Middle English Dictionary Entry
ditain(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ditain(e n. Also ditein(e, detain(e, ditaigne, ditoine, ditan(e, detane & ditany(e, detony & dipteine, diptonge, dictam. |
| Etymology | OF ditan, ditain, diptame & ML di(p)tanus, diptan(i)um, dictam(n)us, etc., & CL dictamnum (from Gr.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One of two medicinal plants: dittany of Crete (Origanum dictamnus) and/or white dittany (Dictamnus albus); (b) lesse ~, costmary (Chrysanthemum balsamita).
Associated quotations
a
- [ (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)222b/b : Diptannus is a medicynable herbe and þe roote þerof acrodeþ most to medicyns..it..haþ vertu to dissolue and tempre, to drawe and waste venym. ]
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)89.43/1 : Gif wyf habbe on hure innoþ deadboren trudor [read: tudor], ȝe[nim þisse] wurte was þe man dictamnum..ditanne nemneþ.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)114 : Daysye and Ditoyne.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.77 : Erbolates. Take persel, myntes, sauerey..rewe, ditayn, fenel, [etc.].
- ?a1400 Adv.18.5.16 Gloss.(Adv 18.5.16)161 : Diptamnum: ditaigne.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)48a/b : Dipteyne.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)14/22 : For speche..Tak dytoyne & stampe it & temper it with wyn & water & drynke it.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)53/27 : Detony.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)66/25 : White brissoke and rede diptonge.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)149/7,15 : Deptanium is an herbe þat man clepyn dytanye or ditandur..it..is good to hele þe dropesye and bytynge of venymous bestys..openyȝt þe stoppynge of þe lyuere..Ȝef a woman be with chylde þat is ded, it schal delyuere here of þe ded chylde ȝef sche drynke þe jus of þis herbe ditanye.
- ?a1450 Ashm.Cook.Bk.(Ashm 1439)110 : Sauce vert. Take percely, myntes, diteyne, peletre [etc.].
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)126/17 : Þe rote of ditayne.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1306 : The detany, that good ys for a wownd.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)76/34 : And vse in his metys mostard seed sothen..with þe poudre dictamm.
- a1500 Burg.Pest.(2) (Sln 2320)75 : It is good to use a powder that is good ageyn all venym, that is maade of..ditane, pimpernelle, [etc.].
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)710 : Hic ditamnus: detane.
- a1500 Sln.Herb List (Sln 1201)75 : Herbes for Potage..Borage, Langdebefe..Deteyn.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)43/17 : For a man þat ys glaymyd. Take elycampane, detayne leuys.
b
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)144/18 : Cost or lesse ditanye..haȝt lewys lyk to dytanye..is swet of sauour.