Obs. except in senses 5, 6. Also β. 5 commyxcion, -yxyon, 5–6 -yccyon, -yctyon, 5–7 commixion. [ad. L. commixtiōn-em (n. of action f. commixt- ppl. stem of commiscēre to COMMIX), or a. its Fr. repr. commixtion (15th c. in Littré). The early variant commixcion (with the ordinary -cion for -tion) led to the forms commiccion, commiction, commixion, of which the latter was in established use in 16–17th c. COMMISTION represents another variety of the L.]
† 1. The action of mixing or blending together, commingling. Obs.
1387. Trevisa, Descr. Brit. (Caxton), 34. By commixtion [ed. 1527 commixion] and medlyng … the contre langage is appaired.
1460–70. Bk. Quintessence, II. 21. Wiþ commixtioun of þe 5 essence of gold and peerle.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., I. i. 2. Commixtion of humours.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1683, II. xxiii. 338. United … without any confusion, or commixtion.
1760. Parsons, in Phil. Trans., LI. 675. The commixtion of snow with aquafortis.
† b. Blending (of wines or the like), garbling.
1608. Pennyless Parl., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), III. 72. It shall be lawful for muscadines, in vintners cellars, to indict their masters of commixtion.
† c. of persons. Obs.
1636. E. Dacres, trans. Machiavel’s Disc. Livy, II. 274. A commixtion of new inhabitants.
1667. Disc. Relig. Eng., 34. The true Ancient Primitive Episcopacy … was ballanced or managed by a due commixtion of Presbyters therewith.
β. 1393. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. xx. (1495), 47. Couenable and temperate commyccions of elementis.
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., V. xi., in Ashm. (1652), 150. Of kyndly Commyxyon.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 437/2. The preest maketh commyxcyon of wyne and water.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xl. 124. By reason of commyctyon of this maryage.
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, I. lxix. 105. The height of friendship, when two similary Souls shall blend in their commixions.
1669. W. Rowland, trans. Schroder’s Chym. Disp., 62. Destillation, Infusion, Decoction, or Commixion.
1689. C. Packe, trans. Glauber’s Wks., I. 143. A spiritual Commixion.
† 2. Sexual union, copulation. Obs.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 1066. Marie bare vs a son with out mans commixtionne.
14[?]. Prose Legends, in Anglia, VIII. 136. Fulynge … oute of wedloke with vnleueful commixtions.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 202 b. Without the commixtyon of sex.
1673. Gillespie, Eng. Pop. Cerem., III. ix. 199. The commixtion of Male and Female, the procreation of Children.
β. 1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 373/1. Cleane from anye late commixcion and carnal knowledge of their wiues.
1543. Necess. Doctr., N j b. Unlawful commixion of a marryed man with anye other woman, than with his owne wife.
† 3. Commixed condition or state, commixture.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 3. Makinge a commixtion of a thynge profitable with a sweetnesse mellifluous.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. 20. Pepill … alliat under ane commixtioun of blude.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys. Mech., i. (1682), 4. Stopples … of common Plaister … which would by reason of the exquisite commixtion of its small parts deny all access to the external air.
β. 1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., IV. v. 124. Were thy commixion, Greeke and Troian so, That thou could’st say, this hand is Grecian all, And this is Troian.
† 4. concr. A mixture, compound. Obs.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.), 26. He couthe make playsters, and newe commyxcyons.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. 171. So many thousand sauces, and commixtions of spices.
5. Rom. and Sc. Law. (See quots.)
1628. Coke, On Litt., 177 a. Hotchpot … a commixion of divers things together.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1870), 117. Though the new species could be produced from the commixtion or confusion of different substances belonging to different proprietors, the same rule holds.
1823. Crabb, Technol. Dict., Commixtion, a method of acquiring property in the Scotch law, by mixing or blending substances belonging to different proprietors.
1832. Austin, Jurispr. (1879), II. lvii. 932. So in the case of commixtion, specification, etc.
6. The putting of a small piece of the host into the chalice, typifying the reunion of body and soul at the resurrection.
1872. W. E. Scudamore, Notitia Euchar., 585. The Roman custom of putting a small piece broken off the Host into the Chalice … called the Commixtion, or Commixture. [Commixture is the word used in the following pages of the book.]
