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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Assailȝe, v. Also: assailȝhe, assail(l)ȝie, assayleyhe; assalȝe, -ȝie, -eȝe; assaillie; asselȝe, -ȝie, asseilȝe. [The normal Sc. adoption of OF. asaillir with lȝ (occas. printed as ly) for ll. Cf. the rare early ME. asailȝe, usually asaile, asaille, etc.: see Assaile v.]

1. tr. = Assaile v. 1. 1375 Barb. iii. 151.
Wes nane … That durst assailȝe him mar in fycht a1400 Leg. S. xi. 194.
That rednes me Assalȝeis, quhare-for sa laucht ȝe? c1420 Wynt. ii. 34.
As he abowte a cyte lay, … Assayleyheande it wytht hys powere 1456 Hay I. 83/15.
He that assailȝeis his inymyes dois sum thing c1420 Ratis R. 1283.
Quhen subtilyte hire oucht assalȝeis 1513 Doug. ix. xiii. 32.
Troianys … Assalȝeit hym with mony schowt and cry 1549 Compl. 34/26.
Quhen auereise assailȝeis vs a1578 Pitsc. I. 216.
Hou the skipperis … refusit to assailye Captaine Wood 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 403.
That thay may be a mair easie proye … to Sathan, when he assailies thame 1610 Crim. Trials III. 100.
Ȝe … faucht, assailȝeit, buirdit, and … tuik the number of sax schipis 1674 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 225.
If any man … assailȝeis castles or places where the king's person shall happen to be

b. intr. = Assaile v. 1 b. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 936.
Thai … schupe thame til assalȝe sone 1456 Hay I. 72/15.
Quhethir is mare vertu … to assailȝe, or to byde in felde c1475 Wall. xi. 406.
The Inglismen … Assailȝeid sayr with mony cruell man 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 91.
Instantly Pyrrus assailȝeis with al his mycht a1568 Scott iii. 47.
Be soft of speiche, bot spair nocht till asselȝie 1570 Leslie 201.
Quhan it wes maid knawin … that the hoill cuntrey men wes asseilying so eirnistlie

2. tr. = Assaile v. 2. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 57.
Me thocht seir fassonis he assailȝeit, To mak the quintessance, and failȝeit 1531 Bell. Boece I. 3.
To assailye the chance of fortoun Ib. 20.
To assailye, gif ony band may be kepit with unfaithful pepill a1568 Bann. MS. 222 b/6.
Syn all the poyntis of my purpois In secreit wyis salbe asselȝeit 1570 Leslie 56.
To assailyie all uther meanes possible a1578 Pitsc. I. 5/17.
In this wark that I haue heir asseilȝeit To bring to licht