Middle English Dictionary Entry
pollū̆ciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pollū̆ciǒun n. Also polucioun, pollusion, pollicioun, pollucoun. |
| Etymology | OF pollucïon & L pollūtio, -iōnis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Desecration, profanation; an act or instance of desecration; (b) spiritual or moral impurity; (c) discharge of semen other than during sexual intercourse; an instance of such discharge.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judith 4.10 : Þei crieden to þe lord god of Irael alle togidere, lest weren ȝyuen..þe holi thingis of hem in to pollucioun [WB(2): defoulyng; L pollutionem].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)head.p.738 : Appollo..was sore displesid for the polucioun of his temple with the blode of Achilles.
- (1447-8) Shillingford78 : Hugh Lucays..the whiche hath be cause of ij pollucions of the Cathedrall Churche..made affray aponn oon Richard Wode.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)49/16 : Yette remayneth the doubte of..the polucion of holy places.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)49/30 : If polucion or sacrilege be done in the temple, the concience of the dededoers is furst polute.
b
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)662 : O god..me keepe now this hour From al pollucion.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)142/231 : A fayr chylde of a maydon is born..soth is he with-outyn spot or ony polucyon.
- c1475 O lord omnipotent (Trin-C R.3.21)23 : By thy passyoun the churche clensyd ys From all pollucioun of orygynall syn.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)52/14 : The princes and the people of Fraunce beganne to tourne our hartis to vnclennesse and polucion from their honorable life.
c
- c1390 Form Conf.(1) (Vrn)341 : I crie God Merci in polucions [vr. pollucion] of niht or tymes slepyng or wakyng diuersliche.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.912 : Another synne aperteyneth to leccherie that comth in slepynge..and this synne men clepen polucioun [vrr. Polucion, pollucioun, pollucion, pollicioun].
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)41b : Letuse is colde and moiste..stampe the sede with watir and drinke hit, and hit puttiþ a-way pollucounys.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle 10 Com.(Thrn)12/4 : Here es forboden all maner of wilfull pollusyone procurede one any maner agaynes kyndly oys or oþer-gates.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)90 : For polucion of þe sperme. Who-so is ofte in slepe polute..ete he þis herbe.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)24/35 : Pollucion is dremyng illusyon of lecherye þt fallyth on a man or woman slepyng wt an leful likyng, as þey it were in dede.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)238/20 : With his awn hand fretyng, he had a pollucion of his sede.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)44b/b : Þe ȝerde..haþ two holis..But auicen seiþ þat it haþ þe þridde bi þe which passiþ insensible polluciouns.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pollution.