subastringentn.adj.
/ˌsʌbəˈstrɪn(d)ʒ(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌsəbəˈstrɪndʒ(ə)nt/ Now rare.
A. n.
Esp. in herbal medicine: a plant or substance with slightly astringent properties.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > astringent or restringent preparations > [noun]
restrictorya1398
styptica1400
restrictivec1425
clammer1597
astringent1626
astrictive1657
subastringent1661
astringer1662
restringent1666
stegnotic1684
apocrustic1706
obstruent1892
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 398 The whites, or womans flux..; it's cured,..if bilious, by temperants, subastringents, succory and endive, evacuation by rhubarb [etc.].
1740 Gentleman's Mag. May 245/2 Mild Acids, Subastringents,..are excellent in Cases of this kind.
1808 T. Coke Hist. W. Indies I. 376 Both the bark and gum of this tree are gentle subastringents; but the last excels by adding a sweetness to its virtue.
1888 Pharmaceut. Rec. 8 157 Acrid purgatives, diuretics, bitter aromatics, subastringents and demulcents.
1931 M. Grieve Mod. Herbal II. 832/2 V. Lappulaceæ (burry vervain)..is a vulnerary sub-astringent, being used even for very severe bleeding wounds in men and cattle, especially in Jamaica.
2007 S. Wynn & B. Fougère Vet. Herbal Med. xxiv. 497/2 Lycopus virginicus (bugleweed) was recognised by the early Eclectics as an excellent sedative, subtonic, subnarcotic, and subastringent that had properties.
B. adj.
Esp. in herbal medicine: somewhat astringent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > astringent or restringent preparations > [adjective] > somewhat
subastringent1694
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > astringent
stypticc1400
austere?a1425
Pontic?a1425
harshc1440
styptical1528
unmild1566
stringent1605
styptive1640
restringent1683
subastringent1788
puckery1833
1694 W. Salmon Pharmacopœia Bateana i. ii. 119/2 The Spirit of Mint..is..stomatick, cephalick..and subastringent.
1722 J. Quincy Lexicon Physico-medicum (ed. 2) 40 A soft, healing, subastringent Balsamick.
1788 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 80 280 It had a slight saline, sub-astringent taste.
1835 Jrnl. Royal Asiatic Soc. 2 75 It [sc. betel] has a light-green colour and sub-astringent taste, having a degree of pungency which at first excites an increased flow of saliva, but which diminishes, by repetition, the secretions of the mouth.
1887 C. A. Moloney Sketch Forestry W. Afr. 304 The plant yields a sub-astringent gum.
1931 M. Grieve Mod. Herbal II. 549/2 The leaves are subastringent, slightly acid, and antiscorbutic.
2008 Jrnl. Supercrit. Fluids 45 232/2 Common agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria L.) is a wild growing plant possessing a bitterish, harsh, subastringent taste, which is somewhat aromatic, but unpleasant.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.adj.1661