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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.

Living, Lyving(e, vbl. n. Also: livein(g, liweing, lievin, lyve(i)ng, lyvyn(g, lywyng. [ME. lyvyng (14th c.), living, f. Live v. Cf. Leving and Liffing.]

1. A person's earthly life or lifetime. c1420 Wynt. vi. 1132.
In na thyng That I delte in my lyvyng [v.rr. liffynge, -ing] Helpys me nowe

b. Manner of living, way of life. c1420 Wynt. v. 1022.
Thare him fell a foule endyng For hys fals and ywyll lyvyng Ib. vi. 2130.
He cowth iwyll be a kyng, … that oysyd swylk lyvyng 1596 Dalr. I. 119/1.
The law prescriuet nocht a lyke maner of lyueng to al, bot to euerie man according to his vocatione of lyfe 1605 Reg. Privy C. VII. 88.
Remembering the barbarous and deteastable form of living of the present inhabitants of the Lewis

2. One's livelihood, maintenance, support.(1) c1420 Wynt. ii. 662.
The land of Egypt … That in all thyng wes profytabille And tyll hys lyvyng delytabylle 1450 Exch. R. V. 425 n.
As we have assignit … till … Patrik Lyndesay five markis … till his living yerly 1549 Compl. 73/2.
Loue of ȝour natiue cuntre suld be … rutit in ȝour hartis, considerand that ȝour lyuis, ȝour bodeis, ȝour habitatione … ȝour lyuyngis ande sustentan … is in it(2) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3076.
Swa passyd thai Besatys off Scotland, And wan thame lywing in Irland 15.. Dunb. App. ii. 42.
Gif thow beis ane marchand man And wynnis thy living be the see 1596 Dalr. II. 14/20.
That quha wan thair lyueing with … musical instrumentis 1635 Dickson Wks. 161.
But how shall I get my living won in this evil world if I use … just courses? 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 245.
What height of profanity is this land come to, when men cannot get living in the country, but they are … had in suspicion if they be not profane or loose?

3. Means of support or source of income; espec. one's possessions, property, lands; also, a particular landed estate. Also plur. c1420 Wynt. viii. 2581.
Oure eldaris, quhill thai lyvyd, than Oure gret lyvyn till ws thai wan 1560 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 55.
To provide the said Janet … ane honest and sufficient livein quhair sche culd nevir have bruicked her awin lievin peciablie be raisin the saime lyes in sa brokin ane cuntrie 1562 Knox II. 341.
Yf any think that a competent lyving is to be assigned to thame we repugne not provided that the lauboraris of the ground be nott oppressed 1577 A. Hay Nobility 15.
The Erle of Menteith … now decaying in lyvinge & of no great power a1578 Pitsc. II. 298/28.
Thair liweingis and heretaiges that had beine hauldin frome thame ?1549 Monro W. Isles 6.
Four greatest of the nobles callit lordis; … Four thanes of les living & estate 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 241.
That the Mures … were possessours of the estate & liveing of Rowallane

4. A church-living, a benefice.See also Kirk-leving n. 1562 Knox II. 340.
And also for the ministeris, thair lyvingis ar so appointed that the most parte shall lyve but a beggaris lyef 1596 Dalr. I. 325/26.
Henrie, Duke of Austrie, … erected a monaster in Vien, and a gret and large liueng layd till it