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.
Quotation dates: 1540, 1606, 1657-1663
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Mens(e, Mence, v. [Later Sc. var. of Mensk.] tr. To do honour to, to reverence; to confer honour upon, to ‘dignify’, ‘grace’, ‘adorn’; to honour with a visit. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1325.
God nor my trucour mens [Ch. mence] a tedder 1540 Ib. 4088.
Cum heir, falset, and mens [Ch. mense] this gallowis 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
Lyke Hophnees with elcrookes to minch and not Samueles to mense the offerings of God 1657 R. Moray Lett. 31 Dec.
Were you never so far gone of the dorts I promise you I will mense you perfectly then a1663 Pappity Stampoy 53.
They mense little the mouth that bites off the nose
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"Mens v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mense_v>
