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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.

Exped(e, Expeid, v. Also: exsped, expeed, expead. [L. expedīre. The pres. and inf. are usually expede or expeid, but also exped; the p.t. and p.p. exped, but occas. expede, expead.]

1. tr. To carry through or complete (a matter); to deal promptly and effectively with.(a) 1530 Reg. Privy S. II. 67/2.
To solist and expeid with his heines and his thesaurer thare lefull erandis and besynes 1546 Black Friars Perth 212.
That ye expede, do, and use all … uthiris things concerning the premissis 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 204.
We obleis ws with all diligence to expeid and report the samen [valuation] 1646 Peebles Gleanings 266.
That ane gallows be sett up … , and the thesaurer to caws expede the same instantlie 1650 Dingwall Presb. 176.
In reguard of the multitude of affaires that day to be expeded 1657 Balfour Ann. II. 148.
One [lord of Session] to expeed all matters the first weeke, … and the said assessor to expeed all bussines the second week(b) 1609 Gardyne Garden 19.
What they in their inventiue braine haue bred, … And with expense perfectlie haue exped c1650 Spalding II. 96.
Sic bussines as could not be exped in face of full Parliament 1649 Misc. Spald. C. V. 380.
Mr. William Moir … I think might hawe exped your business 1686 Seafield Corr. 30.
All have been so hurried … , that I cannot gett all things so instantly exped till this heat be over(b) 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 32.
The first part beand expede in sa far as this present institute requiris 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 281.
Lord Sanctjohne … obtenit litill or nathing of his errands expeid 1626 Garden Worthies 167.
Thow … like a wiseman … Poiz'd what thow purpos'd & expead the same 1639 Baillie I. 148.
Such small privie meetings are most necessare; for otherwayes affaires cannot be expeed 1692 Acts Sederunt 7.
Bankrupts do ordinarly imbazel their estates, … until the sale be expede 1716 Wodrow Corr. II. 145.
I shall omit other things of my … studies till I get that expede

2. tr. To complete and issue (a document) in proper form. ‘To expede letters, means to write out the principal writ, and get it signeted, sealed, or otherwise completed’ (Bell) .(a) 1565 Lennox Mun. 430.
To expeid his letter of baillierie, as it is grantit to him be oure brother of Halieruidhous 1615 Crim. Trials III. 118.
To expeid the said remissioun throw the seiliis 1646 Baillie II. 393.
That the ordinances … , after so much delay, may at last be expedit 1663 Decis. Lords G. 42.
His not expeding an infeftment could not in law nor reason put the pursuer to cite his author(b) 1635 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 74.
Gyff any thingis be added by yow … that he forwith caus exped the same wnder our cachet and seallis 1641 Fam. Innes 234.
It is our pleasure that forthwith upon sight of the said gift, yow pass and exped the same 1689 Acts Sederunt 23.
The keeper of the signet to exped three summons of wakening for each shire of the kingdom(b) 1551 Reg. Privy C. I. 121.
That thair be maid ane commission of wardanrie … to be exped under the greit seill 1569 Ib. II. 6.
That the ordour being fund gude … , provisionis may thaireftir be maid and exped … thairupoun 1584 Acts III. 298/2.
Befoir ony persoun nominat to quhatsumeuir benefice … sall haue his presentatioun exped and past the register 1612 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 28 Nov.
I have send to ȝour maister the commission ȝe wreat for dewlie past and exped 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 40.
Ane heretable few charter to be past and exped to the said John Alexander 1696 Stirling B. Rec. II. 83.
They appoint the said call [to a minister] to be exped and signed(b) 1600 Acts IV. 219.
That the said infeftment be expede in dew form 1614 Crim. Trials III. 285.
Commissionis being past and expeid to Sir James Stewart of Killeith, for suppressing of the rebellione in Orknay 1638 Aboyne Rec. 290.
As if the said infeftment were already made and expede 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 26.
The said George Mylnes comission wes expead and good caution sett for him 1741 Misc. Spald. C. II. ii.
Your charters shall be expede in February

3. To send, dispatch, expedite. Also refl. To bestir (oneself), to make haste. 1570 Bann. Mem. 361.
We pray ȝow to expeid the money for payment of the men of weir, how sone possible ȝe can 1572 Reg. Morton I. 74.
To write for ȝow to be heir with diligence. … We pray ȝow thairfoir expeid ȝou 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 219.
All favourabill meanys salbe usit to expeid bayth the Inglis ordinance and the soldiouris hame agane 1614 Melrose P. 177.
I am to expeid the bark and pinnage to your lordship 1627 Fam. Rose 316.
The berar culd not be exped befoir this Weddinsday 1644 S. Leith Rec. 50.
That al heritors should exped their horsemen and foot to go to the armie

4. To assist in, or extricate from, a difficult situation. 1642 Baillie II. 4.
At last after much perplexitie, by … the diligence of his manie great friends, he gott himself weell expedit 1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith (1845) 243.
They sall never expede themselves