Middle English Dictionary Entry
distemperen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | distemperen v. Also distempren & destempren. |
| Etymology | ML distemperāre & OF destremper, destemprer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
Physiol. To upset the proper balance of the humors or qualities.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.826 : Whan thurgh the grete habundaunce of his mete the humours in his body ben destempred.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)95a/a : Þese dropesies comeþ in þis maner: moisture and drynesse beþ distemperid in þe lyuour, and þanne þe vertue of digestioun is feblid..Coldenes & drinesse beþ distempred..in þe lyuour and þe vertue of digestioun is distemperid & I-febled.
1b.
Physiol. (a) Of the body, an organ or its function, a wound: to be upset by imbalance of the humors or qualities; be diseased or impaired; (b) to impair or upset (the brain).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)38b/b : Ȝif þe heed is corrupt & distempered..nedes þe neþer membres of þe body ben desesed.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)47a/a : Somtyme ben propir defautes in þe substaunce of þe tonge, as yuel complexioun, by þe which þe felinge is distempred by to grete hete oþir coolde.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)54/7 : A wounde þat haþ..an yuel discrasiam, þat is to seie out of kynde distemperid, eiþer to cold eiþer to hoot.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)282/19 : If al þe bodi is distemp[er]id in hete, as in feueris, þe patient mai so miche be feblid þerwiþ.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)82a/b : A distemprede vlcer [*Ch.(1): vlcer discrasiate] is þat in þe whiche an euel haþ lordschipe wiþ oute kynde.
b
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)229 : Dystempure not yowur brayn with goode ale nor with wyn.
2.
Of a person: (a) to be indisposed or ill; also, be tired; (b) to make (sb.) ill.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)31/18 : He haþ noon oþir sijknesse wiþ him, ne is nouȝt distemperid [vr. distempride].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.287 : Al the Night to-Fore I-Reden they hadde..Where[with] alle distempred they were.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)32.497 : He Comaunded his Meyne..his bed to Maken..For distempred A lytel he was.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)145/4 : For glotonye þou art dystemperyd in þi stomak..in þi wyttes, in þi lymes.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)766 : His maister had mervell..to see hym..All distemperyd and out of colour.
b
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)157 : Sum mon to lustfuly eetis or drinkes, and þat distemperes a mon in body and in soule.
3.
To anger or upset (sb.); ~ wit (herte), upset the mind (heart); -- also refl.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2426 : My lord..I biseke yow..that ye wol nat..distempre youre herte, thogh I speke thyng that yow displese.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.58 : Thus wexe I withinne wroth..distempred and esmaied.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1858 : Sone, attempre Thin herte and let no will distempre Thi wit.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2195 : Distempre yow noght..For goddes loue, youre pacience ye holde!
- c1475 Brm.Abraham (Brm)263 : With thy wordes thow dystempurst me.
4.
Med. To blend (one ingredient with another); dissolve (a solid in a liquid); dilute (a strong medicine); moisten (with a liquid).
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)317b/b : Þe gleyre of an eye distempered wiþ vynegre.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)245/15 : Distempere oon [pelot]..wiþ water of rosis, & binde it vpon his iȝe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)86b/a : Þan bihoueþ it for to distempere sich sharp medicynez with acete or wiþ som oþer liquour.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)26/12 : Take þe ȝolke of a raw ey..distempre it wiþ comon oile.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)4/18 : Take doke rotes..braye þam with alde grese & salte & distemper þam with wyne.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.108 : Ðis ston is blak..And who distempereþ it with þe mylk of a schepe [etc.].
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)37/17 : Take the sed of ache and stampe hit wel and distempere þer-with 3 sponne-fol of cold water.
5.
Misc. uses: (a) of heat or cold: to spoil (wine), injure (plants); (b) of the air: distempred, infected, foul; (c) to dispose or arrange (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)256b/b : Ofte wyn is corrupt by corrupt ayre oþer by gret distemperynge hete or colde.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.273 : The stonys on thy lond..beth somer hoot and wyntir colde, That vyne & grayne & tre distempur wolde.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133b/a : Ȝif he [þe eyr] is corrupt & distempred, þanne eyre greueþ most þe body and corrumpiþ it.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)112a/a : In þe seuenþe monþe þe mone departiþ & distempriþ [L diuidit et distinguit] membres in her owne place & stede, and þerfore þanne a child is I-bore profitable and helful.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.19vb (1.4) : Vnkynd hete desturbleþ and destempereþ þe body.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.34va (2.3) : Of wickede humores gaderand into filþe and corrupcioun in þe stomac, þer is resoluede fro hem, i. þer comeþ of hem a fumosite and þat greueþ & distemperiþ þe hert.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.76ra (2.12) : Þat is by cause of huge hete & of violence of hote fumosites, smytand vp into þe heuede and distemperand þe veynes & þe synowes of þe cerebre, and huge þirst and no drynk mai it quench.
Note: Additional quots. New spellings (3 sg.): destempereþ; (ppl.) distemperand. Editor's gloss: 'unbalances, throws the humoral balances out of alignment'.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. distempered ulcer.