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

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

Frequent, v. [ME. frequente (1477), F. frequenter, L. frequentāre.]

1. a. tr. To resort to (a place) often or habitually. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 48/24.
Thow suld with gret appetit vse & frequent the materiall kirk 1594 Grant Chart. 186.
That thai, … remanand or frequentand and hantand … thair landis, … sall obserue and keip the Kingis Maiesties peace

b. intr. To be (often) in or about, to go frequently to, a place. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 49/29.
Numa frequentit oft tymes in this wod 1548 Reg. Privy S. MS. XXII. 21.
That he … hant, frequent, and blok in marchandice throw all partis 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 166.
The outlandis baxstaris frequentand to this merkit 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 106.
That thai fraquent to the place of the said tolbuith c1590 J. Stewart 229 § 117.
At prencis aeir I do frequent

c. In passive: To be commonly present. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8767.
Sa in hir sicht ilk day he was frequentit 1578 Reg. Privy C. II. 674.
The rowmes quhair the said disobedientis and contemptuus ar maist frequentit

2. tr. and intr. To associate with. a1568 Scott xxxiv. 107.
The mull frequentis the anis, And hir awin kynd abusis 1606 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 254.
To be askit of … Marioune quha last frequentit with her

3. tr. To exercise or practise commonly or habitually. 1492 Myll Spect. 272/12.
A … knycht that in his ȝouthheid had frequentit his body in the deidis of chevalrye 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8614.
In all gude games him self he did frequent 1574 Acts III. 84/2.
The vnlauchfull vse of thame is still hantit and frequentit

4. To be accustomed to (do or be). 1581 Acts III. 240/1.
Sic … geir as is frequentit to be sauld & coft within the mercattis 1622-6 Bisset II. 260/2.
The fyre weschell … quherein they use and frequent to mak meit reddie