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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.

Convalesce, -vales, v. Also: conwalesce, -valesche, -walesche; -vallesse, -vallas, -wales(e; -veles, -welles(se; -voles. [ME. convalesshe (Caxton only), L. convalēscere. Not in ordinary Eng. before the 19th c.]

1. intr. To become strong, acquire or regain strength. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 261.
Best was … to ceis fra battall, quhill thair pissance war convalescit Ib. II. 206.
At the spring of the yeir, quhen every thing, be natural influence, convalescis 1535 Stewart 35091.
The Inglismen … of the Danis war in sic dreid, Seand thair power convales, and stoir, Ilk da be da the langar ay the moir ? 1615 Lett. & State P. James VI 259.
The same [ordour of redemptioun] will niwer conwalese agane

2. To recover from sickness; to regain health.(a) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 46.
To use sic remedyis, as thay usit quhen thay convalescit of thair maledis 1535 Stewart 44340 + 3.
Off King Williames seiknes in Ingland, … and how King Williame convalescit and come quietlie in Scotland 1562 Will A. Betoun 226.
Reservand to hir, gife sche convalescis, reformatioune att hir plesor of this hir letter will 1575 Rep. Hist. MSS., Var. Coll. V. 101.
Sen scho conwalescit owt of the sammyn [sickness] 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 77.
Gif ony of thame convalescis or becumis haill, thay to be removit 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI. 499.
They … gaif hir occasioun … to have tane sic displeasour quhairof scho mycht nevir haif convalescheit a1650 Row 431.
Now in the tyme of his sicknes, he haveing convalesced a litle [etc.](b) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 62.
This drink sall mak thé convales, and be deliverit of al dolorus infirmite Id. Livy II. 148/34.
Eftir the seik man … begynnis to convales, this wikkit medicinare gevis him delicious metis 1535 Stewart 49513.
Syne efterwart quhen he did convales Of his swowning 1549 Compl. 1/9.
Ane immortal … medicyne to cure and to gar conuallesse al the langorius desolat & affligit pepil 1564 Crim. Trials I. 441.
Of the quhilkis straikis he neuer convalessit, bot within ten dayis thaireftir deceisit thairof 1576 Edinb. Test. V. 13.
Befoir I convales & mend of this my present infirmitie 1597 Ib. XXX. 121.
Gif it sal happin tham to convales of this present deceise 1610 Carnegie Lett. & Chart. 343.
Few or nain did ewer conuales that wes visit after that fason 1640 Edinb. Test. LIX. 191.
If at the pleasour of God it sall happin her to convallas to health(c) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 119.
Giv his graice had convelessit c1590 J. Stewart 74/32.
Scho … moir and moir ingrawed the fyrie dart As he in bewtie moir did conueles

b. In past part. with am, was, etc.(a, b) 1533 Bell. Livy I. 192/18.
This Latyne … was sa suddanlie convalescit & restorit to his hele 1551 Treas. Acc. X. 29.
To be ane patycoit to my Lady … efter sche was convalescit furtht of hir seiknes 1588 Waus Corr. II. 427.
I am diseasit … with ane fiver, and am nocht convalessit as yit 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix. 422.
I recouered my health, and … being better conualessed, I recoursed backe in a Flemish pink 1676 Row Blair 438.
News came that he was convalesced, but had been poisoned(c) 1571 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 654/2.
I hawe beyne wery … seik … with ane sair leg, quhairof am nocht throichlie conwelleseit as yett a1578 Pitsc. II. 1191/14.
The Quenis grace raid to Glascow to visie the king, and remanit thair quhill he was sum thing conwellessit(d) 1569 Waus Corr. I. 63.
I persaue ye haue bin euil at eise, … bot I am glaid that ye ar sumthing conuolessit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9598.
Gif he be of seiknes conuolest, Quhill I returne I sall tak lytill rest 1662 Stirlings of Keir 497.
When yea ar convolesed that you doe wentor to travell