Middle English Dictionary Entry
dīatesserǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dīatesserǒun n. Also diatessaron. |
| Etymology | L & OF; ult.Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Mus. (a) The consonant interval of a fourth, corresponding to the mathematical proportion of 4 to 3 in number of vibrations; (b) a tone which sounds the interval of a fourth above another tone.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.209 : Whanne þese acordes were i-founde Pictagoras ȝaf hem names.. þat hatte in noumbres al and þe þridde deel hatte in sownes dyatesseron.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)335a/a : Bitwen dyatesseron & dyapente tonus is diuersite of acordes as bitwen þe proporciouns.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)269/36 : Þe tenor wil be yeue a mydle þat is callid þe mene, þe which is callid a dyapente..to þe tenor and dyatessaron, id est sesquetercia, to þe treble.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.2.89b : Ther was no tune of musik þat ther was forgeten. The faire diapente, the sweet diapason..the lusti diatesseron fel in hire sones.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)1668 : Diapason..diapenter and..dia[t]esseron..accordes which in musicke be.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.211 : In the monocorde..if the corde other wire be distreynede in to iiij equalites, and that instrumente magada be putte under the oon extremalle diuision, the longer parte of the wire ytowchede yeldethe diatesseron.
2.
Pharm. A medicament with four ingredients.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)264/24 : Aftir þis he schal holde in his mouþ tiriacam diatesseron [L dyateseron].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 *Gilb.Angl.(Wel 537)207/30 : Ȝyue him triacle diatesseron with wiyn.
- a1475 *Gilb.Angl.(Wel 537)207/33 : Triacle diatesseron is þus y-made: Take of mirre, of aristologie rotunda, of gencian, [etc.].
Note: New spelling: diatesseron.
Note: Supplemental material: postdates sense 2.--per MJW
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. diatessaron.