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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.

Disples(e, Displeis(e, v. Also: dysplese, displece, -pleys, -plice, -plaice. [ME. displese (14th c.), -plece, desplese, AF. desples-, desplere, OF. desplais-, desplaire.]

1. tr. To affect (a person) with displeasure or annoyance: a. Of persons.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 124.
Quhat haf I dysplesyt thé, That suld thu sacrify but me c1460 Thewis Wysmen 451.
Thai set nocht by quha thai disples c1475 Wall. viii. 1606.
Was nayn so gret durst his nychtbur disples a1500 Doug. K. Hart 717.
Ȝe haue displesit hir hie magnificence 1551 Hamilton Cat. 40.
Doand his command, … that he displese him nocht nor offend him c1590 Fowler II. 77/32.
These that … ar disabled baith of moyens and force to disqyet and displese yow(b) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 165.
Gif it happin that he … Has done my lord to displeise c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 54/18.
Erare displesand God … or thai wald … displeis the personis of the warld 1533 Gau 8/32.
To … be diligent al time that thay displeis hime noth in ony maner c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2266.
His wantoun wyffis to compleis He curit nocht God tyll displeis a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. c. 64.
That na man wald … Displeis thair nychtbour 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. Pray. 22.
That I nather desire to plaise, nor feir to displaise ony vther bot ȝow

b. Of acts or things. 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Nocht displece yhour honour, learys sulde be lyttille alowit [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 120/32.
Sen it plesit him anys, it suld nocht disples him efterwart, but new caus a1500 Henr. Fab. 1391.
Not to displeis ȝour fatherheid, I pray, … Ane morall fabill ȝe wald denȝe to say 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 76.
Bot quharto tell I or rehersis this, That be na ways displesis you? a1568 Scott xxxiv. 145.
Appardoun me of this, Gif ocht be to displeis ȝow 1596 Dalr. II. 472/23.
To his awne [friends] offices and giftes he … dispensed, quhilk sa displeset the nobilitie, that [etc.]

c. In past pple. Also const. at, of, that. 1456 Hay I. 54/36.
Of the quhilk the king … was sa displesit that he [etc.] Ib. 302/19.
God is offendit and displesit tharat c1475 Wall. vi. 488.
Schyr Jhon the Grayme displessit was sumdeill a1500 Doug. K. Hart 626.
In to my propir caus Suppois I speik, ȝe suld nocht be displesit 1533 Gau 15/23.
Thay that ar displesit of thair nichtburs or innimis weil fair 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 296.
The Inglis men is marwelis dysplessit of this last carmis a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 28.
For the quhilk caus, his father was sumthing displiceit 1596 Dalr. I. 258/17.
Quhilke quhen the Quene harde [scho] was sair displeiset

2. intr. To be unpleasant or annoying (to one). a1400 Leg. S. iii. 281.
That to the fend displeisit swa, That he a tempeste son cane may c1420 Wynt. vi. 1627.
That till hyr fadyr dysplesyd noucht 1456 Hay I. 294/29.
The thing displesit sa till oure Lord that [etc.] Ib. II. 85/12.
Schawand … that it displesis nocht gretely c1420 Ratis R. 544.
It … neuer ȝit wald disples to grace

3. refl. To be displeased. c1475 Wall. xi. 269.
Hwmblely he said, Ye suld disples you nocht a1500 Henr. Fab. 1359.
Displeis ȝow not, … thocht I Demand ȝour birth … and name a1500 Bernardus 280.
Tha will disples tham at thé and thou crafe