[prob. ad. F. condense-r, ad. L. condensā-re, f. condens-us CONDENSE a.]
1. trans. To make dense, increase the density of; to bring the particles of (a substance) into closer aggregation, so that they occupy a smaller space; to reduce in volume; to compress, thicken, concentrate. Chiefly in Physics. (Mostly in passive.)
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., v. in Ashm. (1652), 77. Ayre condensed is turned into Raine, and water rarified becomes Ayre againe.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., III. (1520), 25b/2. Vyrgyll by connynge condescended [? condensed] or thycked the ayre.
1660. Boyle, New Expr. Phys. Mech., xviii. 130. Air … expanded or condens’d by the heat or cold.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 239. Sweet Honey some condense.
1823. Imison, Sc. & Art, I. 146. A square phial may be broken by condensing the air around it.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 15. At times a person needs to condense his property into the smallest compass.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 243. The Borden process for condensing milk.
b. Optics. To bring (rays of light) to a focus or into a smaller space, so that the brightness is increased; to concentrate.
1787. G. Adams, Ess. Microscope, 100. A lens … to collect and condense [the light] on the object.
1831. Brewster, Optics, i. 9. The rays … fall upon the mirror MN, and by reflexion are condensed upon a small space at F.
c. Electr. To increase the amount or intensity of (a charge of electricity).
1782. Volta, in Phil. Trans., LXXII. 245. The metal plate … does actually condense or acquire a greater quantity of electricity.
1870. R. M. Ferguson, Electr., 94. In this manner, electricity of too low a tension to affect immediately the gold leaves can be condensed, so as to possess the power.
2. To reduce (a substance from the form of gas or vapor to the liquid or (rarely) the solid condition, or from the state of invisible gas to that of visible vapor or cloud.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. iv. § 5. The air was condensed into clouds.
1713. Derham, Phys.-Theol., iii. note 1 (R.). The cold … by condensing, drives the vapours into clouds or drops.
1800. trans. Lagrange’s Chem., I. 89. Carbonic acid gas … is not condensed at that degree of pressure and of temperature of the atmosphere in which we live. It remains in the state of gas.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sc. & Art, II. 311. All the vapours which water will condense.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, xii. (1869), 391. To produce snow requires both heat and cold; the first to evaporate, the second to condense.
b. To contain in a condensed state.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, II. 25. A crystal ring Abdaldar wore; The powerful gem condensed Primeval dews, that upon Caucasus Felt the first winter’s frost.
3. transf. and fig. a. To bring together closely or in small compass.
1803. Edin. Rev., II. 87. To condense and agglomerate every species of absurdity.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xvii. Condensed, the battle yelled amain.
1852. Ld. Cockburn, Jeffrey, I. 142. By the young [Tories] they were viewed with genuine horror. This condensed them the more.
b. esp. To compress (thought or meaning) into few words; to reduce (a speech or writing) within smaller compass by conciseness of expression. Also absol.
1805. N. Nicholls, Corr. w. Gray (1843), 37. He … approved an observation of Shenstone, that ‘Pope had the art of condensing a thought.’
1854. Kingsley, Lett. (1878), I. 419. People seem surprised at my power of condensing.
1868. J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., I. 49. To have condensed them [his opinions] into the following plan.
c. To concentrate, intensify.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 125. The servile spirit of Scottish Parliaments … in the highest perfection, extracted and condensed.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. ii. Power concentrated and condensed into the government of Rome.
4. intr. (for refl.) To become dense; to shrink into a smaller space, become reduced in volume.
1704. Newton, Opticks (J.). Vapours, when they begin to condense.
1869. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 17. 3 volumes of oxygen condense to form 2 volumes of ozone.
5. intr. of 2.
1655. Culpepper, etc., Riverius, I. i. 3. A hot and moist Liver … sends many vapours to the Brain, which there condense or grow thick.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Pythag. Philos., 384. Dew condensing does her form forego And sinks a heavy lump of earth below.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 57. Some of the moisture … in the room has condensed upon the glass.
fig. 1674. Govt. Tongue, ix. § 14 (1684), 154. When therefore the recollection of … fancied worth begins to make us aery, let us condense again by the remembrance of our sins.
1889. Spectator, 13 April. If those fancies, instead of ‘condensing,’ as they ought to condense, into healthy and robust imagination, persist in their puerile forms.
