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 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Indigent, a. and n. [ME. indigent (c 1400), -ygent, F. indigent, L. indigens.]

1. Lacking in means, needy, poor. 1461 Liber Pluscard. I. 394.
Euir thi crown is indigent and pure a1500 Henr. III. 162/5.
Haif mercy of ws, indigent and pure 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 106.
Tha ar sa pouer indigent bodyis 1533 Bell. Livy I. 104/11.
Quharethrow he may dispone the gudis … amang the pure and indigent pepill

b. n. A poor person, a pauper. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 115/9.
Kirk landis, anis dedicat to … feble and waik indigentis a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 104.
Men sall … call me outher wraiche or indigent 1602 Colville Paraenese 107.
His almess deadis daylie bestouit … vpon more than ten thousand indigents

2. Poor or deficient in respect of. a1500 Doug. King Hart 772.
Gif that ȝe wourde of thesaure indigent 1535 Stewart 39508.
The laif quhilk wer so indigent Off meit and drink 1533 Boece ii. iii. 62.
Weping and indigent of counsell Ib. x. iii. 352 b.
Indigent of na thing that nature … has producit 1576 Orkney Oppress. 71.
He wald not wone the land, … becaus he was indigent of silver

3. Lacking, wanting. 1596 Dalr. I. 40/10.
Quhat ane way abundes with ws, another way inlakes with vs, and is indigent