plethoryn.adj.

Brit.

/ˈplɛθ(ə)ri/, U.S.

/ˈplɛθəri/

Forms:

α. late Middle English plectorie, late Middle English plectory.

β. 1600s plethorie, 1600s pletory, 1600s– plethory.

Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Probably also partly a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymons: Latin plectoria ; plethora n.

Etymology: In α. forms < post-classical Latin plectoria (1363 in Chauliac), alteration (with change of suffix; compare -y suffix³) of plethora plethora n. (see also the etymological note at that entry). Compare Middle French plectorie (15th cent. in a translation of Chauliac). In β. forms probably re-formed independently as an alteration of plethora n. after -y suffix³.

A. n.

1. Medicine. = plethora n. 1. Now archaic.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disorders of blood > [noun] > excess of blood

plethory?a1425

plenitude1533

plethora?1541

plethorinessc1700

plerosis1811

polyaemia1846

pantoplethora1857

polyhaemia1876

?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 31 If þer were plectorie [?c1425 Paris if he be plectorik, i. fulle; L. si plectoria adesset], he myȝt loueably opne þe veyne.

1661 T. Whitaker Elenchus of Opinions Cure of Small Pox 37 Where there is magnitude and violence of disease conjunct with plethory of bloud and consisting age.

1692 W. Salmon Medicina Practica i. xviii. 111/1 That there is no Plethory in a Cachexia is certain.

1715 P. Kennedy Ess. External Remedies 109 The Cause seems to be from a fulnes, Plethory, or too great quantity of the Blood, or Fluids, either from too much Nourishment, or from an Obstruction of some particular Glands.

1757 E. Perronet Mitre (new ed.) iv. lxxv. 234 That some should burst a Plethory, While others scarce have Bread?

1767 W. Harte Amaranth 7 Fat unctuous juices gorg'd the rank-fed root; And plethories of sap produc'd no fruit.

1823 C. Lamb Artific. Comedy in Elia 322 What was it to you if..the thin thing..was persuaded it was dying of a plethory?

1869 Appletons' Jrnl. 11 Sept. 104/1 The hippopotamus taught men the medicinal value of bleeding, being accustomed, when affected by plethory, to bleed itself with a thorn.

1991 P. O'Brian Nutmeg of Consol. (1993) viii. 230 You are at present suffering from a plethory, a common plethory.

†2. Dangerous or unhealthy excess (often of something); an instance of this; = plethora n. 2. Obsolete.Originally often a use of sense A. 1 in figurative context.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [noun] > superabundance

flood1340

overabundancea1382

abundancec1384

excessa1387

superfluitya1387

surcarka1400

superabundance?a1475

superfluencea1477

abundancy?1526

superfluousnessa1540

pleurisya1550

inundation1589

exsuperance1603

plethory1606

overplus1609

exuberancy1611

redoundancy1623

superabundancy1628

exsuperancy1638

exuberance1638

floodings1674

plethora1700

embarrassment1815

profligacy1834

overfullness1884

1606 Bp. J. Hall Heauen vpon Earth xiii. 93 Perhaps thou labourest of some plethorie of pride.

1626 Bp. J. Hall Serm. Publike Thanksgiuing 47 Hee saw that in this common Plethorie it was fit for vs to bleed.

a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) ii. x. 228 A Plethory or excess of Numbers of Men, sometimes..cause Wars.

1767 W. Harte Amaranth 90 Knowing too much, makes many a muse unfit; 'Tis not the bloom, but plethory of wit.

1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1778 II. 207 Johnson: It is..owing to a plethory of matter that his style is so faulty.

1796 E. Burke Two Lett. Peace Regicide Directory France i. 14 If we look to nothing but our domestick condition, the state of the nation is full even to plethory.

1835 J. S. Henslow Princ. Bot. ii. iii. 206 Less sap is exhaled..and the tree attains a state of plethory.

1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 53 522 The king [sc. Louis XVI] whose plethory was cured by that sharp remedy.

1886 Daily Gaz. & Bull. (Williamsport, Pa.) 23 Aug. 1/1 The plethory of unemployed money..has created a large demand for these mortgages.

†B. adj.

= plethoric adj. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disorders of blood > [adjective] > excess of blood

plethorica1398

plethorical1603

plethorya1643

plethoretic1725

plethoretical1882

plethorous1906

a1643 J. Shute Judgem. & Mercy (1645) 29 To have a pletory fulnesse of Crude, and raw humours in his Stomach.

1680 Don Tomazo 161 Item for Gaming, that bane of Plethorie Pockets, were brought to sing Lachrymæ over the last penny.

Derivatives

† plethoriness n. Obsolete rare plethoric condition or degree.

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