Middle English Dictionary Entry
quā̆drāt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | quā̆drāt(e n. |
| Etymology | L quā̆drātum |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A square or rectangular area; (b) an instrument for measuring heights, depths, and distances, consisting of a square plate with two sides graduated, pegs set at three corners, and a movable peg on one side; (c) a square with two graduated sides marked on the right-angled corner of a quadrant; (d) math. the product of a number multiplied by itself, a square.
Associated quotations
a
- (1471) Paston (EETS)1.442 : I praye yowe late the mesure by pakthred be taken..how manye fote or what brede eche towre takythe wyth-in jche cornere off þe quadrate ovyrethwert the dorys.
b
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)65 : When you standes by a walle of a castelle or toure, and you wolde mesure þe heght of it with outen defaute, make a quadrat or quarterd, þat es to say, a table even foure square of wode or brasse of what quantite you wilt, and ay þe more it be, þe better it es, and loke it be over alle square in þe manner of ABCD, and put a chippe of what length you wilt in þe cornelle B and anoþer in þe cornelle C.
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)68 : When you wilt mesure þe brede of a ryvere by a quadrat, make þi quadrat ABCD..þan set þe quadrat beside þe ryvere, and loke by CB þe ende on þat oþher side þe ryvere.
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)71 : When you wille mesure þe depnes of a welle..rayse even vp on þe mouthe of þe well swilk a quadrat as we spak of bifore.
c
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)59 : Note you þat þe quadrat, þat es to say, 4 square, whilk es descryvede, þat es to say, schewed, in þe quadrant, has tuo sides, þat es to say, þe side of þe vmbre toward and þe side of þe vmbre froward, and aþer of þese 2 sides es departed in 12 even parties.
d
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)46/15,24,27,29 : Of nombres one is lyneal, anoþer superficialle, anoþer quadrat, anoþer cubike or hoole..And for bycause a nombre may be hade in a-nother by 2 maners, þat is to sey, other in hym-selfe oþer in anoþer, Vnderstonde yf it be had in hym-self, It is a quadrat..and yf the nombre be hade in a-noþer, the nombre is superficiel and not quadrat, as 2 hade in 3 makethe 6..The rote of a nombre quadrat is þat nombre that is had of hym-self, as twies 2 makithe 4.