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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.

Extremité, -itie, n. Also: extremyté, -itee, -eté, -ety, -atie, extremmetie, -treamity. [ME. extremyté (c 1400), -itee, OF. extremité, L. extrēmitas.]

1. An extreme point, limit, or degree. 1375 Barb. vi. 336.
Vorschip extremyteis has twa. Fule-hardyment the formast is, And the tothir is cowardis 1456 Hay II. 36/20.
Ay the mydwart is vertu, sa is the extremitee vice c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 38/3.
Nature … ordanis and inclinis a man to luf the extremite of wyce in mete and drinke 1526 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 406.
The said Erle is lyand in extremite of deid

b. Extreme difficulty or hardship. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9976.
Thocht I be now in sic extremitie, Sic ane vane voce sall not be schawin for me a1578 Pitsc. I. 271/21.
The Earle of Huntlie desyrit … that he wald help the king and reskew him in his extremmetie 1653 Rep. Menzies MSS. 15.
If … they should be reduced to extreamity

c. Extreme severity or harshness. 1558-66 Knox II. 546.
Many, which are wounded to see extremitie used against these godly brethren 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 7.
Persewand alswa with maist extremitie all that adheirit to him a1578 Pitsc. I. 115/6.
That extrematie that he had wssit toward the Erle of Douglas

2. A terminal part. a1500 Seven S. 652.
His pous, his vryne sone he says, And his bodyis extremiteis 1547–9 Liber Offic. S. Andree 140.
Vnam peluem et lauacrum argenti … deaurata, vulgariter giltet about the eggis and extremeteis

3. One of the ‘last things’. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4990.
Wald thow … thynk on foure extremeteis Quhilkis ar to cum, … The deith. the hell [etc.]