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: 1537-1661
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Dimit, v. Also: dimitt(e, dymit. [Late ME. dymytte (1495), e.m.E. dimitte (1548), L. dīmittere. Cf. Demit v.]
1. tr. To lay down, give up, resign, renounce (an office, possession, etc.). Freq. const. to or in favour of (another). Also absol.(1) 1537 Liber Dryburgh 282.
To haue sett in assedatioun and in few ferme and heretage heritablie dimittit [the lands] … to the said Johne Robsone … in frank tenement 1553 Reg. Privy C. I. 144.
That now the wardanry thairof [is] dymittit be Sir Iohnne Maxwell 1558 Waus Corr. I. 10.
The expeditioun thairoff will nocht be grantit to my lord off Cupyr, bot gyff he dimitte the monaster 1570 Leslie 246.
That he suld leif, dimit and gif our the office of tutorie of the Quene 1593 Logie Par. Hist. I. 34.
Quhowsone ane minister beis gottin that will accept the chairge … that the said Mr. Iames sall dimit the said vicarage 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 122.
Gif … it is waisted be fire … he may dimitt the land destroied and not inhabite [etc.] c1650 Spalding I. 260.
Mr. James Sandilandis dimittit his place as canonist with gryte subtilitie 1655 Peebles B. Rec. II. 28.
Mr. Andrew Watsone, scoolmaister … hes dimitit his office of scoolmaisterschipe in the hands of the counsell 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 52.
He dimitted his charge in respect both the elders and severall of the parochiners did desert him(2) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 136/16.
Hoipand also that wtheris … sal be moueit … to dimit willinglie thair places to the mair qualifeit 1567 Reg. Morton I. 26.
Hir hienes … had be hir lettres … dimittit and ourgevin hir croun and auctorite in fauouris of hir sone 1581 Protocol Book of A. Gibson 50.
The said Stephane … resignis, dimittis, and ouergewis to the said Wm Ballingall … the foirsaidis haill rude akerris of land 1603 Moysie 2.
He … willinglie dimittit his auctoritie and regiment in the Kingis fauouris 1631 Highland P. I. 328.
Archibald … settis and in perpetuall few and heritage … lattis and dimittis to the said Alexander … the foirsaidis landis(3) 1622-6 Bisset I. 110/22.
That they nethir directlie nor indirectlie have … procured ony uthir to dimit to that effect c1650 Spalding II. 56.
Mr. Androw Melvill is vrgit to dimit, whiche ignorantlie … he did
2. a. To let go, give up, dismiss. b. absol. To discharge. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 93/27.
Salomon also Commanding ws naways to dimit the law of our mother, quhilk is the Kirk 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 193.
All the saidis schippis [were] intromettit with and taken vp as escheit, bot wer dimittit agane by the quenis request a1639 Spotsw. Hist. ii. 50.
The Pope … did upon this dimit the Scottish commissioners … with great promises of favour 1661 Fountainhall in M.P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II. 293.
The public river of Tweed, … which dimits in the sea
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"Dimit v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dimit>
