[ad. L. commixtūra, f. commixt-: see prec. and -URE.]
1. The action or fact of mixing or mingling together; union of ingredients or constituents.
a. 1592. T. Watson, Poems (Arb.), 201. But it so fast was fixed to my hart, Ioind with vnseparable sweete commixture.
1610. Bp. Hall, Apol. Brownists, § 56. Your odious commixture of all sorts of people in the body of your Church.
1643. Milton, Divorce, II. xix. (1851), 114. The souls union and commixture of intellectuall delights.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., III. xxv. 85. Jarring interests and opposite views … are made to produce order by their proper commixture.
1831. Fraser’s Mag., IV. 354. A law enforcing the commixture of tartar emetic in every gallon of spirit.
1869. Farrar, Fam. Speech, iv. (1873), 123. While all other tongues … have undergone perpetual commixture and change.
b. (with a and pl.)
1607–12. Bacon, Ess. Nobility (Arb.), 188. By a commixture of good and euil Actes [1612 Arts].
1670. Walton, Lives, Donne, 57. Men in whom there was such a Commixture of general Learning, of natural eloquence, and Christian humility, that they deserve a Commemoration by a pen equal to their own, which none hath exceeded.
1671. Maynwaring, Anc. & Mod. Pract. Physic, 81. The various results from different commixtures.
1846. Hawthorne, Mosses, Rappacini’s Dau. There had been such a commixture.
2. The condition or product resulting from mixing things together; a mixture, a compound.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. vi. 6. My Loue and Feare, glew’d many Friends to thee, And now I fall. Thy tough Commixtures melts.
1601. Cornwallyes, Ess., xv. Demetrius was a Commixture of vertues, and vices.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Planting, A Comixture of Street Filth, Sea-coal Ashes, and some Horse-Dung with it.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., I. 222. Atmospheric air may be considered … a commixture of an acid and water, and a fixed fire.
1849. Murchison, Siluria, xx. 491. Seeing in this commixture … the indications of long and slow action.
1859. Tennent, Ceylon, II. X. i. 578. The temple contains a strange commixture of Brahmanical and Buddhist worship.
† 3. Complexion (in its earlier sense). Obs.
1583. Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 296. Faire Ladies … their damaske sweet commixture showne, Are Angels vailing clouds.
† 4. = COMMIXTION 2. Obs.
1682. G. Vernon, Life of Heylyn, 181. Monks and Friers, who fancied themselves to have had unclean commixtures with her.
† 5. Rom. and Sc. Law. = COMMIXTION 5.
17[?]. Erskine is cited in Webster.
6. = COMMIXTION 6. q.v.
1850. Neale, Hist. East. Ch., I. 520. This commixture, if not absolutely primitive, is … of very venerable antiquity.
