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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.

Entent, n. Also: entente. [ME. (a 1225) and OF. entent, entente. Cf. Intent n.]

1. With personal pronouns: One's intention, design or purpose. Also const. of (a person). 1375 Barb. xix. 65.
For [= because] he helit thair entent, And discouerit it nocht to the king a1400 Leg. S. v. 481.
Tel thi entent, Quhy thu vnbent thi bow sa sone 1415 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 36.
It is not our will ne our entent to do any preiudice to the kirk of Brechine ?1438 Alex. ii. 2885.
I aucht richt wele To tell ȝow thare entent ilk deill c1420 Ratis R. 510.
Ilk man [to be] iugit be his entent Efter as his deid was gud or ill c1475 Wall. i. 329.
Schir Ranald come son till his sistyr fre, … and sperd of hir entent a1500 Bk. Chess 577.
Langar to lest it was nocht hir entent Than to declair hir mynd was innocent c1515 Asl. MS. I. 231/10.
His entent was to distroye him that he mycht haue succeedit to the heretage 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 33.
To speke of morall vertewis hardyment, Or rathir of diuyne, is myne entent 1531 Bell. Boece I. 9.
Symon knawing … the entent of thir ambassatouris, providit ane flote of schippis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4151.
Quhen thay had done perfurneis his ententis, … He sufferit thame be scurgit creuellye

b. The result aimed at by one. 1375 Barb. xi. 152.
Or thai cum all to thair entent, Howis in haill clath sall be rent Ib. xvii. 59.
I sall wirk on sic maner, That thou at thine entent sall be a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv. 258.
Haf I nocht ryches gewine thé, … To ger thé cum to thine entent 1456 Hay II. 78/17.
Understand wele that be twa thingis thou may cum wele to thyne entent a1500 Bk. Chess 2003.
Of ane howris tyme impediment The man contrar may cum till his entent

2. Without article: Mind to do something; intention. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 371.
Than dressit thai entent and will The hed to set the body till 1492 Myll Spect. 296/3.
I haif in entent to caus thé to abstene fra sic fleschely delectationis a1500 Quare Jel. 45.
Prevely I hid me of entent Among the levis to here quhat sche ment 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 89.
Sayand on this wys, with ful dissemlyt entent c1550 Rolland C. Venus iii. 609.
With euill entent ȝour luif burgeonis and breidis

b. In (or with) gude entent, with good intentions or meaning. a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 112.
A bouste of precius vngument Apone his hed in gud entent Owt scho ȝet c1420 Wynt. v. 3879.
I byd here … in gud entente For to ressayve my sacrament Ib. 3896.
Than bwt he passyd with gud entent 1456 Hay I. 88/11.
Sen it is sa, that in gude entent, … he undertuke the said juperdye c1475 Wall. i. 153.
He thaim sent Till his wncle, that with full gud entent In Gowry duelt a1500 Seven S. 1107.
Lat me in or I sall de. Gif ȝe will nocht, with gud entent Richt heir I mak my testament

c. In entent to (with inf.) or of (a purpose). a1400 Leg. S. v. 229.
In entent thare bale to bete, Thai fel dewot to sancte Jonis fet 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/1.
In entent of common profit of bathe reaumes c1420 Wynt. vii. 631.
Apon him then A multitude of Scottys men Come in entent to sla the Kyng 1456 Hay II. 117/3.
Sayand that he ete in entent to lyve lang, and lyvit nocht in entent till ete c1420 Ratis R. 1252.
Thar is aithis set at nocht, … In tyll entent of cowatice c1500 Fyve Bestes 315.
This king agane is gon … in entent to cast the cite doun

d. With an, etc.: An intention or design. c1420 Wynt. vii. 669.
In that entent … Saynt Andrewys cyte he come till Ib. viii. 2033.
Off hys lang swerd in that entent, Fyrst thai made hym argwment c1420 Ratis R. 781.
Lat sik ententis hail ga by, Quhill thocht and will be stablit clere 1493 Acta Conc. 309/1.
The landis … wer set to him to the entent that he suld mak his sister … assignay to him of the saidis landis

3. Mind, spirit, disposition. a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 121.
Quhene gudmen suld to faste begyne, Of syne to clenge thare entent Ib. xviii. 928.
For sic defawt oft … I brynt as fyre in myn entent c1420 Wynt. v. 3831.
Syn resowne thine entent Rewlyd noucht in all jugement c1460 Thewis Wysmen 369.
Thai ar sa darf in thar entent, Thai dreid nocht Goddis jug[e]ment c1475 Wall. i. 211.
A hely schrew, wanton in his entent Ib. xi. 792.
Wallange … kest in his entent, Quhat man thar was [etc.] c1500 Fyve Bestes 161.
A cok … Clerast of voce and wysest in his entent 1513 Doug. ix. iii. 114.
The hie curage and forcy hardyment Baid onamovyt in Turnus stowt entent

b. To set (one's) entent, to set one's mind. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 923.
He so hale set his entent To weddinge to ger me consent c1420 Wynt. viii. 6544.
The Lord off Dowglas … That set all halyly his entent For till anoy the Inglis men 1456 Hay II. 6/19.
Ane of the lordis sonis … quhilk had sett his entent and purpose to tak the ordre of knychthede a1500 Bk. Chess 817.
A Juge … suld set his entent Dayly to reid in to the buke of law a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxvii. 51.
That thay may not set thair entent [F. intent] Vpon this warld

c. One's mind or opinion in or on a matter. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 978.
To ȝoung men als gef he lare, … Till all he prechit his entent c1420 Wynt. v. 987.
Or thai hys will mycht gette, To delyvere hys entent, He askyt thre dayis awysment 1424 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 14.
In alsmekil as yhour hye excellence has dedeignet to certify vs thus plaineli of yhoure entent c1450-2 Howlat 143.
He … ay will haue entre To tell his entent In hous and in hall hie 1479 Acta Conc. 42/2.
Therefter his hienes sall schew and declare his entent a1500 Bk. Chess 1455.
This frend displesit schew him his entent 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 123.
This Calcas held his tong, … Kepand secret and cloys al his entent 1529 Dunferm. B. Rec. 279.
Eftir the wil, mynd, entent and special command of the saidis Johne & Jonet his spous c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 775.
I schaw thair mind as thay bid and entent

d. Heed, attention. a1500 Henr. Orph. 458.
To the hevyn small entent we tak