masticate, v.
(ˈmæstɪkeɪt)
Also 7 mastigate.
[f. late L. masticāt-, ppl. stem of masticā-re (4th c.) to chew, whence It. masticare, Sp. mascar, Pg. masgar (and the learned forms Sp. masticar, mastigar, Pg. mastigar), OF. mascher (mod.F. mâcher), Pr. mastegar, maschar.
A plausible suggestion is that late L. masticāre may be f. L. mastichē mastic, the assumed original sense being ‘to chew mastic’, ‘to treat as one treats mastic’. But it is possible that the verb may be f. Gr. µαστακ-, µάσταξ jaw, or an unrecorded Latin cognate of this.]
1. trans. To grind (food) to a pulp with the teeth; to chew.
| 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. i. Disc. iv. 128 Some chewed bitter pills and masticated gummes. 1746 R. James Moufet's Health's Improv. Introd. 2 It is..a very great Error to swallow the Aliment before it is duly masticated. 1827 Roberts Voy. Centr. Amer. 130 Indian corn, partly boiled and masticated [in the preparation of a drink called ‘mishlaw’]. 1872 Huxley Physiol. vi. 139 To these ends food is taken into the mouth and masticated. 1880 Günther Fishes 119 Some fishes,..provided with broad molar-like teeth, masticate their food. |
† b. fig. = manducate v. Obs.
| 1651 C. Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 30 Except we eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his bloud, we have no life in us; him we must mastigate, and chew by faith. |
2. To crush or knead (india-rubber or gutta-percha) to a pulp; to combine with (gutta-percha) in the process of ‘mastication’.
| 1849 C. Nickels in Repert. Patent Invent. (1850) XV. 226 The pieces of such india-rubber will admit of being kneaded or masticated. Ibid., India-rubber,..manufactured by kneading or masticating therewith..flowers of sulphur. |
Hence ˈmasticated ppl. a.
| 1727 Bailey vol. II, Masticated, chewed. 1799 Phil. Trans. LXXXIX. 253 This middle space..becomes filled up with the masticated food. 1849 C. Nickels in Repert. Patent Invent. (1850) XV. 227 The kneaded or masticated mass [of gutta-percha]..is to be subjected to pressure. |
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Add: [1.] c. intr. To perform the action of prolonged chewing.
| 1802, etc. [implied in masticating ppl. a.]. 1935 Chambers's Encycl. III. 822/1 Many animals can hardly be said to masticate; such are the carnivora..and they are not provided with grinding teeth. 1965 E. J. Howard After Julius ii. viii. 115 He would..subside into a trance-like stillness, unable even to masticate—food froze in his mouth. 1992 Face Oct. 110/3, I made a wad out of the young leaves and twigs and tried to masticate slowly. It tasted like a privet hedge. |