Middle English Dictionary Entry
sotil n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sotil n. |
| Etymology | From sotil adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The thin or light part of a substance or humor; finely particulate matter; liquid matter; the sotilere, that which is less dense, a finer substance; (b) complexity, abstruseness; complexity of argument; -- ?errors for sotilte n.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)220b/a : If he [seed of coloquintida] falle soone to poudre, haþ vertu to dissolue..bitternesse..and by sotil [L subtilitate] of his substaunce he pourgeþ fleume and malencoly.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)169b/b : It is to be war of superflwe resolucioun, þat þe subtile [Ch.(2): the smale] be nouȝt drawen, & þe grosse petrified, i. harded as stone..þat þe perticule be noȝt corrupte & putrefie.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)142a/a : Þis sekenesse..cummeþ euermore of melancolie, oute of þe whiche melancolie þe sotil is resolued.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)126/26 : Þe remenaunt of þe disposicioun is vnable to be helede, for þat þe sotil [*Ch.(1): subtile] is vaporede, and like to a hard cluddre he schal leue.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)65/37 : Depart the erthe fro the fire, for the sotiller is worthier than the more grosse, and the thynne thyng than the thik.
b
- a1450 Walton Boeth.(CC 151)p.25 : Subtile [Lin-C: The epicurus and þe stoycienus..Þeym self enforced wiþ þaire subtilite And drew his wordes to þaire entencioun].
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.30.74b : Thus meneth the tixte of Paule, writyng to the Romaynes, among whom as at þat tyme was the sotil [vr. sotilte] of philosophie.