leave a good estate, to die rich; a warm (= rich) man: 'well-lined or flush in the pocket' (B. E. and Grose); warm (in one's position, duty, etc.) = at home, conversant with, well adapted to: hence to keep a place, etc., warm = to occupy it; a warm (= unpleasant) position: e.g. 'He's in a warm corner'; a warm (= zealous) opinion; a warm (= brisk) engagement; a warm (= enthusiastic) partisan; warm (= quick) work; a warm (= hasty) temper: espec. when contradicted; warm (= wanton) desire: a warm (= lecherous) member (or warm-'un): a harlot or whoremonger: cf. Hot-un, Scorcher (q.v.); also (2) warm-member = an energetic, pushful, self-advertising person; warm (= strong) language; a warm (= hostile) reception: hence the place gets too warm (= unpleasant) because of unpopularity or antagonism to authority, and so forth.
1377. Chaucer, Troilus [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 114. A prosperous man is said to sit warm; hence our warm (thriving) man, and our tenants sit at so much rent].
1551. Tytler, Edward VI. [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 528. The adjective warm is employed for iratus].
1610. Jonson, Alchemist, ii. 1. A gentleman newly warm in his land, sir.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, 84. His brother . . . had a while warmed the throne.
1662. Middleton, Anything for a Quiet Life, i. 1. Water Camlet. Believe it, I am a poor commoner. Sir F. Cres. Come, you are warm and blest with a fair wife.
1680. Dryden, Spanish Friar, i. 1. We shall have warm work on't.
c.1693. Congreve, Juvenal, xi. Their small stock of credit gone, Lest Rome should grow too warm, from thence they run.
1728. Swift, Death of Stella. When she saw any of the company very warm in a wrong opinion, she was more inclined to confirm them in it than oppose them.
1766. Goldsmith, Vicar, xvi. We have been thinking of marrying her to one of your tenants . . . a warm man . . . able to give her good bread.
1809. Irving, Knickerbocker, 409. Scarcely had the worthy Mynheer Beekman got warm in the seat of authority . . . than enemies began to spring up all around him.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 85. This warm old gentleman has the moderation to lend me money at twenty per cent. Ibid., 192. I was a warm widow with a comfortable jointure, and a person little, if anything, the worse for wear. Ibid., 216. We feathered our nests pretty warmly.
1814. Austen, Mansfield Park, xvi. I do not know the play; but . . . if there is anything a little too warm . . . it can be easily left out.
c.1827. Macaulay, Hallam's Constit. Hist. The conduct of Hampden in the affair of the ship-money met with the warm approbation of every respectable royalist in England.
1834. Edgeworth, Helen, xxvi. When people are warm they cannot stand picking terms.
1865. Dickens, Mutual Friend, III. vi. He's warm—he's getting cold—he's getting colder and colder—he's freezing.
c.1875. Music Hall Song, 'Keep it Dark.' Dr. Kenealy, that popular bloke, That extremely warm member, the member for Stoke.
c.1889. Music Hall Song, 'Salvation Sarah.' They call me Salvation Sarah, A warm-'un I have been; But now I am converted, I'll never go wrong again.
1897. Marshall, Pomes, 124. And, in a monetary sense, He looked on her as 'warm.'
1901. Snorting Times, 27 April, 1. 4. 'I suppose . . . the pretty bird should be placed in a warm room, eh?' 'Oh, it don't siggernify, lady, . . . any room'll be warm enough once he starts a-talkin'!'
1902. Lynch, High Stakes, 122. Perry ran to earth . . . the fellow . . . who drove Bradish . . . It means that we are getting warm.
