Middle English Dictionary Entry
potenciāl(e adj. Also plural (as n.)
Entry Info
| Forms | potenciāl(e adj. Also plural (as n.) potenciales. |
| Etymology | ML potentiālis & OF potenciel. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Latent, potential; (b) surg. of a cautery or cauterizing agent: being a caustic or escharotic medicine used as an alternative to a hot iron; ~ cauterie, cauterie ~.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)138b/b : Snow watir, by his potencial and actual cooldenesse, refreyneþ and byndiþ flux of þe wombe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)307a/a : Þe potencial hete of hem passeþ nouȝt in to worchinge and actual hete in dede..potencial light þat is in a medled body and derk passeþ nouȝt to worke in dede but by comynge of outward light.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)162b/b : Anoþer maner of fire is potenciale, which sheweþ nouȝt sensualy, i. felynly, in þe houre or tyme bot after þe deduccioun and ledyng of his power to his acte, which is done wiþ medicynez caustic & ruptyuez.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.163 : Offring of Golde some tyme pertened to gift Reale, Whilk offrande shewed thi dere son to be a kinge potenciale.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)305/31 : He knowiþ not þe difference bitwixe a cauterie þat is clepid actuel & potencial.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)128b/b : Þe same be done with a cauterie potenciale..& be it holden with fingers so long tyme vnto þe sike man fele hete & mordicacioun of the caustic medicyne.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)509/13 : But for þat..many folk be made wode in þe wirchynge for drede of þe fyre, I haue chosen to me þat of þe potencial cauterie.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)575/25 : In a potencial cauterie, while it is of more hurtynge..neuerþelatter it is no nede þat þe pacient be bounden.
2.
As noun: (a) a cauterization effected by means of caustic or escharotic medicine; (b) a caustic or escharotic medicine.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)164a/b : Actuale cauteriez bene made wiþ instrumentez, namely of metallez, Potencialez forsoþ wiþ medicynez caustics.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)162b/b : Neþerlez actuale cauteriez bene more siker þan potencialez [Ch.(2): potenciales; L potentialia].