Middle English Dictionary Entry
vīrus n.
Entry Info
| Forms | vīrus n. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Pathol. Pus; also, a thin, watery discharge from a festering sore, ichor;
(b) physiol. semen.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)80/14 : If þe virus be wiþoute heete…waische it [ulcer] wiþ watir.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(1) (NY 12:Wallner)2.121/18 : It is of þe counsaile of ihesus & of Alcotaym þat þe place be kut with a litel spature vpon corneam a-tuix þe pupille & þe white & þe virus drawen out.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)147a/b : Þe signyficacioun þat it [medicine] is stronger þen it owe to ben, it is þis: þe vlcus eche daie wexeþ more holowe and þe virus is sotile and rede oþer cytrine.
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)77/28 : Euery olde wounde, hauynge, rotenesse oþere virus, þat is, þenne venemy quyter, oþer eny oþer þynge þenne gode quyter…is y-clepyde vlcus.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)101a/a : Vlcus is an old wounde or a stynkynge, castynge out quytture or oþer vnclennesse, as virus, which ys seid sutil quytture or þinne.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)101b/b : Virus is an vnkynde humidite or quytture and is of two maners…þat oon hoot and þat oþir cold.
b
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)261/10,11 : Among þe gentals on hatte þe pyntyl, veretrum in latyn…for virus come ouȝt þerof For…þe humour þat comeþ out of mankynde hatte virus.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. virus.