Middle English Dictionary Entry
arō̆māt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | arō̆māt, n. Pl. arōmāz, aromatize. |
| Etymology | OF, from L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
An aromatic substance, fragrant ointment or spicery.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1599 : Þe engles wið smirles of aromaz smireden hire wunden.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)101a : Þe þreo maries bohten deorewurðe aromaz, his bodi forte smirien.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)101b : Þurh aromaz, þe beoð swote, is understonden swotnesse of deuot heorte.
- ?c1350 Swete ihu cryst (BodLtrg 104)33 : In-oynt he was wyt aromat.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21299 : Þe foerth sauurs als aromat [Göt: aromate], Of all þe spices þat man wate.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.161 : Thow art the gardyn conclose of swettest Aromatyze alle.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The forms in -az are here taken as plurals (cp. AND s.v. aromat; pl. aromaz, etc.), probably = /aromatz/, though the print MED was noncommital on number and pronunciation, and it is not impossible that they may presuppose a Latinate singular (aroma) rather than a French one (aromat, itself derived from the inflected stem of the Latin).