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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.

Element, Eliment, n. Also: ely-, alyment. [ME. element (c 1300), elymente, OF. element, L. elementum.]

1. One of the (four) elements. Freq. in pl.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 209.
That elyment [sc. fire] that he Had gert obeysand til him be 1461 Liber Plusc. 388.
Thaire is na thyng that ma lest euir mare, That compunde is of brukyll alymentis [v.r. elimentis] a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 861.
Than sall the elymentis … All stand in quyet but commocion 1490 Irland Mir. I. 121/16.
The gret … vsurpacioune that thai maid apone … man, best and eliment 1513 Doug. xii. iv. 113.
All thocht the erth wald myddill with the see, And … confund athir eliment(b) 1456 Hay I. 283/16.
The lowe of fyre, … the quhilk is … the maist noble of all the elementis Ib. 284/16.
It is the lawest of degree of all the four elementis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 119/7.
Stabilite amang the elementis without pes may nocht indure 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 137.
With reird redoundand throw the elementis 1549 Compl. 33/18.
This material varld … is maid of the four elementis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1861.
This fyre is bot ane element 1580-92 James VI Lusus R. 45.
Nou as to thir foure elementis … To uitt the subtill air, the fyre, the earth, & uatteris cleir

b. pl. Weather conditions. a1400 Leg. S. v. 537.
And ȝete elimentis ay That custome kepis to this day 1533 Boece ix. iii. 291 b.
Be favoure of the elementis with prosper cours thay arrivit in Britan

c. The upper air. 1513 Doug. i. vi. 132.
My fame is knaw abufe the eliment Ib. iv. v. 172.
[Jove] Quhilk rewlys at will erd, hevyn, and elyment

2. The bread or wine used in the sacrament. Freq. pl. 1590-1 Bruce Serm. F 2 b.
For in baptisme, wee haue but ane element, into this sacrament wee haue twa elements 1618 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 372.
Ane sufficient stipend … for furnisching of the elementis to the celebratioun of the communioun 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 361.
It was … appoyntit that the maister of wark sould provyde the elimentis and vther thingis relaiting thairto