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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.

Commit, v. Also: committ, -yt, -et. [ME. committe (Chaucer), -yt(te, etc., L. committere. The p.p. without -it is occasionally used.]

1. tr. To give in charge or trust; to entrust or consign (to a person, etc.). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1644.
Thai Entered in schippis, … And thaim committed to the se c1450-2 Howlat 738.
We … all committis to thé Saull and lyf, ladye a1500 Seven S. 17.
The emprioure … tuke study … Quhom to he suld the chyld commyt 1513 Doug. ii. v. 83.
In thi keping committis Troy … Hir kyndly goddis a1540 Freiris Berw. 98.
We mon byd still, And ws commit alhaill into ȝour will 1551 Hamilton Cat. 6.
To teche the christin pepil committit to our cure the begynning … of our christin doctrine 1562-3 Winȝet II. 63/28.
To saue thai thingis geuin and committit to thame be the haly Fatheris a1578 Pitsc. I. 33/24.
It was wnsickir to comit his lyfe and honoure in the binding wp [of] bandis witht the Earle of Douglas a1585 Maitl. Q. lxii. 77.
The air of Buchane quhom he did commit To thy keping 1615 Dundee B. Laws 346.
In case he be funden to hawe … away put any of his m[aiste]ris guds committit to his charge

b. To consign (to custody). 1574 Acts IIII. 87/1.
That all personis … declarit … to be vagaboundis … be committit in ward in the commoun presoun 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 50.
So the principallis of thame [were] committit to ward in the castell of Edinburgh

c. To put to use, dispose of. 1622-6 Bisset II. 254/2.
Gif any servand … borrowes silver and committis the samin to his maisteris proffett

2. To entrust or delegate (authority, etc.). c1420 Wynt. vii. 2655.
Hys powere he commyttyd then Til twa comendyt famows men 1456 Hay I. 70/13.
Of sik men the jurisdiccioun is … nocht commyttit of the hiest juge Ib. 295/32.
God has commyttit the defens of the kirk in thair handis 1492 Acta Conc. 240/1.
To be decidit be thaim to quham the hale power of parliament salbe committ 1513 Doug. x. ii. 20.
Gyf we … till ane bab commyt the batellis charge 1533 Bell. Livy I. 60/31.
The two jugis (to quham the caus was committit) 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 68.
Giffand, grantand, and committand to the said Sir Thomas Irwyng our full powar … to … lift and rais the malis … of our said tenement 1555 Glenartney MS. Doc.
The quhilk to do we commyt to ȝow coniunctlie and seueralie our full power

3. To appoint to a post or duty. 1549 Compl. 98/2.
Their vas … tua consulis … quha var committit to be cheiffis … of the armye of the Romanis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. .
Ane regent salbe committit to se that thay be dewly exercist

4. To do, act, or perform. 1456 Hay I. 248/16.
He has commyttit dedely syn c1450 Cr. Deyng 63.
The trespas that Adam and Eue commytyt in Paradice 1451 Maxwell Mem. I. 168.
All pain and offens ȝe may inrin and commyt again oure Maieste 1488 Crim. Trials I. 8.
That Johne Lord Bothuile has committ and done tressoune 1494 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 68.
The … mony barganis and tulyeis that hes bene committit … into this toune 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 242/1.
Passing away with the blude of the samyn slauchter committit on sodanete 1533 Bell. Livy I. 125/21.
Thocht I haue assolȝeit me fra consent of the tresoun committit aganis my husband 1546 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 228.
Becaus the bluid wes recently committit within ane priuilegit towne 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 157.
[He] allegis adultery committit be the said Barbara a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxi. 56.
The kirkmen keipis na professioun; The temporale men committis oppressioun 1596 Dalr. II. 240/1.
He gart anul the deides quhilkes in Roan he commetted had 1610 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 316.
The manifald trublancis, wrangis and bludis quilkis … ar committit be notorious tulyeouris 1649 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 96.
The great abuse that is committit be sindrie inhabitants of the toun