The Anatomy of Melancholy

In this edition. “contingence of all things” → “contingency of all things” (DJR-162-14). Contingency modernizes the noun while preserving the conceptual claim attributed to Burton’s opponents.

See also. Cause.

Conversation

Source forms: conversation; converse

The word. Conversation can mean conduct or manner of life. Converse can mean associate or have dealings with someone, a broader activity than speaking alone.

In Burton. Burton warns that people repeat the ruin caused by others’ bad conversation: their conduct, not merely their talk. In the discussion of spirits, familiar converse with humans is an alleged habitual association that includes being seen and heard. The object and accompanying actions establish the breadth of each sense.

The places. Bad conduct provides an example others fail to heed. (p. 25; DJR-008-18.) Spirits are said to associate familiarly with people. (p. 41; DJR-028-47.)

In this edition. “bad conversation” → “bad conduct” (DJR-008-18); “familiarly converse with men” → “associate familiarly with human beings” (DJR-028-47). Conduct and associate prevent the passages from being narrowed to conversation in its usual modern sense.

See also. Entertain; Carriage; Confer and conference; Custom and education; Complement; Gossip.

Cordial

Source forms: cordial

The word. Cordial describes a remedy or substance thought to strengthen or cheer the heart. Its force here is medicinal rather than socially friendly.

In Burton. Burton reports that jewels and precious stones calm the emotions, then calls small pearls very cordial and explains their effect as exhilaration of the heart. The neighbouring phrase supplies the sense directly: the heart is the proposed seat and beneficiary of the action.

The places. Pearls are credited with strengthening and cheering the heart. (p. 371; DJR-100-35.)

In this edition. “very cordial” → “very strengthening to the heart” (DJR-100-35). The expanded phrase gives the intended medicinal action rather than leaving cordial open to its modern social meaning.

See also. Alteratives; Aqua vitae; Virtue; Comfortable.

Corrected medicines

Source forms: corrected

The word. A corrected medicine is one prepared or combined so as to counteract properties considered harmful. Correction names an operation of medical art.

In Burton. Burton distinguishes medicines that help one person but harm another from substances harmful in themselves that become beneficial when corrected. He uses this distinction to explain why skilled physicians must manage remedies according to rules and particular purposes. The word concerns preparation of the medicine, not correction of a written prescription.

The places. Medical preparation is said to alter harmful properties. (p. 230; DJR-070-03.)

In this edition. “corrected by art” → “properly prepared” (DJR-070-03). Properly prepared supplies the pharmaceutical sense. The surrounding sentence retains Burton’s claim about the resulting benefit.

See also. Alteratives.

Corrosive

Source forms: corsives; corrosive

The word. A corrosive is something that eats away. Burton transfers the physical action to persistent trouble or mental pain; corsives is a shortened form.

In Burton. Households have corsives just as commonwealths do, extending the bodily analogy across forms of social life. In the account of injury, continual brooding turns the hurt into a perpetual corrosive. The image emphasizes distress that continues to consume the sufferer rather than a single passing blow.

The places. Household troubles are compared with those of political communities. (p. 68; DJR-017-19.) Dwelling on an injury makes it a persistent corrosive. (p. 150; DJR-051-41.)

In this edition. “corsives” → “corrosive troubles” (DJR-017-19); “perpetual corrosive” → “perpetual corrosive” (DJR-051-41). Corrosive troubles explains the abbreviated plural, while the later metaphor remains intact.

See also. Jealousy.

Costiveness

Source forms: costiveness; costivenesse