Middle English Dictionary Entry
solūciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | solūciǒun n. Also solution. |
| Etymology | OF solucïon, soluciun, solution & L solūtio, -iōnis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. losinge ger.(2), resolucioun n.
1.
(a) An explanation, answer; also, a reason [quot.: ?a1425]; also, the act of answering a question [last quot.]; (b) an interpretation of a dream.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)90a/a : Þe cause & þe solucioun [L ratio] of al rotid feueres is I-knowe in general wheþir þey be continual or discontinual.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3452 : Þe statue ȝaf of euery questyoun Pleyn answer and ful solucioun.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.29 : For I axe whi thou wenest that thilke resouns of hem that assoilen this questioun ne be nat speedful inow ne sufficient, the whiche solucioun, or the whiche resoun, for that it demeth that the prescience nis nat cause of necessite to thinges to comen, than weneth it nat that fredom of wil be distorbed or ylet be prescience.
- c1450 Upland R.(Dgb 41)108/202 : Þes similitudes, with þes solu[c]iones, Ben not worþe þe deuellis d[ir]t.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)64.47 (v.1:p.399) : Pilat .. bigan doom as truthe, but he abode not in truthe, wherfore he was worthy of truthe to mevyn a question, but he was nat worthy to heryn the solucion.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)23730 : As to thy conclusioun, ther is noon solucioun: god gaf neuere..licence to noon vsurer, that he shuld..ben admytted to fals vsure.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)221/26 : To this argument som enforce thaimself for to yiue solucion [CQ(2): to assoile this argument], seying that so hath it euyr ben.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)116/27 : This solucion causeth me to haue a newe doubte.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)2022 : Well was she worthy to be called Doctryne, Yef hit had be nomore but for the solucion Of my demaunde.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.2.25 : I haue founden a man of the sonys of transmygracioun of Jude, that shal telle to the kyng the solucioun.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.99 : Daniel the prophete ȝafe a solucion of a vision to Nabugodonosor in Caldea.
2.
(a) Surg. A cut or break in continuous tissue; a wound, fracture, etc.; ~ of continuite (continuhede, onhede); (b) med. the dispersal of an infection or of a pathological congregation of humors; fallen in the wei of ~, to begin to disperse; (c) ~ of the wombe, loosening or purging of the bowels; also, treatment to loosen the bowels [1st quot.].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)50b/b : Solucion of continuite haþ many spicez..wonde & vlcere, aperture, i. opnyng, puncture, inscisioun, euulsioun..& fracture.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135a/b : Sikenez of þe eres..ar ouþer after discrasiez..or after solucioun [Ch.(2): lousynge; L solutionem] of onhede, namely vlcerez.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)166b/b : Þer is doubel superfluite engenderd in euerye solucioun of continuite wiþ deperdicioun of substaunce.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)179/12 : Though þise þinges..be vnyuersaly þe causes of alle solucions of contynuhede..neuerþelatter forsoþe þere ben oþer causes of fresche woundes.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)229/36 : Þe course of Latyn men is to calle fracture solucioun of the bone þe whiche is made wiþoute kyttinge.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)310a/b : Blak vryne..tokneþ somtyme solucioun [L solutionem] of þe quartayne and bodeþ hele.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)89/31 : Repercussyues..fulfillen þe þridde þing..wiþ clene resolutyues in þe ende of the standynge and in þe declinacioun..if þe aposteme falle in þe way of þe solucioun [*Ch.(1): resolucioun; L resolutionis].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)105/34 : In þe solucioun [*Ch.(1): soluyng] of þe formyces of þilke womman of Rome, Galien prouede þe whey of mylke in the whiche he hadde putte somwhat of scamonye.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)112b/a : Afterward he ȝed agayne to solucioun of þe wombe, which he did so ofte vnto þat he lowsed the wombe more þan 40 tymes.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)75/3 : Wyntyr is cold..in þe whylk it nedes man lyuyng..to vse good hote electuaryz, & to with-drawe hym fro solucion of wombe.
3.
Alch. The dissolving of a substance in a liquid.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2515 : This craft is wroght be weie of kinde..Bot what man that this werk beginne, He mot awaite at every tyde, So that nothing be lefte aside, Ferst of the distillacion, Forth with the congelacion, Solucion, descencion, [etc.].
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)449 : Off Solucion Nowe wyll I speke a worde or 2, wych..makyth intenuate thynges yt was thyke also.
4.
Payment, money given to discharge a debt.
Associated quotations
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)568 : We sholde take hede of the thing that we procure solutyon or payment for.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.PurificationVirgin (GiL36) (Eg 876) 164/116 : Ihesu Crist..purified vs in suche wise that the faders be not bounde to solucion ne the moders to purificacion.
Note: Additional quote, sense 4.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. solution.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. solution of continuehead.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. solution of continuity.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. solution of the womb.