liquefy, v.
(ˈlɪkwɪfaɪ)
Also 6–9 liquify.
[a. F. liquéfier, ad. L. liquefacĕre to make liquid, f. liquēre to be fluid: see -fy.]
1. trans. To reduce into a liquid condition. With obj. a solid substance; also in Physics, air, gases. † Formerly, to dissolve (in a liquid).
| 1547 Boorde Brev. Health 75, I do lyquifye it in the oyle of Roses. 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 10/2 Liquefye the Suger in Melisse water. 1661 Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. Introd., Some of them may be Liquefied by liquour, as earths, salt,..&c., some by fire, as metallick fluores. 1756–7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) III. 63 The substance in the phial..looks like balsam of Peru, which may be very easy liquefied. 1824–9 Landor Imag. Conv. Wks. 1846 II. 245 Sweat ran from them liquefying the blood that had..hardened on their hands and feet. 1863 Tyndall Heat ii. §21 (1870) 26 Simply to liquefy a mass of ice an enormous amount of heat is necessary. 1881 Lubbock Addr. Brit. Assoc. in Nature No. 618. 411 Oxygen and nitrogen have been liquefied. |
2. fig. To ‘melt’ with spiritual ardour. (Cf. F. liquéfier.) Also intr. for pass.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 313/2 From that houre the sowle of hym lyquefyed and the passion of Jhesu cryst was merueylously infyxed in his herte. 1502 Atkinson tr. De Imitatione iii. vi. 201 That I may lerne..what is to man to be lyquyfyed and molten in loue. |
3. intr. To become liquid; † rarely to dissolve (in water).
| 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 29 Othersome will cast wette salt into it [wool], which in time will liquifie. 1626 Bacon Sylva §840 The Disposition not to Liquefie proceedeth from the Easie Emission of the Spirits, whereby the Grosser Parts contract. 1705 Addison Italy (1733) 119 Blood..which liquefy'd at the Approach of the Saint's Head, tho'..it was hard congeal'd before. 1750 tr. Leonardus's Mirr. Stones 18 Some stones..do not liquify, and also sink in water. 1812 Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. Wks. 1840 IV. 71 Crystalline muriate of lime and snow, both cooled to 0° Fahrenheit..act upon each other and liquefy. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. xi. 289 The ice liquefying rapidly. |
4. trans. To give (a consonant) a ‘liquid’ or semivocalic pronunciation.
| 1714 J. Fortescue-Aland Notes Fortescue's Abs. & Lim. Mon. 27 This letter g is also liquified in the middle, as in the word sail from the Saxon saegl. 1842 M. Russell Polynesia i. (1849) 39 They [the consonants] are liquefied to a soft and almost vowel sound. |
5. jocular. To moisten or ‘soak’ with liquor or ‘drink’. Also absol.
| 1826 Scott Jrnl. 5 Mar., Something of toddy and cigar in that last quotation, I think. Yet I only smoked two, and liquified with one glass of spirits and water. 1827 Hone Every-day Bk. II. 12 When thoroughly liquefied, his loquacity is deluging. |
Hence ˈliquefied, ˈliquefying ppl. adjs.
| 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 243/1 Which foresayed..paper balle, she must winde in liquefyede waxe. 1731 Hist. Litteraria III. 252 Iron melted into a liquified Matter. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 741 Liquefied amber..separated from the oily portions which alter its consistence. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xi. 83 After we had divided the liquefied snow..amongst us we had nothing to drink. 1898 P. Manson Trop. Diseases xxiii. 365 Some irritating liquefying body derived from the decomposition processes going on on the surface of the dysenteric ulcer. |