A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1501-1596
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Define, Defyne, v. [ME. defyne (Chaucer), deffyne, OF. definer, definir, L. dēfīnīre. Cf. Diffine v.]
1. tr. To describe, give account of, state. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 295.
Paris … , That gaue the apill, as poetis can define, Till Venus 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 151.
All the kingis … , Quhais ordinance war langsum to defyne c1550 Rolland Court of Venus ii. 425.
Howbeit ane time thow think it heuines, Thow sall ouirput; this scho bad me defyne c1552 Lynd. Mon. 412; etc.
It wer lang for to defyn it, Quhow all men ar to syn inclynit a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS lxxxviii. 63.
Sua do ȝour best, thus sall ȝe be defynd
2. To decide, settle, arrange. 1513 Doug. v. viii. 101.
[Thai] left alane The bul ontil Entellus; sa was defynd 1535 Stewart 16211.
Lang so he wes perplexit in his mynd, Syne at the last concludit and defynd … To sla the king 1596 Dalr. II. 304/24.
In this conuentioune is concludet, and is defyneit, that … thay suld returne … to the King of France
b. To decide upon, to designate. 1535 Stewart 23743.
All the lordis … that tyme did defyne The kingis bruther, callit Constantyne
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"Define v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/define>
