Middle English Dictionary Entry
attō̆me n.
Entry Info
| Forms | attō̆me n. Also athomus. |
| Etymology | OF atome & L atomus, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The smallest unit of time during the Middle Ages [22560 'atoms' to the hour]; (b) the smallest part of a 'substance'.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)124a/b : An vnce [conteyneþ] xlvij attomos, & attomos is no ferþer departid for his schortnesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)126a/a : Vncia is þe twelfþe partye of a moment; athomus is þe xlviiti part of an vncia, and hatte athomus as it were with oute devisioun and partynge.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)17/17 : Athomus, by þe diffinicion of trewe philisophres in þe sciens of astronomye, is þe leest partie of tyme. & it is so litil þat, for þe littilnes of it, it is undepartable & neiȝhonde incomprehensible.
b
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)2300 : Liquours departeth qualitees a sonder, Substance resoluinge in attomis with wonder.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.102ra (3.16) : Attome or attomye ar smale & white & rounde bodies in the vryn, and þai ar smale & litle os motes in the sone, and þerfor þai ar callede attome or attomie.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.102vb (3.16) : Womenes vryn—and namely wiþ attomys—ar called of auctoures ful cursed & froward vryns, but mennes vryn wiþ attomys ar euermore esy and redy anogh.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.102vb (3.16) : þan if þo attomies ben redisse or rodyish, it is verai tokne þat sche is wiþ a knaue childe.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.105va (3.16) : It is hard for to gyf dome of womannes vryn, when attomy namely apperen þerin.
Note: New sense. Editor's gloss: attomies, n. pl. 'dust-like particles in urine, motes'. New spellings (pl.): attome, attomie, attomis, attomies, attomi.