Middle English Dictionary Entry
magnēs n.
Entry Info
| Forms | magnēs n. Also magnas & magnet(e. |
| Etymology | L magnēs, magnēta, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A variety of magnetite; loadstone, credited with special occult virtues; ~ ston.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)196b/b : If adamas is y-sette by yren, it suffreþ nouȝt þe yren come to þe Magnas, but it draweþ it..fro þe Magnas.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)202a/b : Magnes is a stoon of Inde coloured somdele as Iren..& draweþ to it self Iren..And in Ethiopia is anoþer kynde of magnas forsakeþ Iren and dryueþ it away.
- a1456(1429) Lydg.Mum.Mercers (Trin-C R.3.20)28 : Where Bellona haþe bylt a stately hoolde..Of harde magnetis and dyamandes ryche.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)325 : Magnete, precyowse stone: Magnes.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)460 : Hyr face..his herte drow As the magnet doth iryn.
- a1450 Dc.291 Lapid.(Dc 291)p.32 : Magnete is a stone þat is founden in a place that hath the name Tragodice in Inde.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1032 : The Magnes sad, that geueth gret delyte, And soueranly hath vertew actractyf.
- a1500 BodAdd.A.106 Lapid.(BodAdd A.106)p.52 : Magnete is a ston yt men fyndes in yis contre, bot it comes owt of ynd, and has ye colour of yirn, and he sal be kynd draw vp ye yrn to hym yt is ner hym.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)2932 : Therof gret evydence..in the magnete stone openly doth appere; whose north pointe draweth towarde in this contrey, which vnder the southe sterre dreveth nedles away.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.7va (1.3) : He [the jejunum] draweþ oute al þe iowse and þe moystour of þe fode, riȝt as a magnete stone draweþ yren to hym.
Note: Additional quot.