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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.

Forsake, Forsaik, v. Also: forsak, -saike. P.t. forsuk(e, -swke, -suyk, -suik(e. P.p. forsakyn, -saikin, -saekin. [ME. forsake, -saken (p.t. forsok, p.p. forsaken), OE. forsacan (p.t. -sóc, p.p. -sacen.]

1. tr. To draw back from, avoid, shun. 1375 Barb. xiv. 315.
Na multitud he forsuk of men Quhill he had ane aganis ten Ib. xvi. 203.
Thai na perell wald forsak ?1438 Alex. i. 1642.
Thai thocht vengeange for to taik, And na perrell nor pane forsaik

2. To refuse or decline to do something. a1400 Leg. S. xli. 97.
Ful war thu for to forsak Til haf my son to thi mak c1420 Wynt. vi. 2104.
The lawchfull twa Brethire forsuke wyth hym to ga c1475 Wall. x. 940.
Wallace forsuk sic changyng for to mak a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 810.
I forsaik noght to feght 1539 Soc. Ant. II. 397.
Gyf the clerk forsaik till ryng thaim

3. To forsake, abandon, give up.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xx. 181.
To fore-sak Crist c1420 Wynt. v. 2107.
Yhoure mychty makare to forsake c1475 Wall. xi. 44.
Ye se weill thai forsaik the feild c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiv. 11.
Rycht so the meir forsaikis the cursour a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 138.
Heir I forsaik bayth bour and hall 1622-6 Bisset II. 366/10.
Subdeacones wes enforsed to forsaik thair wyffes(b) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 273.
He … al his synnis thar forsuk Ib. xix. 403.
Sene I the feynd forswke c1420 Wynt. v. 3012.
Thai off Rome … fals mawmentys qwyte forsuke Ib. v. 4700 (C).
He forsuyk thaim al wttrely c1475 Wall. vii. 1097.
His awne land [he] forsuk 1492 Myll Spect. 279/22.
Scho forsuk him for Dyomeid 1535 Stewart 2392.
He … all cowardnes forsuik 1567 G. Ball. 152.
All my freindis forsuke me 1584 Sat. P. xlv. 897.
The first merchant he cleane forsuike 1622-6 Bisset II. 304/25.
Demas … forsuik the treuth of the gospell(c) c1420 Wynt. v. 4724.
For he swa wnhappyly Forsakyn had God a1500 Henr. Fab. 2826.
The blaberryis … Ar gadderit up quhen primeros is forsakin c1500-c1512 Dunb. lv. 19.
Sum … hes forsaekin all sic gammis a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 22.
Ane signe … that ȝe ar nocht forsaikin 1596 Dalr. I. 242/2.
All ethnik gentilitie … being forsaikin