Middle English Dictionary Entry
dissolūciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dissolūciǒun n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Laxity in behavior or in the observance of religious rites or practices; frivolity, dissipation, dissoluteness.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4898 : The tyme of youthe..ledith man now up, now doun, In mochel dissolucioun.
- a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Ps.(Bod 554)3 (Ps.2.11) : 'Wiþ tremblyng' .. is addid lest þe ful ioiyng be turned into dissolucioun eþer wantounnesse, as þei doon þat syngen wantounli in þe chirche.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.624 : Senec..kepte hym euere..Maugre his fatal disposicioun..From al outrage and dissolucioun.
- a1450(a1449) Lydg.WTongue (Hnt EL 26.A.13)60 : Ȝif thow be glad of daliaunce, Men wil deme it dissolucioun.
- (1445) Visit.Alnwick115 : That in tyme of mete there be som lessone redde of holy wrytte..[al]le other vayne talkyng and dissolucyone lafte.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)98/58 : Þe synnes of dede..sacrileghe..apostasy, dissolucioun in Goddes servys.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)136/15 : Ȝif þou be a menstrall..& schewyst bourdefull woordys..for wynnyng..it is venyall synne; but ȝif þou do it for delyȝt of dyssolucyoun, þanne it is dedly synne.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)232/14 : Dissolucion in felyschipe is trowede myrth.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)16/12 : All sekeness of sowle..and dissolucion of maners is dryve away.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)2.41.130a : Falliþ not wilfully to recleshede or dissolucioun in fleschlynes.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)402 : Onthryfte and dissolucioun..onbrydeled of all gouernaunce.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)6/1 : Þere wolde not be..so muche dissolucion in cenobies and monasteries.
2.
(a) Disintegration, dissolution; weakening (of the body); (b) severance; cracking; (c) dissipation, dispersal; (d) ruin.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)108/27 : For the grete distress of the hete [in India], mennes ballokkes hangen doun to here knees for the gret dissolucioun of the body.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)181a/b : With þe shepezkyn cocte in rayne water vnto dissolucioun.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)49a : Elles shall no kyndelye Dissolucione be, Nor putrefying shalt thow none se.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)424 : Mettalles holdeth his hole composicione when corosiue watters hath made dissolucione.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)315a/a : Bitter þinges..makeþ more dissolucioun and departynge in þe tonge.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)43b/b : Þe dissolucioun [F dislocation] of þe firste or of þe secounde spondyle of þe nekke.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)94b/b : Of vnkynde rennynge of moisture comeþ dissolucioun & departinge of spiritis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)199a/b : Bras..y brent to poudre haþ vertue of dissolucioun..and of purginge of yuele humours.
d
- a1425 Methodius(1) (Hrl 1900)103/17 : Spayn schal perische wiþ swerde..Þe ylondes of þe see schulen be in dissolucioun.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. dissolution.