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

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Conventioun, Convencioun, n. Also: -wentyown, -wentio(u)n, -vention(e; -vencioune, -vencion(e, -wencion; -vensyoun, -vensieoun, -wenssion. [ME. convencion (c 1440), -cyon, e.m.E. -tion, OF. convention, L. conventio.]

1. An agreement, covenant, compact. c1420 Wynt. vi. 1767.
Gyve ony conwentyown Wes trettyd off successyowne … Betwene hym and Edmwnd Irnesyde 1422 Stirlings of Keir 208.
Al and syndry conwencionis in this wryt contenyt … agayne al dedelyk we sal warand 1490 Acta Conc. 159/2.
The conuencioune maide be ane instrument of the soume of fourti libris vsuale money of Scotlande c1515 Asl. MS. I. 255/1.
He clamed to be king be ressoun of the first conuencioun 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 254/2.
Sa that the actioun of the det, compt, conventioun or caus be movit befor the date hereof a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. clxxvii. 69.
The canker of our auld contentioun Will keipe no conand nor conventioun

2. An assembly or gathering of persons. 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 33.
In all processionis generale and all vtheris conuentionis and counsalis neidfull amangis thame 1533 Bell. Livy I. 104/14.
This assemblance and convencioun of pepill drawin be Terquyne Ib. 299/14.
To … inquire gif thai desist fra public convencioun be sett purpois 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4180 (B).
I knaw … How thay mak thair conventionis On montanis far fra ony townis 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 189.
For the evading of grit conwentioun throw multitud and clamour of … sempill personis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 13.
Swa that the convention of honest men of the vniuersitie be with modestie and temperance 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 138.
Seing … certane weill knawin and notorious lymmaris and ydell vagaboundis … keipis conventionis heir at Striviling 1590 Conv. Burghs I. 313.
Becaus thay … ar onlye chosin be ane few number of thair awin freyndis priuatlye, without … conventioun of commouneltie 1604 Elgin Rec. II. 130.
The elderis ordanis intimatioun to be maid … that thair be no pastymes nor conventiounes usit in the Channonrie kirk nor yaird thairof

3. A meeting of the commissioners of burghs. 1539 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 96.
With the commissaris of the burrois … convenit be command of our Souerane Lordis letteris dirett anent thair conventioun this day 1553 Ib. 179.
The act maid be the conuentioun of borrowis twichand the chesyng of the officeris of burgh 1581 Conv. Burghs I. 121.
In the conventioun or parliament of burrowes haldin … at Edinburgh the xvij day of October 1585 Ib. 205.
The commissioneris … apoyntis thair nixt conventioun to be haldin at Couper in Fyfe 1623 Peebles B. Rec. 362.
The counsall … ordanis Johnne Lowis commissioner for going to the conventioun of burrowis … at Dundie 1660 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 448.
Fyve pundis … for wrytting of some actis of the burrowes … , of thrie generall conventiounes and nyn particular 1674 Stirling B. Rec. II. 16.
The magistrats is to meit for ordoring quarters for the conventione of burrous 1690 Conv. Burghs IV. 112.
The conventioun considering the great negligence of the commissionars … sent to … conventions in not attending the dyets prescryved by them [etc.]

4. A special meeting of the nobility, or of the Estates of the realm, to discuss matters of public concern.In later use freq. Conventioun of Estates. 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine iii.
Ane of ws … sall be with your grace agan the conwenssion of the lordis 1545 Reg. Privy C. I. 3.
It is thoucht necessar … that ane general conventioun be had to trete … upoun sik effaris and besynes as concernis the commoun wele of the realme 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 31.
Nane of thame wald cum to the parliament … bot lay abak to keip thame selffis in libertie to reprove all that sould be done in that conventioun 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 420.
The Conventioun of the Nobilitie and States appointit to have convenit for the effairis of the commoun weill upon the xxv day of November a1578 Pitsc. II. 215/9.
The lord regent … come to ane conventioun and did na thing bot dryve of tyme in the conventioun 1583 Reg. Privy C. III. 562.
[To the next Parliament or to] a new Conventioun of the Estaitis in greitter nowmer nor is presentlie assembled 1587 Ib. IV. 166.
In presence of the Kingis Majestie, his Nobilitie and Esteatis assembled at this present Conventioun 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 281.
The burrowis … in this last conventione of estaittis hes tane upone thame the hamebringing of strangers for making of bred clayth 1643 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 59.
If James Bell, commissionar to the nixt conventioune of estaits, be forcit to stay above tuentie days 1691 Stirling B. Rec. II. 65.
The charges and expenssis of such who … may represent this burgh as commissioner to the parliament or convention of estates

4. The action of summoning. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 88.
The like proces sould be keiped, and observed in the brieve of convention, quhereof this is the forme