Middle English Dictionary Entry
hūmiditẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | hūmiditẹ̄ n. Also humedite, umidite. |
| Etymology | OF h)umidité & ML hūmiditas. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Moistness, dampness; (b) anat. & med. the primary quality of moistness.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)81b/b : Ouer þat þingez more noying to vlcerez is meridionale day & humidite [L humiditas] of þe aier with calidite.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)123b/a : Leye it on a cloþ twies in þe day to þe wounde til þe drouthe be voidid & humidite & moistnesse be restorid.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)177a/b : Butirum is ca. in primo hu. in secundo with a hiȝ humidite.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178a/b : Liquericia is temperate with a familier humidite..Licium is..juyse of an herbe inspissed temperate in actiuez with humidite in secundo, mitigatyue.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)1254 : Afftir drynesse and humydite, And chaungyng also of Complexiouns..To kepe a meene A leche mvt doon his Cure.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)21/32 : The ii medicyn is for to heele þe feuere cotidian, þe which is causid of putrifaccioun of flewme to haboundynge; and siþ flewme is coold and moist, oure 5 essence..haþ strenkþe and vertu to consume þe rotun watery inordinat and to myche coold humidite.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)12b/b : Þe marowȝ..lettiþ þe bonys to come to ouer myche drienes þoruȝ his humydite.
2.
(a) Moisture, water; (b) the natural juices of plants; (c) anat. & med. any natural and necessary fluid of the body; natural ~, radical ~, verrei ~; (d) med. & surg. poisonous or pathological fluid in the body or a part of the body; wikked ~; (e) alch. an acid or other reagent used in the process of calcination.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.957 : Ther as the soyl, as well the bark as tre, Hath beneficed with humydite.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)27/11 : Ryvers aforsen hem to renne and wexen hoote; the humydite of the erthe mountith into the croppe of alle growyng thingis, and makith trees and herbes to leve and flowre.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2605 : Þe rede rose..After þat ver hath made oute of þe rote Þe humydyte kyndely tascende.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3926 : Þe Rotis vertu..Hath..his force kyd, Oute of þe erþe in erbe and euery tree Schad in þe braunchis his humydite, Areised only with þe sonnys hete.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)1946 : Looke of wyn of the grape, a litel departyd be ffroom the kernel for lak of humydite.
c
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)28/4 : Anoþer maner fleisch þer is þat is glandelose..& his Iuuament is þat he turne humedites [vr. vmydites; L humiditates], þat is to seie, moistnes, to her heete.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)8a/b : And naturale humiditez [*Ch.(2): þe kyndely moisture; L humiditates naturales] intenseþ þise more.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)58b/a : Þe chyne is þe comon way of arteriez, neruez, spiritez, & vertuez, & þe litter or bedde of spiritual membrez; And it conteneþ þe medulle of verray humidite [L vere humiditatis].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)159a/b : It noȝt fyndyng yuel humour noying, turneþ it selfe to þe flesh and to þe radicale humiditeez [L humiditates radicales], and it melteþ þam and heuyeþ þam & noyeth.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)313 : Also of etikes ther be kyndes thre, But oon ther is pereilous in special..Deeply profoundid is heete natural In thilke humydite i-callyd radical.
d
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)52a/b : Þay beþ neruous & without blode, and þe place and þe passyng is of wicked humiditeez [*Ch.(2): of euel moystures].
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)89/20 : Þis alkenet consumeþ humiditez of woundez and of vlcerez.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)101b/a : Sanies is a quytture or an humidite in partie kyndely and in partie vnkyndely.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)122b/a : A straunge mater þat falliþ to þis empostyme, as sutil putrifaccioun & humidite, þoruȝ which mater þe membre or lyme is corrupt & rotid.
e
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)43b : Withe the seconde [Mercury], which is an humidite vegetable, reviving that before was ded, bothe principalles materiall must lowsed be..Withe the thirde, humidite most permanent, Incombustible and vnctuous in his nature, hermes tree to ashes is brent.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. humidity.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. natural humidity.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. radical humidity.