Middle English Dictionary Entry
arsenī̆k n.
Entry Info
| Forms | arsenī̆k n. Also ars(e)nek, arsnik & arsenicum. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Med. Arsenic or some of its compounds; prob., a special form of orpiment (arsenic trisulphide) distinguished from the latter by physical properties; (b) ~ citrinum, orpiment; ~ rubeum, arsenic monosulphide, realgar; ~ sublimed, arsenic trioxide obtained by sublimation of arsenic trisulphide, white arsenic; poudre (puluer) of ~, powdered arsenic trioxide.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)310b/b : Arsenicum hatte auripigmentum for þe colour of gold, and is y gadered in pontus among goldene matiere.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)186/22 : R[ecipe]..arsenec [L arseni]..aloes..& make herof a poudre.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)248/24 : Collirium viride..is maad in þis maner: R[ecipe] floris eris..arsenici rubei [L arsenici rub.]..armoniacum dissolued in iuys of rue.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)177a/a : Arsenicum et auripigmentum beþ myneralez & ar sublimed..þai ar putrefactiue & mortificatiue.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)82/31 : [A]rsenic & auripigment bene boþe one, bot arsenic is noȝt so fair as auripigment; neþerlesse boþe haue a ȝalow colour, but auripigment is gretter and more schynyng..arsenic is as it war puluer in reward of auripigment, and it is more liȝtly broken.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)186a/b : Arsenek & orpyment [L arsenicum & auripigmentum] ben mynes [L mineralia], and þai ben sublymede; and þai ben hote in þe þridde degree & drye in þe secounde and ouer, for þai ben roting and ful dedly.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)200/637 : To make nayles to fall, enoynt hem with poudre of brymstone & arsnyk and vynegre.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)34b/a : Arsnec sublimed [L arsenicum sublimatum] and preperate, who kon wele lede it, opteneþ þe principaltee.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)124a/a : R[ecipe] arsenec of colour of gold, þat is arsenec citrinum [L auripigmentum citrinum; *Ch.(2): ȝelow orpyment].
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)44/10 : It bihoueþ for to putte to poudre of arcenek, or ane hote iren.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)83/4 : Realgre is of rede colour, and arsenic sublimed is of white colour, bot neþerlez arsenic entreþ in confeccion of realgre.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)85/15 : I putte noȝt of puluer of arsenic..ouer þe quantite of a corne of senvey.
2.
Alch. Arsenic compounds used in multiplying and transmuting; prob., orpiment; ~ poudre, ?powdered orpiment, ?powdered white arsenic.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2483 : The thridde spirit Sulphur is; The ferthe suiende after this Arcennicum be name is hote.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.798 : Nat nedeth it to reherce hem alle..Arsenyk [vrr. Arsynek, Arsenyke, Arcenyk, Arsnek], sal armonyak, and brymstoon.
- a1400 in Singer Cat.Alchem.2.409 : Tak..i parte white mercury, ii partes of water of sulfur, and the thridde parte of arsenek.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)590 : To graythe and gete golde..And multiplye metalles..with his ewe ardaunt and arsneke pouders.
- a1500 in Singer Cat.Alchem.1.279 : Arcenyke is of a subtile matiere havyng the colour of sulphur, and hit is a rede stoone, and he is of the same nature that is orpyment.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)64a : In arsnicke, in orpiment, foule mout them fall.