Middle English Dictionary Entry
oint(e)ment n.
Entry Info
| Forms | oint(e)ment n. Also nointment, unt(e)ment, uintment, ungtment. |
| Etymology | Blend of oinement & enointment. Some examples preceded by an may be vars. of enointment. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Med. & surg. A medicinal salve designed for external application, an ointment; (b) a specific ointment.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)92a/b : Be þer made a linyment or vngtment, or in þe puluer be þai applied to þe place.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)115a/b : Be þer made a liniment, i. oyntment, of which be he epithimated in þe baþ.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)12/14 : Also be þer made suche a vntment þat is riȝt mitigatiue.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)175/13 : Take..flax and dodur..wyth myrre and olye and make a noyntment þer-of and anoynt þi brest.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7526 : Leches full lyuely lokid his wound; With oile and with ointment abill þerfore, Bond it full bigly.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)50/114 : Do hem togedir & traveyle hem togedir..till it be thike as enoyntment, then enoynt the sore..wt this oyntment.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3628 : Ther is a leche in Room, þat hath I-made a cry To make an oyntement to cure al tho been blynde.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)334/22 : Dame Lyonett..toke up the hede..and anoynted hit with an oyntemente thereas hit was smyttyn off.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)24b/1 : Fill it than with a mundyficatife afore said leyd vpon þe wounde..or with an oyntement regeneratyfe.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)181b/a : If þe aking disesed, a liniment, i. an oyntement, of Alexandre.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)108a/b : Flower vnguentorum, that is, a trete & an oyntment the which is good to all olde woundis.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)29b/13 : Clense it with þe poudir of Affodill and gren oyntement and an oyntement of Aposteles.
2.
(a) A cosmetic unguent; perfume; also fig.; (b) an unguent capable of disguising a person's appearance.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14005 : Þis vntement wit hir sco bere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14063 : Sco hir vnttement me broght.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2071 : With þat oyntement so precyus, Scho come to symond leprous huse.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)59/8 : Slyke ar þe vntementis precius with qwhylk a halowd sawle with godis lufe is best A-noynt & made fayre.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)389/12 : For þe vntement and gude savurs þat I hafe felid in þe werld, þerfor it is necessarie to me to fele þis stynke.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.395 : Nero was of so grete lecchery that he was waschen with hoote oyntementes [L unguentis] and colde.
b
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)6835 : An oyntment I shal you take; Like a mesel it wil you make.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)4274 : And on his face he layde this oyntement.
- a1500 Bevis (Cmb Ff.2.38)182/16 : An oyntment [Suth: He anoynted her with oynement; Her hew þat was bryȝt and shene, Þer with hit woxe pale and grene].
3.
An oil or ointment used in anointing kings.
Associated quotations
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)5348 : Vnto Saul sone þei went And raysed hym kyng; þen was yt thryse with þe fyrst tyme þat he toke vntment.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)5860 : When god to kyng hym chese, þen he anoynt hym with an oyntment.
4.
A concoction rubbed on the body for protection; also, an ointment used by wrestlers.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3015 : Þan sche to hym toke a medecyne, Made in maner of an oyntement, To enoynte hym with, þat he be nat brent.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)782 : An oyntment þat was noble, anon she [Medea] hym set.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)134a : Vyntment [Monson: Vntement]: Ceroma.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. nointment.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. ointment.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. untment.