Also 4 -cion, 7 evaperation. [a. Fr. évaporation, ad. L. ēvapōrātiōn-em, n. of action f. ēvapōrā-re: see EVAPORATE v.]
1. The action or process of conversion into vapor; the action of passing off in vapor; an instance of this.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. vii. (1495), 556. Quycke syluer passyth out by evaporacion in sethyng and in smokynge.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countrey Farme, 482. The oyle also [is] kept the better from euaporation.
1799. Kirwan, Geol. Ess., 48. The great evaporation that took place soon after the creation, as soon as the solids began to crystallize.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xxi. § 1 (1819), 330. By evaporation, water is carried up into the air.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem., ii. (1814), 37. Cold is produced during evaporation.
1871. B. Stewart, Heat, § 110. Evaporation, where a liquid is converted into a gas quietly, and without the formation of bubbles.
b. fig.
1824. Byron, Juan, XVI. ix. The evaporation of a joyous day Is like the last glass of champagne.
1852. Gladstone, Glean., IV. xliii. 174. It cannot be imposed upon the agent by a third party without the instant evaporation of all its savour.
2. The action or process of driving off the liquid part of a substance in the form of vapor, by means of heat; an instance of the same.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 32/2. The Solution … would part with its Salts but very sparingly, without Evaporation.
1838. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 652. These alternate filtrations and evaporations.
1845. Budd, Dis. Liver, 23. When obtained by evaporation from alcohol [Bilin] reddens litmus paper.
1854. Ronalds & Richardson, Chem. Technol. (ed. 2), I. 277. The most simple method of evaporation … is to place the liquid in a pan or vessel immediately over a fire.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 945 s.v. Sugar, The next process in sugar-refining is the evaporation of the clarified syrup to the granulating or crystallising point.
3. The action or process a. of exhaling moisture; † b. of emitting (breath, fire, etc.); † c. of perspiring insensibly. Also fig.
a. 1551. Turner, Herbal, I. O iij b. If it [Daucus] be layde wythout it wyll greatly dryue furth by euaporation.
1669. Boyle, Contn. New Exp., I. (1682), 184. The great Evaporation I have observed even in Winter, of Fruits.
1807. J. E. Smith, Phys. Bot., 186. The use of a tin box … for the purpose of restraining the evaporation of plants.
1887. H. M. Ward, trans. Sachs’ Physiol. Plants, III. xxv. 227. Evaporation takes place through the leaves.
b. 1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. II. 333. Euen in the sea are seen euaporations of fire.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 124. The best way … is to let the good men chide a while hartily together … so necessarie are these evaporations to the minds of the multitude.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xxi. 161. The fuligenous exhalations wanting evaporation recoyle upon the flame and choake it.
1754. Johnson, Adventurer, No. 137, ¶ 4. To reckon the hours laid out in these compositions as … suffered to fume away in useless evaporations.
c. 1626. Bacon, Sylva (1631), § 968. So in Pestilent feuers, the Intention is to expell the Infection by Sweat and Euapouration.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Evaporation … In Physick, a discharging of Humours through the Pores of the Body.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
4. concr. The product of the evaporating process; exhalation, fumes; the amount evaporated.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 35 b. Pollio prolonged his lyfe certayne dayes with the evaporation of honye.
1605. Timme, Quersit., III. 151. Such heates … doe proceed out of the spirits only, either niterous or sulphurus, lifted up into euaporations.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 57. The best Glasses … would not represent to me, the evaporations of Camphire.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, III. 125 (J.). These Evaporations are at some times greater, according to the greater heat of the Sun.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 246. The nocturnal emanations of leaves, and continual evaporations of flowers and of fruits, do not diminish in quality in winter, they only diminish in quantity.
1856. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., vii. (1858), 290. The lake, with the … mist of its own evaporations floating over its surface.
fig. 1606. Proc. agst. Traitors, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), III. 20. This letter should prove to be nothing but the evaporation of an idle brain.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. iv. § 5. The vain evaporations of his discontentment.
† 5. Medical treatment by means of vapor; concr. vapor, a vapor-bath. Obs.
[1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, F v. Euaporatio is when the diseased membre is holden in ye hote vapour of some decoctyon.]
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 424. Good it is to apply spunges to those accidents and infirmities of the body which require euaperation.
1610. Barrough, Meth. Physick, III. lxii. (1639), 198. If the evill be waxed old, you must use suffumigations, and evaporations made of aromatick things.
6. attrib., as evaporation-gage.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., Evaporation-gage, a graduated glass measure … to determine the ratio of evaporation in a given exposure.
