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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.

Nullité, -ity, -itie, n. Also: nulletie, -aty, -atie, nuilletie. [F. nullité, med. L. nullitas, e.m.E. nullitie (1570).]

1. a. The fact of being legally null or invalid; invalidity. b. A plea that an action, disposition etc. is legally invalid. c. Rendering null, invalidation, quashing.(1) 1543 Acts II. 433/1.
For reductioun of ane proces be ressoun of informalite & nullite contenit in the samyn 1587 Ib. III. 434/2.
And his maiestie … sall nawayes be hard to querrell the saidis infeftmentis … for ony … ressone or caus of nullitie invaliditie lesioun or hurte 1601 Crim. Trials II. 374.
For the nullaty of the said relaxatioune produceit that it is null 1631 Highland P. I. 330.
To infer nullitie, reductioun, tinsall or amissioun of the foirsaid infeftment a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 97.
Ane declarator of nullitie of ane right cannot be persewed in ane inferior court Ib. 126.
Ane actione of nullity of ane tack 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 160.
The committee that was appoynted to be upon the nullatie of the assemblies c1650 Spalding I. 228.
Seing the bischopis war abolishit, and there could not be ane parliament without nulletie, wanting ane thrid estait Ib.
That there proceidingis suld be … lauchfull, not subiect to nulletie or reductioun 1666 Old Ross-shire I. 39.
All declarators of nullitie of marriage for impotence 1668-9 Fraser Lawfulness Separ. 50.
The nullity which was before in his office ceases, and his office is valid 1681 Stair Inst. iv. xx. 36.
If … any defender … should propone that nullity of the tailȝie, it would not be relevant 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 778.(2) 1543 Reg. Morton II. 288.
And geve the lordis wald exeme thame … for nullite of the proces 1548 Prot. Bk. Sir A. Gaw 2.
[He] protestit gif he set ony langar in the said caus for remeid of law and nullite of the proces 1565 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 4 Oct. c1575 Balfour Pract. 367.
Gif the judge … assignis for productioun … over schort ane day … and thairfoir the said partie protestis for nullitie of proces and remeid of law 1586 Montrose Baillie Ct. 28 July.(3) 1555 Acts II. 495/2.
That all nulliteis be ressaifit and haue proces be way of exceptiounis or replyis … That the partie aganis quhome the said exceptiounis or reply of nullitie is proponit [etc.] a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 184.
Nullities of wreitts founded upon ane act of parliament most byde declarator 1650 Glasgow Chart. II. 10.
The samyne superioritie … to be frie … fra all … appryseingis … disclamationes, nullities, forfaltouris [etc.]

d. A condition or circumstance, esp. a procedural informality, which invalidates a legal action, disposition, etc.; a cause of legal invalidity. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 219.
Nullitie cannot be receaved against ane infeftment [etc.] … be way of exception, except it be such ane evident nullitie as neids no … probation, as … it is ordained that horneing shal be null, not being registratt in dew tyme c1650 Spalding II. 56.
Except there wer found a nulletie in the electioun 1668-9 Fraser Lawfulness Separ. 46.
Every nullity is a breach of the law or a disconformity to the law Ib. 50. 1681 Stair Inst. iv. xlvii. 12.
Horning having so severe effects, the lords do reduce the same upon the least nullity, by omission of any thing requisite in the execution … thereof 1681 Fountainhall Decis. I. 129.
I think the want of the stamp a nullity in executions of diligences 1707 Ib. II. 371.]
[The lords … found the bearing only of three knocks … was a nullity of the execution

2. Non-existence. c1590 Fowler II. 94/9.
The scarsetye, yea nuilletie, of cardnalls partakers