Obs. Also 6 condyte. [f. L. condīt- ppl. stem of condīre: see CONDITE a.1]
1. trans. To preserve with salt, sugar, spices, or the like: to pickle.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 449. Nowe thai condite her must egestion That wol with gipse her wynes medicyne.
1551. Turner, Herbal, I. L j b. Sum vse to condyte this herbe with dittany to eate it.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. x. 18. The roote condited or preserved with hony. Ibid., VI. lxiii. 738. Olives condited in salt or brine.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XV. xcix. 391. And with that sweet Compound condites such Gallimawfries.
1657. W. Coles, Adam in Eden, lxxix. Eating some of the root of Enula condited.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Sallet, Eaten raw or condited.
2. To embalm. Also fig.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., III. 173. The Disciples having devoutly composed his body to buriall … washed it and condited it with spices and perfumes. Ibid. (1651), Holy Dying, v. § 8 (1727), 253. With great art did condite the bodies, and laid them in charnel-houses.
1659. R. H., Paradox. Assertions, 44 (T.). A good name is a precious ointment which will condite our bodies best, and preserve our memories.
3. To season, flavor.
1657. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 11. Strong meat, and very well Condited.
1679. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), II. 146. I dined … at the Portugal Ambassador’s … the dishes were trifling, hashed and condited after their way.
b. fig.
c. 1630. Jackson, Creed, V. xxiii. Wks. IV. 207. That point of truth, wherewith the Romanist seeks to condite or sweeten the poisonous fruit of his idolatrous … speculations.
1670. Sanderson, Pref. Ussher’s Power Princes. Writings … condited to the gust and palate of the Publisher.
Hence † Condited ppl. a. preserved, pickled; † Conditing vbl. sb., preserving, pickling.
1626. H. Mason, Epicure’s Fast, ii. 9. Electuaries and condited things. Ibid., ii. 13. Preserued stuffe, and condited juncates.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, ii. § 3 (1727), 81. Condited or pickled mushromes. Ibid. (1678), Serm., 106. Enjoy … the condited Bellies of the Scarus.
1681. Grew, Musæum, I. 2. Much after the same manner, as the Sugar doth, in the conditing of Pears, Quinces, and the like.
