temse I. \ˈtemz\noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English temse, from Old English temes; akin to Middle Low German tēmes, tēmse sieve, Middle Dutch teems, German dial zims sieve, Old High German zimissa bran dialect chiefly Britain: sieve II. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English temsen, from Old English temsian, temesian, from temes, n. dialect chiefly Britain: sift