Also 5 fixacioun. [ad. med.L. fixātiōn-em (used in Alchemy), n. of action f. fixāre to FIX.]
1. The action of fixing, in various senses (see FIX v.)
1652–6. Heylin, Cosmogr., I. (1682), 89. The fixation of the Popes in the Metropolis.
The fixation of the Popes in the Metropolis, or Imperiall City, which drawing to it such a multitude of suters and attendants from all parts the world, could not but add much to the power and reputation of those Prelates, who had the happiness and honour to be resident there: and thereby opportunity to gain more Disciples, to solve more doubts of conscience, and decide more controversies, than any other could expect.
1671. F. Philipps, Reg. Necess., 67. After the fixation of the Common Pleas or Actions of the people to a certain place in the Kings Palace at Westminster.
1671. Phil. Trans., VI. 2132. Some Observations, touching Colours, in order to the Increase of Dyes, and the Fixation of Colours.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., II. iv. (1869), I. 360. If this legal rate should be fixed below the lowest market rate, the effects of this fixation must be nearly the same as those of a total prohibition of interest.
1810. Bentham, The Elements of the Art of Packing (1821), 90. The fixation of the punishment not lying within the province of the jury.
1832. Austin, Jurispr. (1879), II. lvi. 924. It is clear that the law imposing the tax might be sanctioned otherwise: As, for example, by a fine on the party, whose duty it was, when the alleged title arose, to pay the tax, and to procure the fixation of the stamp to the evidentiary instrument.
1864. Bowen, Logic, iv. 84. Language, among its other offices, has an important influence in the regulation and fixation of Thought.
1874. W. B. Carpenter, Ment. Phys., I. i. § 20. (1879), 21. The ‘training’ which develops the inarticulate Cry of the infant into articulate Speech or melodious Song, mainly consists in the fixation of the Attention on the audible result.
1886. Blackie, What does Hist. Teach? 24. A great danger will arise from the fixation of the order of succession to the throne.
b. The fact or condition of being fixed.
a. 1631. Donne, in Select. (1840), 219. Three enemies to that fixation and entireness of the heart, which God loves: inconsideration, when we do not debate; irresolution, when we do not determine; inconstancy, when we do not persevere.
1660. Fuller, Mixt Contempt., xlix. (1841), 211. Which giveth the fixation to a colour and setteth it in the cloth.
1683. Dr. Fitzwilliam, Let., in Lady Russell’s Lett. (1773), 9. When your thoughts have been saddened to a great degree by a long fixation on the doleful object, I suppose, that they pass into black and dismal ones of questioning God’s providence and a future state.
1831. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), II. 301. As yet it [the Fable of Reynard the Fox] had attained no fixation or consistency.
1894. Westm. Gaz., 17 Jan., 7/2. The first of a course of lectures on locomotion and fixation in plants and animals.
c. A fixed habitation or location (obs.); a fixed proportion or standard.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, I. 8. This Light formerly dispersed, was in the same fourth day united, and set in the Firmament of Heaven: for, to Light created in the first day God gave no proper place or fixation.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies Suffolk, III. (1662), 68. He died a very aged man Anno 1399, and was buried at York far, I confesse, from Ipswich his first fixation.
1774. Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, II. 412. No everlasting, invariable fixation for coining can be made from a medium of the market price of gold and silver.
1836. Blackw. Mag., XXXIX. Jan., 63/1. There are difficulties in the way, because the Prussian tariff pretends to proceed upon an ad valorem fixation, but is in practice reduced to a poundage, upon some ill explained arbitrary reduction of pounds sterling values into pounds or hundred weights of taxable material.
2. esp. in scientific uses: The action of depriving of volatility or fluidity: see FIX v. 4. † In Alchemy: The process of reducing a volatile spirit or essence to a permanent bodily form; the conversion (of mercury) into a solid by amalgamation or combination. In mod. use: The process of rendering solid a liquid or semi-liquid substance; coagulation; also, the process of causing (a gas) to combine with a solid.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 86.
| Do that there be fixation | |
| With tempred hetes of the fire. |
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., in Ashm. (1652), 58. Without him Generation shall be none; Neyther of our Tinctures fixation.
1576. Baker, Jewell of Health, 166 b. This besides serueth for fixation, in Alchimye matters.
1594. Plat, The Jewell House of Art and Nature, III. 88. For the better fixation of the Mercurie, there muste a reuerberatorie blast be made now and then with the bellowes, after the Mercurie was once warme in the melting pot.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., II. i.
| Two | |
| Of our inferior works are at fixation. |
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. i. 50. The determination of quick-silver is properly fixation.
1665. Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica, vii. 35. Salt dissolved upon fixation, returns to its affected cubes.
1759. Randolph, in B. Martin, Nat. Hist. Eng., I. Somerset, 85. It [Bath Water] is of singular Service in old Pains and Aches, where there is an Occlusion of the Pores, and a Fixation of cold phlegmatic Humours.
1805. R. Chenevix, in Phil. Trans., XCV. 104. The fixation of mercury by platina is by many regarded as visionary.
1813. J. Thomson, Lect. Inflam., 645. The stiffness of a frostbitten part may be produced by congelation, or it may be owing merely to the fixation by cold, of the oil contained in the cellular membrane.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem., ii. (1814), 57. Combustion in fact, in common cases, is the process of the solution of a body in oxygene, as happens when sulphur or charcoal is burnt; or the fixation of oxygene by the combustible body in a solid form, which takes place when most metals are burnt, or when phosphorus inflames; or the production of a fluid from both bodies, as when hydrogene and oxygene unite to form water.
1872. Oliver, Elem. Bot., I. ii. 18. This fixation of the carbon and liberation of the oxygen of carbonic acid has been termed vegetable respiration; but as the conditions which obtain are the reverse of those characteristic of animal respiration, it may be more correctly spoken of as a part of the processs of vegetable assimilation.
† b. The quality or condition of being non-volatile or able to resist the action of fire. Obs.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 328. Gold hath these Natures: Greatnesse of Weight; Closenesse of Parts; Fixation; Pliantnesse, or Softnesse; Immunity from Rust; Colour or Tincture of Yellow.
a. 1691. Boyle, Wks., IV. 307. Means of giving or adding fixation to a body, that was before either volatile, or less fixed.
1721. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Dispens., II. Introd. 74. Fixation … where the Surfaces of the Particles of Bodies are so small … that they cannot be raised by the Force of Fire.
† c. concr. A product of fixation. Obs.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 114. Mercurius Precipitatus Diaphoreticus, which is a fixation or Precipitate.
