a. and sb. (Also 7 cordale.) [ad. med.L. cordiāl-is (perh. immed. through F. cordial, 14th c.), f. L. cor, cord- heart + -AL: cf. L. concordiālis, f. concordia. Cordiālis appears to have been in its origin a word of medicine.]
A. adj. † 1. Of or belonging to the heart. Obs.
Cordial spirits (in Mediæval Physiology) = VITAL spirits, for ‘the Vital Spirit resides in the heart, is dispersed by the arteries,’ etc., and ‘by the labour of ye complexyon of the brayne … is the vital spirite made anymall’ (Salmon, 1671).
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 112. Þei [veynes] bryngen liif & dewe norischinge & cordialle spiritis.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 116/1. Heerwith inungate the Cordiall pit verye fat, and this will allsoe cause appetite.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xxxvii. (1632), 426. If it be neither cordiall, nor stomacall.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. iv. (1686), 153. An opinion … which magnifies the condition of the fourth finger of the Left Hand; presuming therein a cordial relation.
b. Of the heart as the seat of feeling, affection, etc.; internal.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., IV. § 39. 382. The verbal is very often quite different from the cordial Creed.
2. Of medicines, food or beverages: Stimulating, ‘comforting,’ or invigorating the heart; restorative, reviving, cheering.
† Cordial water = spirit (obs.).
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., IX. in Ashm. (1652), 175. Fode to Man and Woman most cordyall.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 94 a. Al thinges whiche be cordiall, that is to say, which do in any wise comfort the hart.
1564–78. Bulleyn, Dial. agst. Pest. (1888), 54. A cordial ointment against the Pestilence.
1634. Milton, Comus, 672. This cordial julep here … With spirits of balm and fragrant syrups mixed.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, xviii. (1858), 287. He had brought me a case of bottles full of excellent cordial waters.
1797. Coleridge, Christabel, I. O weary lady, Geraldine, I pray you, drink this cordial wine!
1811. A. T. Thomson, Lond. Disp. (1818), 215. Juniper berries are diuretic and cordial.
b. fig.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., V. iii. 77. This Affliction ha’s a taste as sweet As any Cordiall comfort.
1655. Fuller, Hist. Camb. (1840), 189. He bestowed on them cordial statutes, (as I may call them,) for the preserving of the College in good health.
1754. Richardson, Grandison (1781), I. xxviii. 204. All Sunday … was a cordial day to her from morning to night.
3. Hearty; coming from the heart, heartfelt; sincere, genuine, warm; warm and hearty in a course of action or in behalf of a cause.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 128. My only cordyall loue and frende. Ibid. (c. 1489), Blanchardyn, xlix. 190. Enflamed wyth yre & of cordyal wrath, for loue of their lord.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, clxxix. 721. My dere and cordyall frende.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 178. He was a stout and valiant gentleman, a cordial protestant.
c. 1750. Shenstone, Elegies, xiii. 7. Soon may thy breast the cordial wish resume.
1845. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., II. 183. To induce the emperor to give the cause his cordial support.
1870. R. W. Dale, Week-day Serm. x. 184. A cordial abhorrence of what is sensual.
b. Warm and friendly in manner.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, III. 276. By the gentle Queen With cordial affability received.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, III. 157. The latter took a cordial leave of his host.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt (1868), 58. ‘Right,’ said the minister, in a deep cordial tone.
¶ 4. quasi-adv. = ‘By heart.’ Obs.
c. 1475. Partenay, Prol. 10. I not aqueynted of birth naturall With frenshe his verray trew parfightnesse, Nor enpreyntyd is in mynde cordiall.
B. sb. 1. A medicine, food or beverage that invigorates the heart and stimulates the circulation; a comforting or exhilarating drink. Comm. Aromatized and sweetened spirit, used as a beverage.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 443. For gold in Phisik is a cordial [v.r. cardial, cordeal, accordial], Therfore he louede gold in special.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 171. As pocyons, laxes, cordialles, plasters, and other medicynes.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. v. 50. Costly Cordialles she did apply.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 250. Aquavitæ distilled out of Wine … the chief cordial in cheering the heart of man.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, II. viii. 168. Observing I was ready to faint, [he] gave me a cordial to comfort me.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Tale of Tyne, vi. 100. He … sipped his evening cordial.
1847. De Quincey, Sp. Mil. Nun, v. The closet which held the peppermint-water and other cordials.
b. transf. and fig.
1479. Earl Rivers (title), The book named Cordyal which treteth of the four last and final thinges.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., II. i. 41. A pleasing Cordiall … Is this thy Vow vnto my sickely heart.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. ii. 155. Harmlesse mirth is the best cordiall against the consumption of the spirits.
1751. N. Cotton, Visions in Verse (ed. 4), 77 (R.).
| Reflection on a Life well past, | |
| Shall prove a Cordial to the last. |
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Clubs, Wks. (Bohn), III. 92. Of all the cordials known to us, the best, safest, and most exhilarating … is society.
2. Comb., as cordial-bottle, glass; cordial-maker, manufacturer, ‘a manufacturer of liqueurs, syrups, and sweet drinks’ (Simmonds, Dict. Trade, 1858.)
1663. Cowley, Cutter Colman St., II. viii. Fetch me the Cordial-glass in the Cabinet Window.
1800. Mar. Edgeworth, Lottery, i. She thought herself obliged, every quarter of an hour, to have recourse to her cordial-bottle.
