Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Betaken, Betakin, v. Also: betakine, -yne, betaiken, -in. [Northern ME. bi-, betaken (midl. and southern betoken), early ME. betacnien, OE. *betácnian. See Taken v.] tr. To signify, mean, denote; to portend. Also Betaknyng vbl. n. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 230, 232.
Iohnis birth … Betaknis oure humylite, & Cristis … Be-taknis we sal cum to licht Ib. xl. 1269.
The betaknyng Of al-lestand dampnynge c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2859.
Wlixes … socht besely Quhat that his dreme betakin micht c1420 Wynt. i. 1010.
Syne is a land cald Albany, That qwhyt betakynnys propirly 1456 Hay I. 15/11.
Ȝe mon understand quhat the sevin angelis betakenis Ib. II. 45/7.
The scharp … poynt of the spere hede betakenis that [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 128.
This gentill iasp … Betakinnis perfite prudence and cunning c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 89.
B, in thi name, betaknis batalrus 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 16.
Quhat thai betakyn, and quhat thai signyfy Ib. viii. 21.
Hyades betakynnand rayn 1560 Rolland Seven S. 67/11.
This michtie bair betakinnis ȝour persoun a1585 Polwart Flyt. 622.
Betaikning baith babling and baldnesse of age