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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mening, vbl. n.¹ Also: menn-, mein-, mean-, meen-, min- and -yng(e, -ying, -eng. [ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. mening, meaning, f. Mene v.¹]

1. Intention, purpose.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 356.
Of douchty man is nobill thing That alwayes gangs with mening a1500 Henr. Fab. 602 (Bann.).
Flatteraris with plesand wirdis quhite, With fals menyng and mouth mellifluate 15.. Dunb. App. x. 28.
With steidfast hairt and faythfull trew mening 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 135. 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 207.
Yowr grac sall haif experiens to jug my meneng ever to be the preserfwacion of this owr common weill a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxxix. 6. 1585 Elgin Rec. II. 4.
Quhairfoir the eldaris efter advysement heiring his guid menying 1580 Hume Promine (L'Envoy) 14. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 67.
Ane evil mynd ane evil mening(b) 1600-1610 Melvill 45.
The Regent's meining was [etc.] 1625 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II. 14 July.
It being fund … that his meining was bot to delay tym(c) 1562-3 Winȝet II. 71/19.
Bot that ȝe be perfyte in ane mynde and in ane meanyng 1567 Reg. Morton I. 22.
In making of the saidis proclamationis hir maiestie haid na coullorat meaning 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 94/13.
Then rather loaue my meaning and my panis Then [etc.] 1589 Lett. Jas. VI to Bruce 280.
Ye pointed out … your honest meaning to my seruice(d) 1572 Reg. Morton I. 76.
Ony sinister meenyng or vndew devise(e) 1583 Reg. Morton I. 138.
The laird … will lat ȝow mair amply vnderstand my mining in all materis 1619 Laing MSS. I. 154.

b. A move. (Cf. Mene v.¹ 1 b.) 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I. 298.
[And if your ships be not hasted or your land host make not a] meanyng [forward to us]

2. That which it is intended to convey by a statement etc.; the signification, sense, import, meaning.Also dowble menyng (e.m.E., 1551).(1) c1420 Ratis R. 334.
Quhat misteris it mar of this to say? My menyng weil consaue thow may a1500 Seven S. 1588.
Schir, I trow ȝe haf consauit my menyng now 1533 Gau 83/23. Ib. 84/14.
He man leiff the wordis and think quhat thai meyn, or elles he man leiff the mening c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1023. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 139/33.
Incontrar the true meanynge of the scripture Ib. 142/4; etc.
By the godlye meanynge of the sammyne a1578 Pitsc. II. 131/3. 1581 Acts III. 215/2.
Contrarious to the effect and meaning of the same contract 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 328.(2) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 827.
Ȝe losingeris … With dowble menyng fals drauchtis now ȝe draw

3. Consideration, reflection; recollection, remembrance.To haf mening, to recollect, have in mind. To haf in mening, id.(1) 1375 Barb. iv. 326 (C).
It wes gret vounder … That he … Suld ansuer apon sic maneir Forouten menyng of mercy 1513 Doug. xi. xvi. 30.
Nor this thy slauchter but ramemberyng Amang all pepill sall not be nor menyng 1533 Gau 74/28.
Faith is notht ane licht mening or ane thocht quhilk men cane haiff of thair aune … onderstanding(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 1135.
Hapnyt … The chyld … of that fest to haf mennyng & hou he was with fais tane ?1438 Alex. ii. 5434.
He and sho sall haue menyng That euer it seis of oure affere Ib. 10079.
Porrus had na mening than Of freindis na father na vthir man(3) ?1438 Alex. ii. 9557.
Cassamus that had in mening The anoy [etc.]

b. Commemoration or relation in words; narration, mention.Only to mak or ma mening.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xiii. 14.
Sa remanyt vthire twa Of quhame I wel here menyng ma c1420 Wynt. viii. 6060.
Nane awenture fell than off fychtyng That men suld mak off great menyng 14.. Burgh Laws c. 46 (A).
Gif he … makis na mencioune that is to say menyng of the fredome of his lordis fee(2) a1400 Leg. S. xiv. 78.
As his ewangel menynge can ma a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 606.