evertuate

English

Alternative forms

• evirtuate

Etymology

From French évertuer

Verb

evertuate (third-person singular simple present evertuates, present participle evertuating, simple past and past participle evertuated)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To sap the strength of. [mid-17^th century.]

   Synonyms: enervate, weaken

   • 1644, Henry Parker, Jus Populi‎^[2], London: Robert Bostock, page 63:

     For besides that the Senate had been now long over-awed, and corrupted many wayes by the acts of the Court; we know the Tributa Comitia are also totally depraved, and evirtuated by being called out of the field into the palace […]

   • 1653, Edward Waterhouse, “A Meditation of Magnanimity under Crosses”, in Two Brief Meditations‎^[3], London: Thomas Maxey, page 43:

     Delilahs, that by the Chimistry of look and lap, evirtuate Sampsons love and strength

   • 1662, William Penn et al., The Spiritual Bee, Oxford: Edward & John Forrest, Chapter 24, p. 63,^[4]

     glorying and boasting, correcteth, evirtuateth and rendereth ineffectual all motions or endeavours of conscience from within

2. (obsolete, reflexive, intransitive) To strive (to do something, towards something). [mid-17^th century.]
   • 1642, James Howell, Instructions for Forreine Travell, London: Humphrey Mosley, Section 16, p. ,^[5]

     Moreover, one should evertuate himselfe to bring something home, that may accrue to the publique benefit and advantage of his Countrey, and not to draw water to his own Mill only;

   • 1647, Roger Corbet, Articles of Impeachment, Agreed upon by the Army under Command of His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, London: George Whiting, p. 2,^[6]

     The difficultie of kindling on both sides this uniting and evertuating ardour proceeds principally from three causes […]

   • 1676, John Evelyn, A Philosophical Discourse of Earth‎^[7], London: John Martyn, page 100:

     […] the secret we enquire after, and which does most apparently seem to evirtuate towards this end, is some Salt, I suppose is generally agreed: For Salt it is which gives ligature, weight, and constitution to things, and is the most manifest substance in all Artificial Composts.