Middle English Dictionary Entry
atrament n.
Entry Info
| Forms | atrament n. Also attra-. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. arnement.
1.
(a) A black pigment or ink; (b) vitriol [see quots.].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)310b/b : Atramentum..is nedeful to comyn vse of peynture..and is y made of sote..glew and water..Wiþ atrament ynke is y tempred and y maystred.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.3.3 : Þe pystyl of crist..wryten not with attrament [L atramento] but with þe spyryte of quyk god.
b
- a1400 in Singer Cat.Alchem.2.409 : Enbibe thi calx of metalles with red water made of attrament coprose.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)94b/b : Attramentez ar þo þat wiþholdeþ blode of inscisioun.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)79/1 : Of atramentez, i. of vitriolez, bene many kyndez.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)80/33 : Attrament, i. vitriol, of rede colour..availeþ agaynez þe cancre.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)186a/b : Attramentes ben myne hote & drye in þe þridde degre, wiþ streynynge and wiþ fretynge.