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.

Governance, n. Also: -aunce, -ans; gowern-, govirnance. [ME. governance, -aunce (c 1374), OF. gouvernance.]

1. The act or occupation of governing in various senses of the verb. (See Governe v. 1–3.)In common use c 1400–1560.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xii. 126.
The towne of Jerusaleme, Quhare Pylat presydent was, & had in gouernance the place c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 3058.
Achaia … in tyme of his governaunce, It eked in-to gret suffisaunce c1420 Wynt. ii. 94.
In governance scho wes happy 1423 Reg. Great S. 31/1.
The keping, gouernance, and the capitanry of hys castel of Louchmabane 1456 Hay I. 29/7.
The cristin faith, that is blekkit and our-thrawin with … fals governaunce 1461 Liber Plusc. 336.
This rewm quhilk was in poynt to be tynt and vndone for falt of gouernance 1492 Myll Spect. 282/17.
The king Nysus that was principall and had the gouernance within this tovne 1516 Acts II. 36/2.
All lawis excludis the said governour fra administracion and governance for suspicioun vehement and violent 1531 Bell. Boece I. 2.
He changit the governance of the empire of Egypt be industry of Moyses c1552 Lynd. Mon. 24.
The straucht way sal thou wende To thame quhilk hes the realme in gonernance a1578 Pitsc. I 34/14.
It sonld be ane redy way to cause himself … be deprywit of his gowernance(2) 1456 Hay I. 211/11.
Quhen he gave the governaunce of Archa Noe til Noe Ib. 285/22.
Ane othir … doctryne apon the gouernaunce of clos bataill 1456 Acts II. 46/1.
As to the feird artikill belangand the pestilence and gouernance thairof [etc.] 1460 Ayr Charters 89.
That … the said burges has nocht na keping, rewling, nor govirnance of the said fare [= fair] 1492 Myll Spect. 274/28.
Socrates sayes quha sa euer will lerne sciens or vertew put him neuer in the gouernans of a woman a1500 Doug. K. Hart 430.
Sewin ȝeir and moir … Off him thai haue the cure and gouernance 15.. Clar. ii. 1933.
To put in governance His landis haill be gud rewle and ordinance 1549 Compl. 15/24.
Be raison that battellis consistis vndir the gouernance of fortune, ande nocht in the ingyne of men a1578 Pitsc. I. 97.
John Colless … quha had in gouernance thrie hundreith abill men weill arreyit and enarmyt

2. Personal conduct or behaviour. 1456 Hay I. 165/11.
To help him … and sett his traist all in God with his awin gude governaunce Ib. 237/3.
Gude lyf and vertuous governance c1460 Thewis Wysmen 419.
Thai lak al men[n]ys gouernans, Wenand throw that thaim self to vans c1515 Asl. MS. I. 20/16.
He suid speir at … kirk men of symony, evil governance, and negligence anentis the pepill c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 259.
Be constant in ȝour gouernance, and counterfeit gud maneris Id. ix. 135.
Of every gilt and wickit govirnance I cry thé mercy 1531 Bell. Boece I. 8.
To cheis ane … to be thair king, and to be obeysant to him in all thair governance a1585 Maitl. Q. xlviii. 85.
To behauld … Hir gudlie grace & governance It is a ioy compleit