Middle English Dictionary Entry
achāte(s n.
Entry Info
| Forms | achāte(s n. Also ac(c)ate, agaten, achites. |
| Etymology | L achātēs & OF acate, agate. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Agate, a precious stone said to be endowed with many virtues; (b) eagle stone [cp. etites].
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)37a : He is þe achate þet atter of sunne ne nahhede neauer.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1362 : Canis minor..His Ston and herbe..Ben Achates and Primerole.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)197a/a : Achates is a precious stoon and is blak wiþ white veynes and haþ þat name Achates of a ryuer þat hatte so, þe which is in Cicilia..And a maner of kynde of þat ston is in Creta..wiþ blewe veynes. And anoþer kynde is in ynde, spekked with rede dropes..Me troweþ þat þe ferste maner þerof helpeþ wicchecraft..Þe þridde maner stoone is of ynde and comforteþ þe sight and helpeþ aȝeins þirst and venym.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Prayer Thos.(2) (Tan 110)58 : [St. Thomas] Callid among martirs..Trouthis champioun, Achaat of hih prowesse.
- a1450 Dc.291 Lapid.(Dc 291)25 : The veray accate comforteth & saueth an olde man.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5273 : Of Acats & of Amatistis.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)67 : Agatten is a stone, & it is lik þe skyn of a lion. Some clepiþ it agapis..tak þat stone agatene & wassh him.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)37a : Þe earn deð in his nest a deorewunðe ȝimstan achate hatte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)141b/b : Sche [the eagle] sittiþ in here nest tweye precious stones þat ben Iclepid achates..he may not bringe forþ here briddes wiþ oute þilke stones, and sche leiþ in here nest a precious ston þat hatte achates, to kepe hire briddes from venemous biting of crepinge wormes.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)66 : Achites is nombred amonges þe stones þat be good; þe egle sekeþe him in þe vtterist parte of þe wordil, & he berith to his nest to defend. Ðis ston hath a-noþer ston with-yn him & is moche worthe to wemen with child..see mor of þis ston in Etite.