A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1599
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Oracle, Orakil(l, -kyl(l, n. [ME. (Chaucer), e.m.E. and F. oracle (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. ōrāculum.] A (divine) oracle. Also (in Douglas), b. an omen, portent, augury, and c. a divine promise or message. 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 23.
And euery oracle [Ruddim. orakyl] of goddis admonyst eik That [etc.] 1513 Ib. x. i. 18; etc.
Oraclys 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 83/22.
Kyng Cresus past to the oracle of Appollo in the tempil of Delphos 1579 Despauter (1579).
The orakillis of the goddis c1590 J. Stewart II. 40/377. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 53. a1599 Rollock Wks. 435.
Quha thinkis he speikis ay ane oracleb. 1513 Doug. iii. i. 69.
Besekyng this avisioun worth happy And the oracle prosperite suld signifyc. 1513 Doug. viii. ii. 27.
And O thou haly fader Tyberine Conferm thy promys and orakill in hy 1513 Ib. x. v. 99.
At this orakyll be hastyt to our weill 1513 Ib. iii. ii. 92.
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"Oracle n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/oracle>
