Middle English Dictionary Entry
unstoppen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | unstoppen v. |
| Etymology | From stoppen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Ppl. unstopped, of the entrance to a reservoir: not closed, left open;—used in fig. context.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)216/28 : For þis day werk vs muste stoppyn þe watyr-gatys of oure pytt…ffor ȝif ȝoure pyt in his entrees be stylle opyn & vnstoppyd, þe corrupte watyr of curse & þe depe wose of synne rennyth in aȝen.
2.
Med. & physiol.
(a) To restore the normal flow of blood, humors, etc. through or within (an organ, a duct, etc.), relieve of obstruction, unblock; ppl. unstopped [quot. ?a1425, 2nd], of a blood vessel: ?unblocked;—prob. an error based on a misinterpretation of the L;
(b) ppl. unstoppinge as adj., of a medicinal powder: serving to relieve obstruction or congestion, unblocking.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)353/5 : Epilencia is a moist humour…þe whiche…lettiþ þe soule and spirit of felinge to declare his worchinge and doynge forto þe weye of þe brayne be vnstoppid [L exoppilauerit] of þat humour.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)914/10 : Comyn merche vnstoppiþ and openeþ [L oppilationem aperit] þe spleen, and brekeþ þe stoon.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1312/7 : Bitter þynge vnstoppeþ þe spleen and þe lyuour, for wiþ hete it openeþ þe pores and dissolueþ and bereth doun þe humours þat ben dissolued wiþ þiknesse and putteþ hem oute.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)147b/b : It is nede to vnstoppe [L vr. deobstruere] streit waiez or goyngez out & for to inscide & subtile & purgeþ þat þat cleueþ grosse & viscose of humours.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(1) (NY 12:Wallner)2.142/12 : Aneuresma is aposteme smothe or liȝt, replete of blode and of ventositee…And as seith G…An arterie, forsoþ, vnstopped, þis passion is called aneurisma [Ch.(2): Þis passioun forsoþe is cleped aneurisma of a stopped arterie; L arteria vero de obstructa aneurisma hec passio vocatur].
- a1475 Gilb.Angl.(Wel 537)279/11 : Swelling of þes veines comeþ eiþirwhilis of drastis of þe blode þat fallen doun to þe veines mouþis and stoppiþ hem…And eiþirwhilis þei ben al y-stoppid, and eiþirwhilis sum ben y-stoppid and sum vnstoppid.
b
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)368/31 : If þis yuel polipus is confermyd ferst wiþ purgaciouns and wiþ vnstoppinge [L ex oppilatiuis] poudres and wiþ fretinge medicines hit schal be holpe.
3.
Ppl. unstopped, of an injured arm: ?having become unbandaged, having ceased to be kept from bleeding.
Associated quotations
- a1500(?a1425) Ipom.(2) (Hrl 2252)1261 : Ipomydon was sore travailed In the gamys þat he had; Hys arme vnstoppid, þe blode gan falle Vppon the tabyll afore hem alle.
4.
Associated quotations
- (1434) EEWills102/2 : Y bequethe to Robert Sharp…a bankar of blewe & blak, & iij quisshonus of the same colour vn-stopped.
5.
To unseal or unstop (a hole); ?also, error for upstoppen v. [2nd quot.].
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)168a/a : Take a vessel…& make a litil hole in þe boþum þerof…and stoppe þe hole & fille þe potte to þe myddes wiþ oile and water & schogge alle wele to gider, & when it haþ made residence, þe oile wille swymme aboue; and þen vnstoppe þe hole of þe potte & voide þe water.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.928 : Thenne alle her hoolis ther the mold is ynne Saue oon, the moost, vnstoppid [vr. uppe stopped] must they be [L diligenter obstrui].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1525 BodEMus.52 Artist.Recipes (BodEMus 52) 192/32 : Karve þe golde or syluer with a scharpe knyffe, upon a cowche made of a calffes skyne raysyde and stoppede with flokes or els unstoppede.
- a1500 Add.21431 Artist.Recipes (Add 21431) 327/23 : Carfe with a sharp knyf vpon a code of calfys ledur..stapyd with flax or without flax vnstoppyd.
Note: Glossary: "unstoppede, vnstoppyd adj. 'not stuffed'."
Note: ?Modify sense 4., or ?new sense.