a. Also 5–6 -olent. [a. F. corpulent, ad. L. corpulent-us, f. corpus body: see -ULENT.]
† 1. Of the nature of a physical or material body: solid, dense, gross. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIV. i. (Tollem. MS.). Amonge bodies þe erþe is most corpulent [corpulentissimum] and haþ leste of sotilte.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 20. The bodie of the Vertebre is the corpulent and grosse parte therof.
1579. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 84. It [the winde] enterith at all aventure in every place beinge not allreddie fulfilled with sum other corpulent bodye.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 116. Meat being in its own nature corpulent … and grosse.
2. Large or bulky of body; fleshy, fat.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxv. 281 (Harl. MS.). He was corpulent and hevy.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clviii. 147. Bernulphus knyghtes were fatte, corpolent, and shorte breth.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 464. A goodly portly man yfaith, and a corpulent.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., xxii. 242. He could not endure a corpulent souldier.
1706. Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 301. He was a great Fat, Corpulent Fellow.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., I. 66. Being rather too corpulent to dance.
1868. Peard, Water-Farm., xii. 116. The good brothers … looked anxiously at many a corpulent carp.
transf. 1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 441. Some call it the bodie, or corpulent vessell, or the gourd.
1884. Illust. Lond. News, 27 Sept., 291/3. A work in two corpulent quarto volumes.
† 3. Corporeal; material. Obs. [So L. corpulentus in Tertullian.]
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. xii. § 3 (1622), 127. Sometimes certaine Spirits (though not corpulent, nor palpable) doe compasse round about vs.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., II. iii. (1851), 158. How can the minister of the Gospel manage the corpulent and secular trial of bill and processe in things meerly spiritual?
1643. Hammond, Serm., vii. Wks. 1684, IV. 516. To think anything pleasure which is not corpulent, and carnal.
