Middle English Dictionary Entry
particle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | particle n. Also particul(e, -culle, perticule. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A part, bit, or fragment; in particles, of a cannon:?in pieces, unassembled; marcial ~, a small-scale battle, skirmish; (b) a part of the body, an organ; a component of an organ; (c) a small plot or parcel of land; (d) a section or division of a book, an argument, or an article of a creed.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130b/b : An element is symple and lest particle [L particula] of a body þat is compowned.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)132b/b : Sparcle is a litil particle of fire.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.578 : What auailed his triumphes..His hih prowesse, or al his cheualries Synguler fihtyng or marcial particules?
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.257 : Þis ordenance my Lord of Somerset shal have..Of gonne pouder..The ribaudekyns desired in particles.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Corp.Chr.(Trin-C R.3.20)174 : Þis hoost is hole in ech partye, Boþe God and man..In eche partycle hoole and vndevyded.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1385 : Þere was a relyke..A particul of a naylle.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1395 : To Dan Benne..con þey speke..To byche hem somme particulle of þat releke.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2659 : A litul particule þerof [a veil] he wolde fayne han hadde, & with hurre knyff þedur þerfore dudde go.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)192/11 : Blood leting is good þerfore if oþere particlis accordiþ þerfore.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)9a/b : A nerue is a symple membre made to gif feling & mouyng to musculez & oþer particlez [Ch.(2): lymmes; L partibus].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)11b/a : The particles of þe face bene the front, þe browez, þe eien, þe noseþrillez, [etc.].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)50b/b : Solucion of continuite..is a comon sikenez to simple & componed particlez [Ch.(2): membres; L particulis].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)52a/a : Of þe lyuer..y haue sene litel woundez about þe lobos to be heled, neþerlez not profounde ne wiþ perdicioun of any particle of it.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)74a/a : Ligature of þe nose: Of ligature of þis perticule many man ar at altercacion.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)37a/a : Nature ordeyned & made alle þe partikels oþer alle þe parties off þe bodie abel to þe vertues and þe maners of þe soule.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)41a/a : Ðe bones ben þe hardest partikels of alle þe bodye.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)62b/b : Alle ȝif þe liuer be compounde of manye þingis, neþeles he haþe one simpel partikel, þat is to seyen, fleische.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)183b/a : Galien seiþe þat þei [medicines] be so aproperde to one partikel þat þei wille not helpe anoþir.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)6/8 : He haste to constreyne or forsake þe particule or partie vnable to be heled.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)64/18 : Þe reynes ben particles, i. membres.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)82/12 : Apostemes in fleschy particles, i. membres, ben helede in oo manere, and in synowy particles in anoþer manere.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)491/12 : That fleschye particle [*Ch.(1): pellicule; L pellicula], i. smalle membre, in þe hye of þe mouthe..is cleped..vuula.
c
- c1460 Oseney Reg.41/26 : We conferme..the church of seynte George..with all his pertinences and particlis in the seyde diocese.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)255/3 : ij acris lieth in the Ile..in particles or litel partis by viij yerdes.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)292/22 : Euery particle of all the lond and mede aforenamed were specified.
d
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)80/1 : Touchyng þat y seide also þat he loued noȝt pouert for hitsilf, Þis particle y preue first.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)39a/b : Deþ foloweþ aftir, as galien seiþ..in þe þrid partikel de ingenio sanitatis.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)120a/a : Here endeþ þe secounde partikel of þe firste boke of woundes.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)120a/b : Nowe wille y write þe þrid partikel, in þe whiche y wille treten of woundes.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)15/243 : Eche on of þese thre partyes contenys many partyclys.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)6983 : Tak Alway good hed..that thy ffeyth nat varye..And truste wel how the partycles And the Remnaunt off Artycles..Euerychon her-on depende.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.5ra (Prologue) : Þis present tretis of Englisshe is diuidede into 3 bokes or elle 3 particules.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.36ra (2.3) : As þe comentour, i. expositour, seiþ vppon Ypocras 'Afforismys,' in þe 5 particule: 'pthisica' is principally bytwene þe 18 ȝere and þe 25 ȝere.
Note: Additional quots., sense (d).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. particle.