congelation
(kɒndʒɪˈleɪʃən)
Also 5–6 congell-, 7–8 congeal-.
[a. F. congelation (14th c. in Littré), or ad. its orig. L. congelātiōn-em, n. of action f. congelāre to congeal.]
1. The action of congealing or freezing; the process or state of being congealed.
| 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. xxviii, The half of this loch fresis be naturall congelatioun, as utheris lochis dois. 1635 D. Person Varieties ii. 71 More cold is required, for the congelation of vapors, than of waters. 1686 Goad Celest. Bodies ii. xii. 322 The mixture of Salt with the Cold Water helps to Congelation. 1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sc. iii. v. 289 Freezing or Congealation. 1794 S. Williams Vermont 382 When he called for wine in a severe season, it was presented to him in a state of congelation. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 56 The solid obtained by the congelation of water is termed ice. |
b. Freezing; in line, point, zone of congelation.
| 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VIII. 187 These reptiles continue eating the whole year, except when the cold approaches to congelation. 1777 Robertson Hist. Amer. (1783) II. 399 The line of congelation on Chimborazzo, or that part of the mountain which is covered perpetually with snow. 1845 Darwin Voy. Nat. xi. 249 This zone of perpetual congelation. 1849 M. Somerville Connex. Phys. Sc. xxvi. 291 In the ethereal regions the temperature is 90° below the point of congelation. |
c. The freezing of an animal body or member, so as to make it numb or dead; hence, ‘formerly applied to the stupor and numbness attendant on certain diseases, as catalepsy, paralysis’ (Mayne).
| 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. (1586) 903 The diseases proceeding of cold are congelation, nummednesse, stifnesse. 1632 tr. Bruel's Praxis Med. 96 A method seruing for the knowledge of Catalepsis or Congealation. 1882 Syd. Soc. Lex., Congelation..also, the death of any part from cold, being the same as Frost-bite. 1885 Mrs. E. Lynn Linton Chr. Kirkland II. i. 35, I felt only the congelation, the paralysis, the death of life. |
d. Frozen condition; a product of freezing; concr. a frozen mass.
| 1686 Goad Celest. Bod. i. ii. 4 Hail..being the congelation of Rain. 1709 Addison Tatler No. 148 ¶11 A Multitude of Congelations in Jellies of various Colours. 1818 B. O'Reilly Greenland 91 Those stupendous masses of congelation [ice-bergs]. 1824 Miss Mitford Village Ser. i. (1863) 15 Every tree and branch incrusted with the bright and delicate congelation of hoar-frost. |
2. gen. Action analogous or compared to freezing; conversion from a fluid to a solid state.
Formerly the name of one of the processes in Alchemy.
| 1393 Gower Conf. II. 86 First of the distillation, Forth with the congelation, Solucion, discention. 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. in Ashm. (1652) 114 With heate and moisture by craft occasionate, With congelation of the Spyrite. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. ii. v, A sure foundation Compact and hard, whose matter (cold and drie) To marble turns in strongest congelation. 1674 Grew Anat. Plants, Lect. i. (1682) 233 The making of Fat is but the Durable Congelation of Oyl: which may be done without frost. 1830 Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 465 Steam..given out from the rents of lava-currents during congelation. |
b. Crystallization; formation of stalactites.
| 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 269 Congelation..is seen in the making of Copperas, Salt-peter, or the like. 1802 Playfair Illustr. Hutton. Th. 65 They would crystallize, as in other cases of congelation, from the sides toward the interior. 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. iv. (1857) 79 There were little pools at the side of the cave, where we could see the work of congelation going on. |
c. concr. A concretion, crystallization, petrifaction.
| 1605 Timme Quersit. iii. 161 Of the congelations of these salts comes goutes, stones, etc. 1682 Wheler Journ. Greece iii. 257 It is incrusted above with Congelations, that make it a most pretty Grotto. 1752 Watson in Phil. Trans. XLVII. 454 To examine, whether or no coral is a plant, according to the general opinion, or a petrifaction or congelation. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. II. 270 Salt hanging..in the form of icicles..the walks are covered with various congelations of the same kind. |
3. Formation of a jelly; coagulation, clotting.
| 1547 Boorde Brev. Health lxxix. 32 b, [Choler] whytyshe viscus and clammy..ingendred of congellacion of fleume. 1751 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The sudden congelation which they induce on the blood, which stops its circulation. |
b. concr. A clot, a coagulation.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 332/1 He had on his arme a congellation of blood in manere of a postomme. |
4. transf. and fig.
| 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. iii. vi. 37 Admit that the constitution of a divels bodie..consisteth in Spirituall congelations, as of fier and aire. a 1660 Hammond Serm. iv. Wks. IV. 492 That all our thoughts of kindness to death are the congelation of such black melancholick vapours. 1876 E. Mellor Priesth. App. 411 The mischievous process of congelation..applied to their fervid..utterances, turning their loving rapture into stern and inflexible propositions. |