Also 5–6 congell-, 7–8 congeal-. [a. F. congelation (14th c. in Littré), or ad. its orig. L. congelātiōn-em, n. of action f. congelāre to CONGEAL.]
1. The action of congealing or freezing; the process or state of being congealed.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. xxviii. The half of this loch fresis be naturall congelatioun, as utheris lochis dois.
1635. Person, Varieties, II. 71. More cold is required, for the congelation of vapors, than of waters.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, II. xii. 322. The mixture of Salt with the Cold Water helps to Congelation.
1755. B. Martin, Mag. Arts & Sc., III. v. 289. Freezing or Congealation.
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 382. When he called for wine in a severe season, it was presented to him in a state of congelation.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 56. The solid obtained by the congelation of water is termed ice.
b. Freezing; in line, point, zone of congelation.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VIII. 187. These reptiles continue eating the whole year, except when the cold approaches to congelation.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer. (1783), II. 399. The line of congelation on Chimborazzo, or that part of the mountain which is covered perpetually with snow.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xi. 249. This zone of perpetual congelation.
1849. Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sc., xxvi. 291. In the ethereal regions the temperature is 90° below the point of congelation.
c. The freezing of an animal body or member, so as to make it numb or dead; hence, ‘formerly applied to the stupor and numbness attendant on certain diseases, as catalepsy, paralysis’ (Mayne).
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 903. The diseases proceeding of cold are congelation, nummednesse, stifnesse.
1632. trans. Bruel’s Praxis Med., 96. A method seruing for the knowledge of Catalepsis or Congealation.
1882. Syd. Soc. Lex., Congelation … also, the death of any part from cold, being the same as Frost-bite.
1885. Mrs. Lynn Linton, Chr. Kirkland, II. i. 35. I felt only the congelation, the paralysis, the death of life.
d. Frozen condition; a product of freezing; concr. a frozen mass.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bod., I. ii. 4. Hail … being the congelation of Rain.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 148, ¶ 11. A Multitude of Congelations in Jellies of various Colours.
1818. B. O’Reilly, Greenland, 91. Those stupendous masses of congelation [ice-bergs].
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 15. Every tree and branch incrusted with the bright and delicate congelation of hoar-frost.
2. gen. Action analogous or compared to freezing; conversion from a fluid to a solid state.
Formerly the name of one of the processes in Alchemy.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 86. First of the distillation, Forth with the congelation, Solucion, discention.
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., in Ashm. (1652), 114. With heate and moisture by craft occasionate, With congelation of the Spyrite.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., II. v. A sure foundation Compact and hard, whose matter (cold and drie) To marble turns in strongest congelation.
1674. Grew, Anat. Plants, Lect., i. (1682), 233. The making of Fat is but the Durable Congelation or Oyl: which may be done without frost.
1830. Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 465. Steam … given out from the rents of lava-currents during congelation.
b. Crystallization; formation of stalactites.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 269. Congelation … is seen in the making of Copperas, Salt-peter, or the like.
1802. Playfair, Illustr. Hutton. Th., 65. They would crystallize, as in other cases of congelation, from the sides toward the interior.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., iv. (1857), 79. There were little pools at the side of the cave, where we could see the work of congelation going on.
c. concr. A concretion, crystallization, petrifaction.
1605. Timme, Quersit., III. 161. Of the congelations of these salts, comes Goutes, Stones, Scirrhus hardnesse, and diuers kindes of obstructions.
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, III. 257. It is incrusted above with Congelations, that make it a most pretty Grotto.
1752. Watson, in Phil. Trans., XLVII. 454. To examine, whether or no coral is a plant, according to the general opinion, or a petrifaction or congelation.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 270. Salt hanging … in the form of icicles … the walks are covered with various congelations of the same kind.
3. Formation of a jelly; coagulation, clotting.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, lxxix. 32 b. [Choler] whytyshe viscus and clammy … ingendred of congellacion of fleume.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The sudden congelation which they induce on the blood, which stops its circulation.
b. concr. A clot, a coagulation.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 332/1. He had on his arme a congellation of blood in manere of a postomme.
4. transf. and fig.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., III. vi. 37. Admit that the constitution of a divels bodie … consisteth in Spirituall congelations, as of fier and aire.
a. 1660. Hammond, Serm., iv. Wks. IV. 492. That all our thoughts of kindness to death are the congelation of such black melancholick vapours.
1876. E. Mellor, Priesth., App. 411. The mischievous process of congelation applied to their fervid … utterances, turning their loving rapture into stern and inflexible propositions.
