Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Evident, n. Also: evyd-, evedent; ewid-, ewyd-, ewedent; avid-, auedent. [f. Evidenta. Cf. Evidence n. 2.]

1. A document establishing a legal right or title to anything. (In common use, 1400–1640.)(a) 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 295.
To mak of new to the forsaid Alexander whatkin euident, chartre, or resignacioun [etc.] 1399 Melville Chart. 15.
His take made of tha landys, as his euidente proportis 1429 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 42.
As it sal be appunctit in my euident, and the byscoppys and the cheptouris thairon to be made 1466 Acta Aud. 3/2.
The lettres, euidentis, documentis and richtus profis and witnes producit be bathe the partijs 1481 Peebles B. Rec. 28.
Thair is vther personis that … schew euidentis that thai had richt and interes in the sade commoun 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 4.
Thair rycht of the said twa buithis, with all lettres and euidents maid to thame thairvpoun 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 556.
Thair commoun buist, quhairin ar thair commoun seill and auld evidentis concerning the said burgh 1600 Stirling B. Rec. I. 96.
The commoun charter & evident granted to the merchandis … be king David 1641 Acts V. 555/2.
The haill auld evidents & wretts of the lands … wer brunt 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxvii. § 6.
To prevent falshood in all manner of evidents, our law in place of seals … did … require that all evidents should be subscribed by the party, and witnesses(b) 1481 Instr. H. Scheves (MS).
To gydder with charteris, sesinge, and all othir letteris and ewydentis quhilkes he has maid to him of the said landis 1509 Douglas Chart. 193.
All schartiris and ewidentis that I haff off the said landis 1540 Elgin Rec. I. 55.
Thir personis underwrittin to s[ch]awe thair ewydentis of landis within writtin 1593 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 18 March.
I hawe sawld ane pece land … quhairof the ewedentis … ar all in ane charter & sesing 1600 Conv. Burghs II. 81.
That na liberty nor ewident be seillit … bot in presens of the counsale 1623–4 Peebles B. Rec. 412.
To by ane pepper buik to coppay the townes adwersaris ewedentis in(c) 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 463.
We … sal frely resigne … the said annuel rent … togedir with all charteris, auedentis, documentis and instrumentis 1511 Prestwick B. Rec. 42.
Johne Chepman … producit ane avident vndir the commovne sell of Prestuyk 1563 Ib. 67.
Quhylk auedent ys contenyt in thair regester

2. A piece of evidence; a proof. c1420 Wynt. viii. 2396.
Be evydentis that schawyd he agayne, That tyrandis rycht he made all wayne Ib. v. 2513 (W).
He ordanit als that na pagane … Suld challange Cristin men … Bot he had cleire euidentis to schaw a1500 Henr. Fab. 1078 (B).
That is evident eneuch, but dout