Middle English Dictionary Entry
optik adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | optik adj. Also optic, obtic, obtik, opitik; pl. optic, etc. & optikes, etc. & (Latinate) opticus, obtici, etc. |
| Etymology | ML opticus & OF obtique; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Optic; sineue ~, nerve ~, optic nerve; (b) erroneously used of the acoustic nerve.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)41a/b : Out of þe formest partie of þe brayn comeþ tweye hologh senewes þat ben I-clepid optici [L obtici].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)84a/a : Þe mater myȝte sodeinliche be smyte to þe synowe opticum holouȝ, & of stoppinge myȝte come blyndnes.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)11b/b : It bihoueþ þe neruez obtic [Ch.(2): synowes opitikes; L neruos opticos] for to be perced þat þai shuld be waie of þe spirit.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)126a/a : Þe censitif vertue descendyng fro þe brayne by þe nerue optic [Ch.(2): neruus opticus].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)43/18 : The þridde tunycle spryngeþ of þe synowe optike [*Ch.(1): optico].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)253/8 : I haue seyne..for woundes of þe circumstaunces of þe eyȝe, stoppynge folwe of þe nerues optikes [*Ch.(1): obtikez] and catheractes.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)23b/b : Þese senewis ben callid Nerui obtici.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)25b/a : Þe senewis obtici beþ to him [crystalline humor] but as it were hise helpinge seruauntis.
b
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)23a/a : Oon senewe..is y-clepid Opticus and anoon in his bigynnynge he wexiþ..departid in him silf lijk a forke, & so his opartine [?read: o partie] is born vnto þe riȝt eere, and þat oþir partie is born vnto þe lift eere.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.31vb (2.3) : Come 2 synowes fro þe braynes..And þat one goþ to þe riȝt eye, þat oþer to þe lefte eye; and eþer of hem is callede 'opticus' or elles 'vena visibilis,' optik or þe veyn of siȝt.
Note: Modify gloss, adding adj. as noun. Editor's gloss: 'the optic nerve'.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. optic sinew.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. sinew opticum.