனாக்காண் (to hope, to wish) · ta கனாக்காண் (to create an imaginary experience) · it sognare (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sh snivati (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ms mengimpi (to hope, to wish) · km សូង (to hope, to wish) · he חלם (to hope, to wish) · hu álmodik (to create an imaginary experience) · grc ἐνυπνιάζω (see imaginary events while sleeping) · nn drøyma (see imaginary events while sleeping) · be сні́цца (see imaginary events while sleeping) · mi moemoeā (see imaginary events while sleeping) · pl śnić (see imaginary events while sleeping) · nl dromen (see imaginary events while sleeping) · lv sapņot (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ar حَلَمَ (to hope, to wish) · lt svajoti (to hope, to wish) · tr ummak (to hope, to wish) · pms sugné (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ikz -roota (see imaginary events while sleeping) · te కలగను (see imaginary events while sleeping) · fi uneksia (to hope, to wish) · ne सपना (to create an imaginary experience) · zh 做夢 /做梦 (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sh sanjati (see imaginary events while sleeping) · se niegadit (see imaginary events while sleeping) · pt desejar (to hope, to wish) · haw moeʻuhane (see imaginary events while sleeping) · eu amets egin (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ta கனவுகாண் (see imaginary events while sleeping) · zh 夢見 /梦见 (see imaginary events while sleeping) · uk мрі́яти (to hope, to wish) · fr rêver (see imaginary events while sleeping) · vi mơ ước (to hope, to wish) · ar حَلَمَ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ru мечта́ть (to hope, to wish) · sk snívať (to hope, to wish) · is dreyma (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sh на́дати се (to hope, to wish) · be мро́іць (to hope, to wish) · id memimpikan (to hope, to wish) · sv drömma (to hope, to wish) · ia soniar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ja 夢見る (see imaginary events while sleeping) · cwa -roota (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sk snívať (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ga taibhrigh (see imaginary events while sleeping) · pox bľǫdăt (see imaginary events while sleeping) · khb ᦚᧃ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ang mǣtan (see imaginary events while sleeping) · tr hayali olmak (to hope, to wish) · pl marzyć (to hope, to wish) · br hunvreal (to hope, to wish) · lt sapnuoti (see imaginary events while sleeping) · lb wënschen (to hope, to wish) · es soñar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ast soñar (to hope, to wish) · grc ὀνειροπολέω (see imaginary events while sleeping) · de wünschen (to hope, to wish) · cs zdát se (see imaginary events while sleeping) · lmo sognà (see imaginary events while sleeping) · gl soñar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ca somiar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · da drømme (see imaginary events while sleeping) · th ปรารถนา (to hope, to wish) · mrw taginep (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ca somiar (to hope, to wish) · ka სიზმრის ნახვა (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ru фантази́ровать (to create an imaginary experience) · vo drimön (see imaginary events while sleeping) · vi mơ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sh snívati (to hope, to wish) · fo droyma (see imaginary events while sleeping) · el φαντάζομαι (to create an imaginary experience) · enm dremen (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ru ви́деть сон (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ro visa (to hope, to wish) · id bermimpi (see imaginary events while sleeping) · es ensoñar (to hope, to wish) · ru гре́зить (to hope, to wish) · yua wayakʼ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · tsg tagainup (see imaginary events while sleeping) · non dreyma (see imaginary events while sleeping) · be ма́рыць (to hope, to wish) · cs doufat (to hope, to wish) · th ฝันเฟื่อง (to create an imaginary experience) · fa خواب دیدن (see imaginary events while sleeping) · el οπτασιάζομαι (to create an imaginary experience) · uk мрі́ти (to hope, to wish) · ro imagina (to create an imaginary experience) · ko 꿈꾸다 (to hope, to wish) · ny kulóta (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sh снивати (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ka დასიზმრება (see imaginary events while sleeping) · wmw kulota (see imaginary events while sleeping) · fro resver (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ta கனவுகாண் (to create an imaginary experience) · cs vysnít si (to create an imaginary experience) · th ฝันถึง (see imaginary events while sleeping) · arc ܚܠܡ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · lb dreemen (to hope, to wish) · bxd ja̠p⁵⁵ maʔ⁵⁵ maʔ³¹ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ms bermimpi (see imaginary events while sleeping) · mfe reve (see imaginary events while sleeping) · uk ма́рити (to hope, to wish) · frm resver (see imaginary events while sleeping) · uli ddal’ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · fr souhaiter (to hope, to wish) · ka წადილი (to hope, to wish) · jra rơpơi (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sl sanjati (see imaginary events while sleeping) · zh 發夢 /发梦 (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sw -ota (see imaginary events while sleeping) · cs snít (to hope, to wish) · th ฝัน (see imaginary events while sleeping) · es soñar (to hope, to wish) · mfe reve (to hope, to wish) · shn ၽၼ် (see imaginary events while sleeping) · mn зүүдлэх (see imaginary events while sleeping) · kab argu (see imaginary events while sleeping) · cs přát (to hope, to wish) · ckb خەو بینین (to create an imaginary experience) · ja 夢想する (to hope, to wish) · he חָלַם (see imaginary events while sleeping) · el ονειρεύομαι (to hope, to wish) · oc somiar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ru присни́ться (see imaginary events while sleeping) · lg okuloota (see imaginary events while sleeping) · eu amestu (to hope, to wish) · mn мөрөөдөх (to hope, to wish) · bg мечта́я (to create an imaginary experience) · ja ...を夢見る (see imaginary events while sleeping) · fi uneksia (see imaginary events while sleeping) · fy dreame (see imaginary events while sleeping) · fur insumiâsi (see imaginary events while sleeping) · km មមាល (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ru сни́ться (see imaginary events while sleeping) · cs mít sny (see imaginary events while sleeping) · hy երազել (to hope, to wish) · fi nähdä unta (see imaginary events while sleeping) · bg сънувам (see imaginary events while sleeping) · de träumen (see imaginary events while sleeping) · fr rêver (to hope, to wish) · mni ꯃꯡ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · tr rüya görmek (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ru уви́деть сон (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sh сањати (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sv drömma (see imaginary events while sleeping) · br hunvreal (see imaginary events while sleeping) · es soñar (to create an imaginary experience) · ta கனாக்காண் (see imaginary events while sleeping) · th ฝันใฝ่ (to hope, to wish) · ka ფანტაზიორობა (to create an imaginary experience) · vi ước mơ (to hope, to wish) · zh 夢想 /梦想 (to hope, to wish) · el ονειρεύομαι (see imaginary events while sleeping) · cho holhpukna (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sq ëndërroj (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ce гIан (see imaginary events while sleeping) · nmn ʘôõ ǁnṵã (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ru гре́зить (see imaginary events while sleeping) · fi haaveilla (to hope, to wish) · fr rêver (to create an imaginary experience) · no drømme (see imaginary events while sleeping) · km សុបិន (see imaginary events while sleeping) · ren hapu (see imaginary events while sleeping) · pt sonhar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · lo ຝັນ (see imaginary events while sleeping) · bg мечта́я (to hope, to wish) · io sonjar (see imaginary events while sleeping) · fy dreame (to hope, to wish) · de träumen (to hope, to wish) · mi whakaririka (to create an imaginary experience) · yue 發夢 /发梦 (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sc bisai (see imaginary events while sleeping) · jv ngimpi (see imaginary events while sleeping) · hu álmodik (see imaginary events while sleeping) · cy breuddwydio (see imaginary events while sleeping) · sh сни́вати (to hope, to wish)