Middle English Dictionary Entry
solū̆ble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | solū̆ble adj. Also solubil, solible, solabil; pl. solubles. |
| Etymology | OF soluble & L solūbilis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Unconstipated, lax; also, afflicted with diarrhea [quot.: c1450]; (b) causing softness of stool; (c) capable of being dissipated or dissolved.
Associated quotations
a
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)1a : Yf hit [anise] be wethe in ale and drounkyn, hit..makiþe þe wombe solabill.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)159a/b : If his wombe was obedient and wele solible [Ch.(2): softe] in helth, or when he was wont for to take medicyne, hym nedeþ more liȝt or lesse farmaciez.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)29/26 : Tak & drynk gayte milk, & it will mak þe solubill.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)119 : Ad constipandum ventrem: [t]ake hennecarsen, weybrode..& make a plastre & ley til his nauele, þat is solible..& ley him vse þe sege..& he shal be saue anoon.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)55/13 : Take malewys, borage, and violet..and sethe þer-inne fresch pork, and þei wyll make þe solyble.
- a1475 MS Add.5467 in EETSES 91 (Add 5467)188 : Eschue all metis and drynkes As make men solible or laxsse.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)87/4 : If bothe þe lighthes [sun and moon]..be yn tokenynge malencolien, it [medicine] shall make þe takere right noght solyble, or ellys ful litell.
- a1500 Sln.521 Recipes (Sln 521)135/14 : For a man þat ys costyff..drynke whyte wyn or whey, and he schal be solible.
b
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)241/18 : Aftyr, ette mettys that more bende [read: ben] byndynge and lasse solubles.
c
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.319 : In Scicille is white salte, contrary to the nature of other salte, whiche, beenge soluble [Trev.: melteþ] in the fyre, brestethe and brekethe in the water.