Middle English Dictionary Entry
minerāl adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | minerāl adj. |
| Etymology | ML minerālis & OF mineral. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Having to do with a material substance that is neither animal nor vegetable; inorganic; ~ water, water impregnated with some mineral substance; (b) alch. ston ~, one of the three varieties of philosophers' stone; sun ~, the metal gold.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)33a/b : After Arnolde vse of minerale waters [Ch.(2): þe water of myneralles; L aquarum mineralium], most of tartarie sapour, noȝt only availeþ for to attenue or make þyn inward bocia bot also vtward.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)95/21 : Of hem ys maad..all maner of kynde of composisiouns, þat [?read: þat is], originals, minerals, vegitables, & bestyals.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)394 : For cause efficient of metals fynd ye shalle Only the vertu mineralle, which in euery erth is not fownde.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1329 : It nedith it not to name þe meenys Mineral, For Albert writith opinly of theym alle.
b
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)531 : It cordith wel to serche Out scrypture, Misteryes hyd..of stoonys, Specially of three -- Oon myneral, Anothir vegetatyff..Ther was Oon was Callyd Anymal.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)3/11 : Oure quinta essencia, þat is, mannys heuene, wole be maad fair wiþ þe sunne mineralle, fynyd, schynynge, incorruptibile..and þis is verry gold of þe myn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. mineral water.