Middle English Dictionary Entry
sublīmen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | sublīmen v. P.ppl. sublīmed, i)sublīmede. |
| Etymology | L sublīmāre & OF sublimer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. sublī̆māten v.
1.
(a) To glorify (a realm), extol, exalt; (b) alch. to refine (a substance) by heating it to the point of vaporization in an enclosed container and discarding the sediment; also, obtain (a refined substance) through the cooling of the vapor produced by sublimation; extract (a pure substance from a mixture) by sublimation [quot. a1500, 2nd]; practice or engage in the process of sublimation [quot. a1500, 1st]; ppl. sublimed, refined, purified; obtained by sublimation.
Associated quotations
a
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)141/27 : Þis prudens is to be preysid..For ho sublymyd þe kyngdam of Grekis as be fame? Ho wrote her deedys and perpetually be alle þe world dyfamyd hem?
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.774 : Of the..wo..That we hadde in oure matires sublymyng..For alle oure sleightes we kan nat conclude; Oure orpiment and sublymed Mercurie..Noght helpeth us.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)351/15,26 : Þan drie it & putte it in alutel & sublime it..Þis poudre wole..brenne þe place þat it is leid vpon, & þe same doiþ realgar sublimed.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)84b/b : A sharp medecene forsoþ þat haþ no pere in þis case is arsenic sublimed [Ch.(2): sublymede].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)92a/b : If þe fistule may not be mortified wiþ o drop of ewe fort or of arsenic sublimed [Ch.(2): ysublymede] & repressed..be þe bone vncouered.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)176a/b-176b/a : Þe sixte is arsenek sublymed of þe whiche and of oþere þat ben liche þer too þe maner of sublimacioun maie not be writen precisely neiþer knowen, but ȝif a man sawe hem ofte tymes sublimed and but ȝif he haue ofte tymes sublimed hem bi hym selfe.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)83/5 : Realgre is of rede colour, and arsenic sublimed is of white colour.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)4/20 : Þat þing þat is twies sublymed is more glorified and is more sotil, and fer from þe corrumpcioun of þe 4 elementis more separat.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)5/13 : Ȝe schal se in þickenes and cleernesse a difference bitwene þe quintam essenciam sublymed and þe grose mater þat is in þe necke.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)5/28 : Þe purete of þe quinte essencie schal be sublymed aboue, & þe groste schal abide byneþe in þe botme.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)12/26 : Forwhi fier of þat bath hath no strenkþe to sublyme eyr or fier or erþe, and so [take] þo þre elementis and sette in þe same bath by vij dayes þat þei be weel meyngid, & so cloos þat no þing be distillid.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)110a/a : Putte þat poudre in a lembic and sublyme it and þanne þat þat is sublymed þerof schal be putt in to a vessel of glas.
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)1396-8 : Folys sublyme noȝte lyke as yey schulde, but sublyme not soo, for whe sublyme note lyke as they doo I-wysse; to sublyme trewly yerfore yu schalte not mysse yff yu cane make thyne bodyes fyrste spirituall And then ye spirit, as I haue tawȝte ye, corporall.
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)1401 : Sume done Mercury fro vitriall & salte sublyme, and other spirit fro schalys of yryne & stele.
- a1550(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Sln 1873)3057 : The xij is hete for to sublyme All the spiritis of the myne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Sln.1698 Artist.Recipes (Sln 1698) 247/16 : Take quykseluer..and put hit in a vessell of glasse, and close hit in ashys save þe mouþe, and put hit þan so in a strong fuyre til hit be ysublymed.
Note: Additional quot., sense (b). New spelling (isublimed).