[ad. F. symbolisation, † -ization (Rabelais), n. of action f. symboliser to SYMBOLIZE.]
1. † a. The fact of ‘symbolizing’ in nature or quality; agreement or participation in qualities.
1607. B. Barnes, Divils Charter (ed. McKerrow), 3144. Through operation, conuersation, and simbolisation, With matter in the subiect properly, With th’elements in body quadrifarie, With growing plants in vertue vegitatiue, In sence with beasts.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 64. The elements are ioined by Symbolization, the aire to the fire by warmenesse, the water to the aire by moysture, the earth to the water by coldnesse.
1658. J. Robinson, Eudoxa, 81. That common Salt … doth, by symbolization, easily turn into nitre.
a. 1693. Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. iii. 40. There would … be … no manner of Symbolization amongst the Elements.
b. The action of ‘symbolizing’ in tenets or practice; conformity (with). Now rare or Obs.
1633. Prynne, Histrio-m., 48. A degenerous, and Vnchristian symbolization with this present World.
1884. Chr. Commonw., 14 Feb., 415/2. They enfeeble [their principles] by symbolisation or adulteration with some Sub-Apostolic, or Patristic,… or other spurious form of ceremonies, of doctrines, or of ordinances.
2. The action of symbolizing; representation by a symbol or symbols; transf. something in which this is exemplified; a symbol or symbolism.
In 1st quot., the action of making or accounting symbolic.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1316. The utility and symbolization heereof [i.e., of certain animals]:… as touching the goat, the sheepe and the Ichneumon,… they honor them for the use and profit they receive by them…. The serpent Aspis … the wezill and the flie called the bettill, they reverence, because they observe in them I wot not what little slender images … of the divine power.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. xxi. 264. The Hieroglyphicall symboles of Scripture … are oft times wrackt beyond their symbolizations, and inlarg’d into constructions disparaging their true intentions.
1669. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. II. viii. 114. The ancient Persian Magi … received their first … Rites from the Zabii, which is sufficiently evident by their Symbolisation.
1827. G. S. Faber, Sacr. Cal. Prophecy (1844), I. p. xiv. Political convulsions typified (on the well-ascertained laws of symbolisation) by signs in the heavenly bodies.
1858. Sears, Athan., xvii. 146. To them the grand and beautiful in the external world are not the symbolization of spiritual qualities.
1861. J. Y. Simpson, Archæology, 62. [He] placed … on the altar … a piece of fresh turf in symbolization of his royal land-gift.
b. Representation by written symbols; transf. a set of written symbols or characters.
1842. G. S. Faber, Prov. Lett. (1844), I. 122. The Systematic Employment of miniature in Hieroglyphical Symbolisation.
1864. Ellis, in Reader, 3 Sept., 304/1. To appreciate and symbolize the sounds is far more difficult than to utter them from the symbolization.
