Middle English Dictionary Entry
transmūtāble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | transmūtāble adj. |
| Etymology | ML transmūtābilis |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Subject to change, unstable; given to changing, inconstant, fickle; (b) alch. capable of being transmuted into another substance.
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1871 : Noble Princis, peiseth in your resouns, Al worldli thyng in erthe is transmutable.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Mutability MN (Hrl 2255)113 : The world vnsuyr, fortune transmutable, Trust on lordship a feynt sekirnesse..Now glad, now hevy, now helthe, now syknesse..Al staunt on chaung.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)107 : A gouernaunce is not good but bi hise circumstauncis, whiche ben thus changeable and transmutable.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.79 : Sith..mannys fortune is so transmutable, Than wilt þou triste to goodes deceyuable?
b
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)14/7 : I seie of medicyns, comfortatyues, digestyues, laxatyues, restriktyues, and alle oþere..do þei good or yuel..oure 5 essencie is þe instrument of alle vertues of þing transmutable if þei be putt in it, encreessynge an hundrid foold her worchingis.
- a1500(?1471) *Ripley Epis.Edw.IV (Ashm 759)103a : The philosopher..doith write That the liknesse of bodies metallyne be not transmutable..Without they be reducyd to their begynnyng materiable.