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.

Commentar(e, -air, n. Also: comentare. [F. commentaire, L. commentārium. Cf. e.m.E. co(m)mentarie (1531).]

1. pl. Memoranda; memoirs. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 72/27.
This nobil prince was reding the commentaris of Numa Pompilius 1622-6 Bisset II. 293/12.
Ane learned Spanȝarde weill red in the commendataris [sic] of Cecer

2. A commentary, exposition. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 57/12.
The commoun practik … to mak of obscuir mirknes a commentare to the cleir licht 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 9.
Thys classe sal reid … the reulis of grammar … without commentair 1574 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 322.
Sick as … are able to interpret the comentares wrytin in the same language 1596 Dalr. I. 282/17.
That notable wark sett out with the commentaris of … Hew of S. Victor 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. v. 6.
The Lord hes supplied the generality of his law as the text, by his remanent word as the commentar 1639 Bk. Carlaverock II. 113.
To haue putt such a commentar upon what was in hand … was a bad recompance for my goodwill 1641 Baillie Parall. Liturgy 77.
All the commentars and deductions that they have made upon it