Middle English Dictionary Entry
nervǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | nervǒus adj. |
| Etymology | L nervōsus |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Containing nerves; composed of nerve-like fibers; ~ corde [see corde 3. (a)]; (b) related to or involving the nerves.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)167/31 : Þe clooþ [of stomach] þat sittiþ wiþinne is villosus & neruous [L neruosus], & þe clooþ þat is wiþoutforþ is fleischi.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)168/2 : Þe ynner clooþ is neruous [L neruosa] þat is mowe fele whanne it is ful.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)266/15 : Þer schal no coold þing be leid þerto for þe place [female breast] is neruous, for coold þing wolde greue it.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.79vb (2.13) : He feleth but litel peyn os to reward, for 'pulmo' is a membre þat may soffre mykel sekenesse on, and longe tyme or he wete it or parceyueþ it oght mykel, and þat is be cause þat it is noȝt neruouse.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)9a/b : Wondes þat bene at 3 fyngers nere þe iuncturez bene perilous, ffor þe neruous [Ch.(2): synowy; L neruose] cordes þer be naked & apperyng fro þe flesh.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)10b/a : Þe grosse pannicle which G. called pericraneum..is neruous [Ch.(2): nervouse or synowy; L neruosus] And it springeþ of dura mater, and it is bounden with ligamentez, neruez, & veynez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)59a/b : Þe vtilite whie the lunge is be lapped wiþ a neruous pannikel is for two skilles..þe [second] skille is for he schulde haue felinge be cause of þe sinewe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)65a/a : Þe inner tunikel of þe stomake is neruous..þat he schulde fele his inanicioun and haue þe more appetite.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)123a/b : Þe whiche mater, wiþ his hete & his stronge akkeþ in þe endes of þe nerues & of þe sinewes & of þe neruous ligamentes of þe nayles with þe members of þe fyngers, makeþ a continuel feuer.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)150b/a : Ȝif þe canker be..in enye oþer neruous place..it is better þat it be not cured oþer kitte.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)24a/b : Of þe neruous substaunce of þe Nerui obtici is engendrid þe..retina.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)35b/b : The lunge is..y-lappid in a neruous & in a senewy pannicle.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)38a/a : The stomak is compouned of tweye pannyclis, of whiche þe ynnere is neruous & villous and þe vttere playne & carnouse.
b
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)94a/a : Jn alle maner neruous causes, where þat a man douteþ of grete akeþ wheþer þat it be present or forto cumme, a man moste enoint þe pacient aboute þe necke and þe heued wiþ summe oile.
2.
(a) Containing sinews or tendons, sinewy; (b) affecting tendons or sinews.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)258/3 : Þe nose is not neruous, & þe nose is a propre instrument for to smelle.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.62v : Castorium: .. principali it conforteth & myȝteþ þo places of þe body þat arn neruows, senwy.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.78vb (2.13) : For whan it is o þe lyuer, it is noght so nygh þe mydrede, and eke for þo places about the lyuer ar noght so neruose, i. noght so ful of synowes, os aboute þe ribbes.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)99/16 : Þe crampe is a sijknes cordous eiþer neruous [L neruosa], in þe which sijknes cordis & þe senewis weren drawen to her bigynnynge.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)94a/a : Þe crampe is a cordouse sijknesse or a neruous.
3.
Fibrous.
Associated quotations
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.55r : [Leaves of plantain are] pleyn & neruows as a tonge [Trevisa, Barth., lib.17, cap. 129 (de plantagine), f. 242rb: synuy as the tonge] & auelong with a rowndhede.