Also 4–5 -acion, 5 -lym-, -acioun, -acyon. [a. F. sublimation (from 14th c.), or ad. late L. sublīmātio, -ōnem, n. of action f. sublīmāre to SUBLIME. Cf. It. sublimazione, Sp. sublimacion, Pg. sublimação.]
1. The chemical action or process of subliming or converting a solid substance by means of heat into vapor, which resolidifies on cooling.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 86. He mot … kepe in his entencion The point of sublimacion.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 351. This is þe maner of sublimacioun, loke þou haue a strong vessel maad of glas þat it mowe dure in þe fier [etc.].
1460–70. Bk. Quinte Essence, 4. Þe quint essencia þerof is naturaly incorruptible þe which ȝe schal drawe out by sublymacioun.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., III. 89. Distillations, calcinations, and sublimations.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. vii. 28. The common armoniac … in the forme of most white and salt meale, may be carried up into the cloudes by sublimation.
1657. Physical Dict., Sublimation, is a chymical operation, when the elevated matter in distillation, being carried to the highest part of the helm, and finding no passage forth, sticks to the sides thereof.
1719. Quincy, Phys. Dict. (1722), 414. The Sublimation of Camphire, Benzoin, and Arsenick.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 302. Sublimation is to dry matters, what distillation is to humid ones.
1867. Bloxam, Chem., 114. These crystals are moderately heated in an iron pan to deprive them of tar, and are finally purified by sublimation.
1880. Story-Maskelyne, in Nature, XXI. 204. It is possible … that the condition for its [viz. carbon’s] sublimation in the form of crystals … is one involving a combination of high temperature and high pressure.
attrib. 1896. Jrnl. Chem. Soc., LXX. II. 635. Sublimation Temperatures in the Cathode-Light Vacuum. Ibid., 636. The sublimation tension of iodine at various temperatures.
b. Geol. Applied to a (supposed) analogous process by which minerals are thrown up in a state of vapor from the interior of the earth and deposited nearer its surface.
1829. Phil. Mag., March, 174. The conjecture, that galena in these veins has been in some instances supplied by sublimation from below.
1879. Encycl. Brit., X. 260/2.
attrib. 1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss., Sublimation-theory, the theory that a vein was filled first with metallic vapors.
1894. Foster, Ore & Stone Mining, 17. One great objection to the universal acceptance of the sublimation theory is that many of the minerals found in lodes would be decomposed at high temperatures.
1902. Webster, Suppl., Sublimation vein,… a vein formed by condensation of material from the condition of vapor.
c. (The condition of) being in the form of vapor as the result of sublimation.
1808. Med. Jrnl., XIX. 12. Lead … taken in a state of sublimation into the lungs.
1856. Page, Adv. Text-bk. Geol., xvi. 304. Products which issue in a state of sublimation from the craters of active volcanoes.
2. A solid substance deposited as the result of the cooling of vapor arising from sublimation or a similar process.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. iv. 82. A fat and unctuous sublimation in the earth concreted and fixed by salt and nitrous spirits.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., XIII. xxxvi. From pretious Limbeck sacred Loves distill Such Sublimations, as do fill Mindes with amazed Raptures of their Chimick Skill.
1867. J. Hogg, Microsc., I. iii. 214. Dr. Guy brought under the notice of microscopists a plan for preserving metallic sublimations.
1869. Phillips, Vesuv., v. 152. Fenic chloride (muriate of iron) is found among the sublimations of Vesuvius.
1892. Daily News, 3 Sept., 6/5. A magnificent lava-grotto all coated with beautiful sulphuric sublimations.
† 3. = SUBLATION 1. Obs.
1547. Recorde, Urinal Phys. (1651), 16. If it [sc. sediment] be so light, that it swim in the middle region of the urine, then is it called the sublimation or swim.
1625. Hart, Anat. Ur., I. iii. 34. The urine in this disease was … variable and inconstant in the swimme and sublimation.
† 4. Elevation to high rank. Obs.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 234. A hertelie ioy … þat he tuke when he hard tell or þe sublimacion of his fadur.
5. Elevation to a higher state or plane of existence; transmutation into something higher, purer or more sublime.
1615. Jackson, Creed, IV. III. viii. § 5. By the assistance of that grace whose infusion alone must worke the sublimation.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., VII. iv. (1821), 334. That perfection of which they speak … was nothing else but a mere sublimation of their own natural powers and principles.
1764. Reid, Inquiry, vii. 206. The new system by a kind of metaphysical sublimation converted all the qualities of matter into sensations.
1824. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 387. Every individual of my associates will look … to the sublimation of its [the University’s] character.
1866. F. Harper, Peace through Truth, 299. This supernatural sublimation of man’s nature.
b. An elated or ecstatic state of mind.
1816. T. L. Peacock, Headlong Hall, v. That enthusiastic sublimation which is the source of greatness and energy.
1884. E. L. Bynner, in Harper’s Mag., LXIX. 469/1. The world has long sought an antidote to seasickness…. It is sublimation.
1891. T. Hardy, Tess, xliii. Tess’s unassisted power of dreaming … being enough for her sublimation at present, she declined except the merest sip.
6. The result of such elevation or transmutation; the purest or most concentrated product (of); the highest stage or point (of); a height (of).
1691. d’Emiliane’s Frauds Rom. Monks (ed. 3), 287. That they may authorize their neat Thoughts and high Sublimations of Wit.
a. 1693. South, Serm. (1727), II. 199. It is (as it were) the very Quintessence and Sublimation of Vice, by er, which (as in the Spirit of Liquors) the Malignity of many Actions is contracted into a little Compass.
1828. De Quincey, Rhet., Wks. 1862, X. 39. The last sublimation of dialectical subtlety.
1831. D. E. Williams, Life Sir T. Lawrence, II. 37. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, must be the sublimation aspired to.
1856. Miss Mulock, J. Halifax, xi. His demeanour … was the sublimation of all manly courtesy.
1863. Miss Braddon, Eleanor’s Vict., xxiv. A woman’s love is the sublimation of … selfishness.
1874. Hardy, Far fr. Madding Crowd, xl. That acme and sublimation of all dismal sounds, the bark of a fox.
