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

Commoun, Common, v. Also: commoune, -mown(e, comown; commone, -mond, comon. [ME. comoun, comun, comon(e, etc. (c 1300), AF. comoner, comuner, f. comun Commoun a.]

1. tr. To administer the Communion to (one). a1400 Legends of the Saints xviii. 1099.
With that relyk come thé alane, That I thare-with ma commond be a1400 Ib. 1230.
Scho … of his hand syne commonyt was

2. intr. To have dealings or intercourse with another or others. 1456 Hay I. 246/15.
Gif a Cristyn man ressauit or commonyt with the inymy of God, … he commyttit dedly syn 1456 Ib. 295/5.
Thus … was sik vengeaunce tane … on him that commounyt with thame 1489 Acts II. 215/2.
That nane of his liegis … anherd, confort, help, supple or commoun with ony of his rebellis 1538 Criminal Trials I. 294.
That nane mak mercate with Inglis menne, nor commoune nor intermell with thaim

3. To confer or commune, to hold converse or talk, with another.(a) 1416 Red Bk. Menteith I. 285.
Witt ȝhe we haue comownit witht our most excellent cosyng the Kyng of Ingillande 1493 Acts Lords Auditors 184/2.
To put him to liberte and fredome sa that he may commoune with his moder and frendis c1515 Asloan MS I. 200/5.
All Ynglis men ar, … sa proude in thar genology and antecessouris quhen thai commoun with ony vther nacionis 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 396/2.
To … repare to Edinburgh … to commoun with the said governour and do thair eirandis 1535 Stewart 25376.
Richt mony … consentit to that thing, That this Hungest suld commoun with the king 15.. Clariodus iv. 455.
Full glaid scho was … With Romaryn to commoune at laseire(b) 1416 Douglas Corr. 234.
We haue commondit with our most gracious cosynge, the excellent Kyng of Ingilland, for our deliuerans 1482 Fam. Rose 148.
Forsamekill as youre familiar squiaris … haf commonit with vs in youre naime 1498 Acts Lords of Council III. 289.
He grantit … that he had commonit and spokin with the sade Jonet 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 28.
That na maner of brokkaris nor forstallaris of woll, hydis, nor skyn, … be fund … commonand with the sellaris tharof 1531 Bell. Boece I. 63.
He began to common with the bischop and his clerkis 1564 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 285.
I commonit with our brother George at lenthe 1650 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 111.
The counsell haveing befoir this givin warrand to the provost … to common with the saidis ministeris thairanent

b. To hold talk or discourse; to talk of something.(a) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 159.
Thar commownd thai off Scotland scornfully 1484 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 50.
[To] sitt and commoun vpone the commoun proffeitt of the towne a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 121.
I keip nocht now to commoun, All beistes for to blassoun c1515 Asloan MS I. 299/21.
Of the quhilk vij dayis … I cast to commoun 1531 Bell. Boece I. 19.
Lat us commoun of peace, as nichtbouris and freindis alliat togidder 1535 Stewart 405.
To cum and commoun for gude pece and rest 1570 Leslie 187.
The Governour send ane … gentle man … to Bullen, to commowne apoun certane abst[i]nence 1622-6 Bisset I. 70/20.
To advise, commoun, and reffer agane to the nixt parliament … anent [etc.](b) 1468 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 24.
For the quhilkis we hafe passit togidder with men of law, and has commonyt vpon the saide mater 1482 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 35.
And failyeand of ony of thir persovnis, wtheris that has comonit in the said matter 1532 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. I. 3.
That na man commone nor speke of ony mater … but as he sal be requirit 1533 Boece i. vi. 45 b.
Lat ws common of pece & gude wayis 1561 Inverness B. Rec. I. 67.
Talkand and commonand quhill thai come to the chappell duyr 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 4.
The degreis collected upoun speches projected by sic as have commonit and devysed of the Quene of Scottis caus 1689 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 420.
They appoint … the proveist … to commone anent the said affaire

4. tr. To discourse or talk about, to discuss (a matter).(a) c1515 Asloan MS I. 299/23.
I cast to commoun ane litill memoriale as followis 1525 Reg. Panmure II. 299.
It is compromittit, comownit and agreit betwix [etc.] 1535 Stewart 25342.
The mater all … At lenth and laser [to] commoun and redres c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1456.
Ȝit sum thing will we commoun mair Of this ladie 1586 Waus Corr. II. 355.
Concerning sindrie heides, quhilkis I lipinit to him to haue commownit to your l. 1612 Thanes of Cawdor 224.
Your agriement … of his landis, quhilk he sayis wes nevir commowned betuix your M. & him c1650 Spalding I. 165.
Bot whidder it wes commount betuixt him and Generall Montrois, … I know not(b) 1482 Edinb. Chart. 146.
Quhair as it wes commonid and aggreit that [etc.] 1529 Lennox Mun. 231.
It is appownctwat, commonyt, and fynalye compromyttyt [etc.] 1532 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. I. 3.
That all massaris … sall reveil na thing that thai heir comonit … under the pane of deprivation and infamite 1627 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 86.
Brochtoun, being present, affirmit that so and so it wes commonit