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: 1375-1626
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Digne, Ding, a. Also: dygne, dingne, dinge, dyng(e. [ME. digne (c 1300), dingne (northern ding), OF. digne, L. dignus. Chiefly in verse.]
1. Worthy, deserving. Const. of, to, or with inf. a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 460.
That thu art digne callit to be Now haly folk a1400 Ib. xxvii. 381.
Ȝone man … I am nocht dingne to lere trewly 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 230.
Marciall dedis dyng of memorie 1537 Id. Depl. Magd. 74.
Quhilk day bene digne [v.r. dingne] to put in memorie 1540 Id. Sat. 3123.
Gif thay be digne of deprivatioun 15.. Clariodus i. 806.
Knychtis thair wer … moir dingne this plesance to ressave 15.. Ib. v. 2427.
Saying, thairto he was not dingne nor abill 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 115.
Thy nobill actis digne of remembrance
2. Of great or exceptional worth or merit: a. Of persons.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 281.
With dukis and with digne lordis c1450-2 Ib. 320.
Deir dukis and digne a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 955.
Digne bischoppis that day that douchtie gart bring 1490 Irland Mir. I. 153/20.
This lady … was the nobillest, maist digne and clene in hire virginite c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 45.
Welcum most dughti, digne, and honorable 15.. Clariodus i. 153.
Hir … maistres, digne and verteous c1550 Rolland Court of Venus ii. 8.
Sone he him hyit … Vnto the seuin digne doctouris in all art(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 3.
Bernard Stewart, nobill and ding [: king] c1500-c1512 Ib. lxxxv. 15.
Thy dyng ofspring maid ws to syng 1513 Doug. ix. iv. 95.
My broder dyng, Of thé … ȝit dred I nevir sic thing 1513 Ib. vii. 169.
O happy baith, O fortunat and dyng! 1535 Stewart 32067.
With mony ding lord sittand at his deis 15.. Clariodus iv. 2413.
Prelats that war dinge and honorabill 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 106.
I sall send for all my ding doctouris 1570 Satirical Poems xiv. 29.
Than vp thow rasit to reule my ring … James, regent, my uncle ding c1590 J. Stewart 53/11.
For till obteine his luiflie ladie ding He trauell tuik
b. Of things, actions, qualities, etc.(a) 1375 Barb. xx. 228.
That ȝhe so digne and worthy thing As ȝour hert [etc.] a1400 Legends of the Saints xxiv. 10.
Of matrimone … , or contenens, … Or ellis of virginite, The quhilk mast dygne is of the thre c1450-2 Howlat 342.
The burde … Dicht as a dyademe digne, deir to behold a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 352.
Thair was digne seruice done at Sanct Dyonys 1490 Irland Mir. I. 101/5.
The haly kyrk … has ordand … the fest of hire haly and digne conceptioun c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iii. 845.
Quhiddir gif chestitie Be not … mair digne and eminent Than Venus warkis 1596 Dalr. I. 177/19.
Seuerus did nathing digne & prayseworthie eftir this victorie(b) 1489 Brus xx. 228 (E).
Sa dyng and worthi thing As your hart a1500 Henr. Fab. 150.
Science and cunning … Quhilk is sa nobill, sa precious, and sa ding 1513 Doug. vii. x. 5.
The grete master souerane cite dyng Of Rome 1513 Ib. viii. xii. 103.
Thre hundreth ryall tempillys dyng 1535 Stewart 31185.
Ane cors of gold … Adornit wes … With diamontis ding
3. Fitting, appropriate. 1526 Acts II. 307/1.
Providing that digne satisfactione be maid to all partyis complenand
4. As adv. Worthily. 1626 Garden Worthies 56.
Thy venturing valour & thy victories Depostulats alse digne deserv'd a praise
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"Digne adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/digne_adj>
