[f. prec. + -ITY. Cf. obs. F. viscidité (16th c.).]
1. The quality of being viscid; glutinousness, stickiness, ropiness.
1611. Cotgr., Viscidité, visciditie;… viscositie.
1658. Phillips, Viscidity or Viscosity, a clamminesse, a sticking to any thing like glue or bird lime.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 100. The Sulphur by its viscidity, does … sweeten the pungency of the Salt.
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 189. Then we must dilute the Viscidity of the Humours if it be sizy.
1758. Descr. Thames, 170. Salmon … offends the Stomach by its Viscidity.
1773. Phil. Trans., LXIV. 30. The density, viscidity, and other qualities of this matter.
1836–9. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., II. 101/2. The viscidity of the solution of sugar … is very little above that of pure water.
1876. Bartholow, Mat. Med. (1879), 469. Castor oil has a pale amber-color,… and is quite viscid. Cold increases the viscidity.
2. A collection or accumulation of viscid humours; viscid matter or substance.
c. 1720. Gibson, Farrier’s Guide, II. xxxix. (1738), 144. The cure consists in all those things that are proper to destroy the Viscidities in the Bowels.
1743. trans. Heister’s Surg., 193. For by this means all Viscidities in the Blood will be diluted.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), I. xvi. 90. The parts of the fluid rubbing against each other, destroy all viscidities.
1846. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. II. 237/1. They must have honey, sugar, cinnamon…. Dante and Ariosto, different as they are, equally avoided these sweet viscidities.
