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.

Commove, v. Also: commowe, commoove, comove; commuf(f. [L. commovēre; also in e.m.E. (17th cent.). Cf. ME. commoeve, commeve, after OF. commoev-, commouvoir.]

1. tr. To excite (oneself or another); to move to anger, annoyance, or other strong feeling. Chiefly in passive.(a) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 7/28.
And ȝe be neclegent, … he crabbis and commovis him agane ȝou 1513 Doug. xi. xiv. 4.
The fader of Goddis and men … Inducis and commovis to the melle Tarchon Ib. xiii. vii. 53.
Prouocand & commovand the Goddis greif 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 74.
The said Henrie, … crossed my servantis geatis with sic jesting … as wold have irritate and comovit the most pacient flesch leving 1616 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 227.
Thair vniust & vncivil demands … moovit and commoovit hir greatlie c1680 Row Blair 191.
This did not a little commove them that attended the King(b) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 176/23.
Lat ws nocht mak ws to be murmurit nor be mony tungis commouit c1420 Wynt. iv. 858 (W).
Daryus … Agane Athenis commuffit [R. mowid] wes 1513 Doug. i. iii. 56.
Neptune … Gretly commovit, out of the sey gan stair Ib. vi. 94.
Dido, heirat commovit [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I. 36.
The pepill, … war sa commovit, that thay had slane Ferlegus, war nocht the king pecifyit thair ire in time 1535 Stewart 37852.
Rycht far he wes commouit at that thing 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 288.
Ane serwand … wes slane … off the quhilk my lord wes hychtly commowitt 1567 G. Ball. 85.
Quhat is the cause … That all natiounis commufit ar sa soir a1578 Pitsc. I. 15/2.
The heill nobilitie … was hichlie commoweit at the said Allexander a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 2.
The Queyne … was so heighlie commovit for the same as she tuik na repose 1614 Crim. Trials III. 326.
Whereat the Erll wes heichlie commovit, saying, ‘Robert was ane feble beast’ a1650 Row 408.
Many of the people were much commoved with his demeanour a1651 Calderwood II. 162.
They were so commoved, that they concluded to crave justice 1666-7 Blakhal Narr. 8.
I know not what you have done to M^r Forbes, but he is very much commoved against you 1722 Wodrow Corr. II. 619.
If you were commoved … by the hint given about you

2. To set in motion or agitation. 1513 Doug. vii. v. 72.
I … sall commove that depast pyt of hell 1551 Hamilton Cat. 34.
Thai salbe commovit fra the see to the see 1587-99 Hume 109.
His body [will be] commoved with heit and beitting