Middle English Dictionary Entry
vīve adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | vīve adj. Also vif(e, viffe, wive, (error) vyl. |
| Etymology | L vīvus & OF vif, vive, AF wif adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Lively, active, mobile;—only in comb.: argent ~, the metal mercury, quicksilver [cp. argent n. & adj. (c)];
(b) in a raw state, not modified to reduce chemical reactivity, unslaked; calce ~, quicklime [see also calce n. (c)]; sulphur ~, native or natural sulfur [see also sulphur-vive n. (a)]; also, alch. ?sophic sulfur [see also sulphur-vive n. (b) & cp. sulphur n. (c)].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)132a/b : Ihc putteþ 12, for he addeþ like to argente vyue [Ch.(2): quykke siluer] & liuid.
- (1453) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)323 : Argent vyff…þe bolyon…iiij d.
b
- ?a1425 Chauliac(1) (NY 12:Wallner)2.90/19 : Be þer added-to a litel of sulfur viue [vr. vife], and be þer made an emplaster.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(1) (NY 12:Wallner)3.84/15 : We tristed Sulfur, noȝt vif [vrr. viue, wyue; L viuum], ne stony, for to helpe wonded neruez.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)119a/a : Make ane emplastere of gotes dunge wiþ oximelle oþer wiþ calce viue & swines grece wiþ outen salte.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)184a/a : A souereine oynement for þe scalle: Take litarge, sulfer viue, calce viue, attrament, vitriole, [etc.].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)209/9 : Albucasis putteþ þerto þre parties of calx vyf, i. vnquenched lyme.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)118/18 : Take iii ounce of fyn sowfre vyl [read: vyf] and an ounce of sarkacoll, [etc.].
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)718 : The fyrst [kind of combining] is callyd by phylosophers dyptatyve be-twyxte ye agent & ye pacyent…mercury with sulphure vyffe, [etc.].