Middle English Dictionary Entry
thinnes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | thinnes(se n. Also thennes(se. |
| Etymology | From thin(ne adj.; also cp. OE þynness. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Smallness, fineness; (b) an absence of density; rarity; sparseness; also, porosity; also, sponginess, softness; (c) a lack of viscosity; (d) gauntness; (e) shallowness of breathing.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)26b/a : It semeþ þat þay [carbuncles] more declyne to tenuite, i. þynnez [L tenuitatem], & frigidacioun & humectacioun.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)147a/b : Signes forsoþ of stone of þe vesic ar..declinyng of vrine, cruditee white, & þynnez of grauelez.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)427/17 : Thay [medicines] hauen also wiþ a streynyngnesse some sotelte, i. smallenesse or þennesse [L subtilitatem], by the whiche þei ben made depe to þe rootes of here heres.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133a/b : Eyre..haþ more þennesse [L raritatis] and clerenesse þanne oþir elementis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)305b/a : Druye matiere..is more disposed to þikkenesse þan to þynnesse [L subtiliationem et rarefactionem].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)29a/a : Herisiple as often falleþ in þe face..and þat for liȝtnes of colre & þynnez [L raritatem] of þe face.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)33a/a : Childre for her gluttry & rarenesse or þynnez [Ch.(2): þennes] of body renneþ more ofte in to scrophulez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)68b/a : With fyngerez & probez..is perceyued tenuite, i. þynnez [Ch.(2): softenesse], in þe skyn And separacioun fro þe bone.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)491 : Thynnesse, of wodys, cornys, and oþer lyke: Raritas.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)15b/a : The vtilitees of þe glandelous fleisch..The ij is þis þat it mowe drawe vnto him & resseyue in his þinnesse þe superfluytees fro þe principal membris.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)319a/b : Þe vse of mylk is y-take by þynnesse, þikkenesse, and mene bitwene.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)514/31 : Tokenes..of þe stone of þe bledder ben akþes of the bledder..rawenesse, whitenesse, and þennesse [L tenuitas] of þe vryn, whitenesse of þe sonde, and difficulte of vryn makynge.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)491 : Thynnesse, or thynhede, of licurys, as ale, water, and oþer lyke: Tenuitas.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.10.16 : For þat shal sende þe lordshipere lord of hostis in his fatte thingis thynnenesse [vr. thynnesse].
e
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)56a/a : Of al þese comeþ febilnes & þynnes of breþ.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425 Add.18216 Artist.Recipes (Add 18216) 201/23 : For þennenesse of þe syse hit wyl be ful of boll, and þerfor grynd hit faste as longe tyl þe bollys aryse nomore.
Note: Supplementary quot. for sense (c).--per MLL