v. Pa. pple. transmuted, also 5–6 transmute. [ad. L. transmūtā-re, f. TRANS- + mūtāre to change.
(Occurs first as variant in MSS. of Chaucer’s works.)]
1. trans. To alter or change in nature, properties, appearance, or form; to transform, convert, turn.
14[?]. Chaucer’s Troylus, IV. 439 (467) (MS. Gg. 4. 27). Þu muste me fyrst transmute [v.r. transmuwen] in to a ston.
[14[?]. Chaucer’s Clerk’s T., 329 (Lansd. MS.). Vnneþ þe peple hire knewe for hire faireness Whan sche transemute was in suche rechesse.]
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clix. 149. The Emperour hauyng compassion of the forenamyd Barnarde,… transmutyd the sentence of deth vnto perpetuyte of pryson, & losynge of his syght.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 20. Ye lyuer: in whome the iuyce of meat, before of colour white, is transmutyd into red.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, D d iv. When Io was transmute of Ioue into an Hefars forme.
1660. Sharrock, Vegetables, 29. The colour only or some other easily alterable accidents … are transmuted.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sc. (1879), I. x. 310. To transmute its energy … into vibratory motion.
1890. Century Mag., May, 48/2. The tendency of black plumage to become transmuted into white is a familiar … fact in breeding.
b. Alch. To change (one substance) into another, esp. a baser metal into gold or silver. Hence allusively. Also absol.
1610. Donne, Pseudo-Martyr, 94. By a new Alchimy, they doe not onely extract spirit out of euery thing, but transmute it all into spirit.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Worc., III. (1662), 173. He is said to have transmuted a brass warning-pan (… onely warming it by the fire, and putting the Elixir thereon) into pure silver.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 51, ¶ 11. Some alchymists have obstinately suppressed the art of transmuting metals.
1818. Mrs. Shelley, Frankenst. ii. (1865), 5. Metals cannot be transmuted.
1870. M. D. Conway, Earthw. Pilgr., i. 29. You will find the pavements golden only when you can transmute them to gold.
† c. intr. for pass. To undergo transmutation; to change or turn into something else. Obs. rare–1.
1675. G. R., trans. Le Grand’s Man without Passion, 139. His Strength transmutes into Temerity.
† 2. trans. To remove from one place to another; to transport. [So late L. transmūtāre.] Obs. rare.
a. 1700. Life & Death Ld. Shaftsbury, in Harl. Misc. (1810), V. 372. His malady … that might transmute his soul into that endless happiness, which he had been so long labouring for.
1817. Mar. Edgeworth, Ormond, xxx. I was transmuted to Dublin, to be … lodged in Kilmainham.
Hence Transmuting vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 155. Though we take the word of transuming for changing, turning, transmuting, or transelementing,… yet meane they not chaunge of one substance into another.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., I. 45. The earth … by her inwarde heate and transmuting nature … will conuert [etc.].
1846. Trench, Mirac., i. (1862), 99. An ennobling of the common, and a transmuting of the mean.
1864. Musgrave, Ten Days in Fr. Parsonage, II. v. 150. Efforts … made to employ public education of the poor as a transmuting power.
