Middle English Dictionary Entry
dīǧestī̆f adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dīǧestī̆f adj. & n. Also digestive. Pl. dīǧestī̆ves. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
As adj.: (a) med. able to break down pathological matter, humors, etc.; medecin ~, a digestive medicine, a drug that prepares pathological matter for evacuation; (b) physiol. having to do with the digestion of food and drink; having to do with the capacity of bodily organs for transforming humors or nutriment into something different; ~ vertu, strength ~.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)161a/b : Medicinez digestiuez of colre. Colric materie forsoþ is digested with colde thingez & apertyue.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)14/2 : And so I seie of medicyns comfortatyues, digestyues, laxatyues, restriktyues, and alle oþere.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)31b/b : 2a. intencion is complete þat þe vertue digestyue [L digestiua] be conforted with gode spicez & confeccions.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)46b/a : Idropisis is..Aposteme & inflacioun of þe wombe of materie grossa & ventose gendered with in þe spaciositee of þe wombe by errour of þe digestiue vertue [*Ch.(2): þe vertu digestyf] of þe lyuer.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)96/11 : Þat glorious god hauys inlightyd of vij strenghes; of stryngthe attractyue, and retractyf, of stryngthe digestyf, and purgatyf.
2.
As noun: (a) med. a digestive medicine; (b) the maturation of an ulcer, bringing to a head; (c) physiol. the transforming function of the liver [cp. ~ vertu.]
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4151 : If..ye shul haue a feuere terciane..A day or two ye shul haue digestyues Of wormes.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)275 : Ful goode siropys to make dygestyues, And therwithal the sonnere for to speede Pelotes expert for evacuatyues.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)24a/a : It byhoueþ to lede or brynge þam [apostemes] to digestiue [*Ch.(2): digestioun; L digestiuam] and suppuratiue.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)110a/a : Þer may be cause of errour of þe digestif & sanguifice i. blodemakyng, in þe lyuer.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. digestive.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. digestive medicine.