electuary
(ɪˈlɛktjʊərɪ)
Forms: 6 electuarye, -ie, (Sc. electuar), 8 electary, 4– electuary. See also lectuary.
[ad. late L. ēlectuārium, ēlectārium (5th c.), perh. a corrupt derivative of the synonymous Gr. ἐκλεικτόν, f. ἐκλείχειν to lick out.]
1. A medicinal conserve or paste, consisting of a powder or other ingredient mixed with honey, preserve, or syrup of some kind.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vii. xxxv. (1495) 250 The Etyk is holpe..by an electuary that hight Electuarium patris. 1527 Andrew tr. Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters A j, With waters dy[styl]lyd, all maner of..electuaryes be myxced. 1549 Compl. Scot. xvii. (1872) 145 Spicis..for to mak exquisit electuars. 1636 Featly Clavis Myst. xii. 148 Many simples goe to the making of a soveraigne Electuary. 1758 Brookes Pract. Physic (ed. 3) II. 134 The antiscorbutic Electary..is very efficacious in this Disease. 1791 Boswell Johnson (1816) II. 372 Make them an electuary with honey and treacle. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxxvi. (1856) 326 Raw potato and saur-kraut, pounded with molasses into a damnable electuary. |
b. fig.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 85 Electuaryes to preserue them from spirytuall diseases. 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. ii. (1851) 139 Some eye-brightning electuary of knowledge, and foresight. 1878 Emerson Sov. Ethics Wks. (Bohn) III. 385 Innocence is a wonderful electuary for purging the eyes. |
¶ 2. ? Confused with electar, electre 1 and 2.
| 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. Introd. 52 Ane maner of electuar..hewit like gold, and sa attractive of nature, that it drawis stra. 1638 Penkethman Artach. D, This weight serveth to weigh..Gold, Silver, Pearles, and other precious things, as Electuaries and Amber. |