Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Commandement, -iment, n. Also: comandement, -mand, comandyment, co(m)mandment. [ME. co(m)mandement (c 1250), -mandment (c 1300), OF. co(m)mandement, f. comander Command v.]

1. Command(ment) or order.(a) 1388–9 Charter (Reg. H.).
Our lettres of consail & comandement … to the forsaid Schir Iames to gyve tha landes to borch 1424 Edinb. Chart. 213.
We graunte that our bodijs … at altyme salbe redye at ȝhour noble comandement 1437 Stirlings of Keir 214.
Williame broucht us the kyngis bref of commandement to gif the saide sesyng 1456 Hay I. 75/22.
Agaynis the commandement of the kirk Ib. 101/11.
Of his awin commandement bataill was ordanyt a1500 Rauf C. 438.
It is the Kingis commandement c1515 Asl. MS. I. 217/23.
He … schew the kingis lettrez of commandement to ask it c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 228.
Quhilkis wer … Reddie at his commandement 1545 Douglas Corr. 159.
That ȝe may heif ane comandemand to gar delayver it vith the nixte poste 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 31.
The quene being kepit in Lochlevin be comandement of the hail parliament a1578 Pitsc. I. 177/1.
All letteris and commandementis and procliematiounis was gevin … in his name(b) 1449 Acts II. 37/1.
It is ordanit that justice clerkis reueil nocht to na persone his accion … withoute commandiment of the King or the consale 15.. Clar. iv. 1715.
They com anone at his commandiment c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1082.
Thow brake my commandiment Ib. 1467.
Be the Lordis commandiment He maid prouisioun suffecient 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 9.
That commandiment … be gevin to the commissaris … to gif summondis [etc.] 1579 Acts III. 176/1.
The effect thairof was … declarit be his hienes commandiment & directioun to Johnne, now erle of Atholl 1615 Highland P. III. 228.
To await on the commandiment and directione of the commissionare(c) c1460 Wisd. Sol. 568.
He sais a man suld … be obedient to comandment 1490 Irland Mir. I. 84/17.
He brak the commandment of God etand the apill 1513 Doug. vi. iv. 2.
Sibillais commandment Ené addressis perform incontinent

b. pl. The divine commandments. 1456 Hay II. 42/15.
With all the vij sacramentis, the x commandementis, the xij articles of the treuth c1420 Ratis R. 732.
The commandmentis ten That God … gaif Moyses 1490 Irland I. 22/11.
Graunt ws … to complet … thi commandementis and ordinance in erd heire Ib. 25/18.
We aw him obediens to obey to his law and commandimentis 1575 Reg. S. Trin. 228.
The hospitularis … sall leir and haue perfitlie the ten commandimentis of God a1578 Pitsc. II. 131/17.
I … schawis thame the commandementis of God … witht the Lordis prayer and beleif

2. Authority; military command. 1558-66 Knox I. 105.
Within portes and places of commandiment, and whare that schippis mycht be arreisted c1615 Chron. Kings 114.
The first men wnder the comandyment of Mortoune 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II. 101.
I haue taken wpon mee the commandement of these men 1640-1 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 15.
Your own raigement, whilk is to come furth under the commandement of my Lord Kirkcudbryt