Middle English Dictionary Entry
lapidārī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lapidārī(e n. Also lapadari & lapidaire. |
| Etymology | L lapidārius & OF lapidaire. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who cuts, polishes, or engraves precious stones; (b) one who has expert knowledge about precious stones.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.45.13 : An hoely stoele..with precious iemmes figured in binding of gold, and with werk of the lapidarie [WB(2): a crafti man of stoonys; L lapidarii] grauen.
b
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)89 : He found a precious Stone..Anon he went to a lapadary, þat was expert in þe vertue of Stonys.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)286 : Guy had wondir of the stone, and wente to a lapydarye to aske of what vertu it was.
2.
A treatise on precious stones, gems, and certain mineral substances, listing them with their nature, place of origin, and medicinal and magical virtues.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)198a/b : Jacincte..is nouȝt y-founde but of þre colours, as þe lapidary seiþ.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)105/36 : Ȝif ȝou lyke to knowe the vertues of þe dyamand, as men may fynden in the lapidarye.
- (a1449) Lydg.Ave Jesse (Hrl 2255)59 : Celestial saphir, the lapidarye seith, Cheef remedye geyn al temptaciouns.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1352 : They were set as thik of nouchis Ful of the fynest stones faire, That men rede in the Lapidaire [vr. lapidarie].
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)6124 : Many stonys that they have..Be called in the lapidarie Stonys in ysrael y-founde.
- c1475 Lydg.CB (Hrl 116)p.189 : I lese my tyme ony more to tarye, To telle a bowen [MacCracken reads: bower] of the lapidarye.
- a1500 Away ffeynt (RwlPoet 34)87 : Who lykyth to wytt more plenerly Whatt that I mene..The bybill and the lapydary for to study Let hem conuerte her besynesse, In the herball also.
- c1500(a1449) Lydg.Aesop (Trin-C R.3.19)153 : Euax to the [the jacinth] yeueþ praysyng manyfolde, Whos lapydary bereþ opynly wytnesse.