Middle English Dictionary Entry
sē̆parāciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sē̆parāciǒun n. Also separacione, seperacioun. |
| Etymology | OF separacïon, separation & L sēparātio, -iōnis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A severing, cutting apart, detaching; the act of cutting apart [2nd quot.]; avoidance [quot.: c1460]; also, physical circumcision [1st quot.]; maken ~, to make a separation; (b) med. a tear or break in muscle tissue; separation of bone and ligament; (c) surg. the removal of diseased bone; (d) alch. the separation of elements; also, purification by removal of impurities.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Phil.3.2 : Videte concisionem..see ȝee þe concysyoun, þat is, knowe ȝee þe separacion.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)142b/a : Curyng of which [fingers joined together] is kuttyng & seperacion [Ch.(2): departynge; L separatio] wiþ a Rasour.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.189 : When þis forseid onhede is ykyt As be þeire bothes separacioun, It is no beest.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)147/6 : To come to þe conuersacioun and perfeccioun þerof [of chastity] is þe eschewyn and separacioun of alle such þat ben ouþer spekeris..or doeris of vnclennes.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)226/44 : Þan xal þe trewth be tryed..Whan þe soule fro þe body xal make separacion.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.20.63a : So tyme com þat seperacioun schuld be made betwyne this sweet appill & this appil tree, and so it fell to the erthe.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)73/29 : Yf the soule perfet and complet be, before his separacion [Lambeth: departynge] fro the body..than it hath anoþer rule and gouernaunce, [etc.].
- a1500 Treat.GBattle (Hrl 1706)426 : For as the swerde peryssheth, kutteth, and maketh separacion, so goddys worde be prechyng, redyng, or heryng cutteth and maketh separacion be-twene the soule and synne..Cryst..came..to sende the swerde off separacion in erthe.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)62a/a : Contusion..is a seperacioun & dilaceracion, rentyng, made profoundly in musculous flesh.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)41a/b : Þo bones þat failen boþe þe tone & þe toþer, þei ben ioyned as þei weren souded to gider, & sucche bones..haue sucche roundenesse and holes, þeie maken properlie a ioynte to þe whiche ioyntes þer falleþ properlye dislocacioun, and to þe toþer separacioun [Ch.(2): partynge; L separatio].
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)125b/a : Ȝif þer be a wounde with þe seperacioun, þe wounde moste be chaunged & diȝte euerye daie.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)155a/a : Ȝif..we hele þe seperacioun and leue þe wounde, þe pacient schal fallen in to a spasme.
c
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)85/9 : After þe seperacion..of þe bone, I cured finaly þe wounde.
d
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)566 : Seperacion is callyd by phylosophers dyffynycion off ye sayd 4 elementtes, tetraptatyue dyspercion.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2431 : Such circulacion Is but oonly a Rectificacion, Bettir serving for seperacion And for correccion then for transmutacion.
- a1550(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Sln 1873)3002 : The same hete with cercle fire For seperacions of dyuydentis we desire.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)48a : Separacione dothe eache parte fro other divide: The suttell fro the grosse, fro the thicke, the thyne..But in our separacione nature dothe not blime [read: blinne], Makynge divisione of qualites elementall Into a fyfte degree.