[ad. med.L. ūstulātiōn-, ūstulātio, noun of action f. L. ūstulāre to burn.]
1. The action of burning or fact of being burnt; spec. in later use, torrification, roasting.
1658. trans. Porta’s Nat. Magic, X. xii. 267. To extract Oyl by Descent … is common and vulgar to all; for it is done by Ustulation.
1667. Sprat, Hist. R. Soc., 296. The ustulation or affriction between the Nave and the Axel-tree.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., Ustulation,… the roasting or torrefying of humid or moist substances over a gentle fire, so as to render them fit for powdering.
1780. J. T. Dillon, Trav. Spain (1781), 262. Melting and ustulation of the mercurial ores.
1811. Self Instructor, 534. Blacking lies in the iron, and particularly in its ustulation.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 820. The combustion must be so conducted as … to prolong the ustulation, and let the whole mass be equally penetrated with heat.
† 2. fig. = USTION 3. Obs. rare.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Ductor, III. iv. rule 20 § 13. A state of cœlibate exposes us to a perpetual ustulation. Ibid., § 16. It is not certain that they took the better part when they chose ustulation before marriage.
