Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Interpret(e, -preit, -prit, v. P.t. -pret, -preit, -pritit. P.p. -pret(e, -preit, -pryt. [ME. interprete (Wycl.), e.m.E. -pret (16th c.). Cf. Enterprit v.] tr. To interpret.(a) a1500 Seven S. 2121.
Quha had a dreme to reid Suld bryng of gold a porcioun To the sevyne sagis … And thai suld it interprit than 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 367.
Quha trewis nocht me, Lat thame interprit animal and homo c1520-c1535 Nisbet II. 165 marg.
To prophesy is to expoynn or interpreit vnto vthirris Ib. 166 marg.
To vndarstand it him self, and nocht to interpreit it 1533 Gau 103/2.
It is noth lesum that ony man interpreit the wordis of it in ony oder maner nay thay stand 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 131.
Thai began to interprete thir signis to ane vther face 1549 Compl. 17/33.
I exort thé … to interpreit my intentione fauorably 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10503.
I suld ȝow schaw quhat ȝone bird sings sa sweit, And euerie note I sall ȝow interpreit 1562-3 Winȝet II. 65/23.
Quhen thai begin nocht onelie to crak and brag of tha wordis, bot also to interprete thame a1578 Pitsc. II. 140/24.
To interpreit the wangell of Christ to thair ediefiecatioun(b) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 251/23.
This Aiadane prechit in his tung to the pepill and Sanct Oswald interpret it to tham 1531 Bell. Boece I. 111.
The devinouris interpret thaim to signify gret trubill 1533 Boece iv. ix. 139 b.
The king … interpret all to the prosperitie of Scottis 1549 Compl. 83/17.
Cresus … exponit and interpret the ansuer of Apollo to the vrang sens a1578 Pitsc. II. 131/3.
Ane freir … quhilk preichit the wangell, and interpretit the sam fer fre the meaning 1622-6 Bisset I. 74/16.
The auld lawes of Scotland, quhilkis he interpreit and exponed furth of Latyne in Scottis(c) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2222.
I counsell mychtie men to haif mynd Of the nekhering, interpreit in this kind 1483 Acta Aud. 110/2.
Thair … allegaciouns sene, herd, and vnderstandin … and the lawis schewin be him theruppoun interpret and vnderstandin 1513 Doug. 908/1.
I haue nocht interpryt [B. interprete] nor translate Every bural ruyd poet 1549 Compl. 183/13.
Ane propositione … suld be ay interpreit … to the best sens c1552 Lynd. Mon. 774.
Uirago he callit hir than, Quhilk is interpreit, maid of man 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI. 403.
Quhilkis bandis … salbe interpreit and extendit towardis the airis 1662 Decis. Lords G. 29.
The clause appointing the controveener's right to be null … cannot be interpret cum effectu 1685 Ib. F. 77.
Lest it should be interpret to be to the behove of the pupil 1700 Misc. Spald. C. III. 179.
These comonlie called Egyptians, … are onlie interpret to be idle beggars, … fortunetellers [etc.]