Middle English Dictionary Entry
spasme n.
Entry Info
| Forms | spasme n. Also spasom, spasum & (errors) spalme, spame; pl. spasmes, ? spasmus & (errors) spalmez, spames. |
| Etymology | L spasmus; cp. OF espasme. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Med. (a) Violent contraction of muscles, a cramp, spasm; a convulsive seizure; also, a pathological condition characterized by muscle spasms or convulsions; tetanus, lockjaw [quot. c1450]; the ~; (b) ~ compassif (of compassioun), an attack of cramping or convulsions caused by a morbid condition in another part of the body; ~ of desiccacioun (inanicioun, replecioun), an attack of cramping or convulsions caused by the pathological depletion (superfluity) of humors; cold (drie, humide) ~, a convulsive condition caused by a pathological congregation of cold (dry, moist) humors.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)160/2 : If it [a wound]..falle vpon a corde þat is in þe ende of þe braun..þanne it is greet drede of þe spasme, & aftirward of deeþ.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)263/21 : If þe spasme come in a mannes tunge þat wole constryne þe tunge inward, þe cure herof is for to holde oile of anete in his mouþ.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)271/34 : Medicyn caustica..for þe grete venym & malice þat it haþ, makiþ greet akynge..it mai go to þe brayn, þat is þe welle of alle nerues, & so þe man mai falle in a spasme [L spasmantur], & þan he is but deed.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)357/21 : The xv co. is of spasmus aboue comynge on woundis.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)52a/b : The puncture forsoþ of þe nerue & of þe thenonte is redi for to calle to þe spasmez for mych felyng þat þai bringe to þe brayne, & by consequens deþ.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57a/a : By spasme [vr. spalme; Ch.(2): crampe; L spasmum] vnderstondeþ Aueroys decurtacioun of membrez of sich starknez þat þay mowe noȝt be bowed.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57a/b : Forto enquire exquisiteli differencez of spasme [vr. spalmez], causez, & maner of gendryng is of an oþer speculacioun..signez beþ difficulte of mouyng of membrez, strecching of þe necke, contraccion of þe lippez as if he wolde lawȝ, strycture of þe chekez & of þe teth & of þe throte, and torture of þe eien & of al þe face.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57b/b : When forsoþ þe spasme [vr. spame] is moiste, it bihoueþ þat it be cured with strong euacuacionz of grosse humours.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)58a/a : Paralisy..is mollifying of neruez with priuacioun of feling & mouyng..As spasme was hardnez with yuel mouyng.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)137b/b : Spasme is retraccioun & curuacioun of þe tonge to his bigynnyng bi which þe acte of it is letted.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)93b/a : Þe spasme is a pernicious & a wicked accident, & ouþer while he is destroier for euermore of alle þe naturel operacioun of þe member þat he falleþ in, and sumtyme sleeþ þe pacient.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)120a/b : Þe pacient..falleþ liȝtlie in to a spasme, þe whiche betokenþ deþ at þe ȝate.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)230/729 : Þer will come a crampe for þe place þat he was hurt in vp in to þe nek & draw his chaules togedir þat he may nat opyn hys mowth, & is callid þe spasme.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)65a/a : For þis akynge..ne may not engendre þe crampe, þat is þe spasme, þouȝ it be so þat þe senewe be kutt al atwo.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)67a/a-67a/b : Þe spasme comeþ to a wounde y-maad in senewis principaly for oon of þese þre causis: Or for to greet akynge, Or for to greet coold, Or ellis for to greet rotynge, And also for bi cause of þese þre, or ellis of oon of hem bi himsilf may liȝtly come a drawynge togideris of a senewe, þe which is cause of þe spasme.
b
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)32a : Water of horehound is gode for the cold spasum.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)32b : The water of horehound y-stilled is gode for þe colde spasom and for synowys stoyned.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57a/b : Þerfor þer beþ 3 maner of spasmez: of inanicioun, of replecioun, & of þe brayne compassioun.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57b/a : Special signez of spasmez [vr. spamez] of inanicioun beþ litel & litel comyng to..Signez..of spasme compassiue [Ch.(2): the crampe þat troubleþ the brayne] beth comyng to fro causez withoutforþ, & it is with aking & mordicacioun & contristacioun.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57b/b : Spasme of compassioun, if it be of aking, yt is cured with liptomijs, and oþer þingz cesyng aking.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57b/b : Oile of lilie..is a propre medecene to humide spasme.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)142a/b : Broþþez of tripez and oþer þingez þat ar ministred in þe ethice & in þe drie spasme.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)180a/a : Colde stoppeþ þe sinewes and causeþ in hem a spasme of replecioun.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)181a/b : Summe menne..vseden pure medicines þat dried strongelie..þat summe tyme þey introduced a spasme of inanicioun.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)181b/a : So falleþ a spasme of inanicioun oþer of desictacioun þe whiche is holden incurabel.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)95a/a : So þei [humors] dwellen þere vndefied in þe same membris, þe whiche if þei putrefien not, þei bryngen yn oonlyche þe spasme of replecioun, But if þei putrefien, þei bryngen in þe spasme of ynnanyscioun.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. spasm.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. spasmus.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. cold spasm.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. spasm of inanition.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. spasm of repletion.