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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.

Order, Ordre, Ordo(u)r, v. Also: ordoure, ordur, ordier. [ME. (a 1240) and e.m.E. ordre(n, order, f. Order n.: cf. OF. ordreer.]

1. tr. To arrange in a particular position; to assign (something or someone) a place in a sequence or fixed arrangement; to position. 1531 Vaus 3.
Sall aye the dict[i]one gouernit be ordourit eftir his gouernair? c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5637.
That moste happy cumpanye Sall ordourit be … At the rycht hand of Christe Ib. 5891.
Ordorit 1622-6 Bisset I. 50/5.
All his nobillis war ordoured at thair conventioun in thair awin places

b. To put into an orderly arrangement. 1551 Dundee B. Ct. fol. 114 (13 Nov.).
To produce the reexaminacion of the saidis witnes dewly ordurit & inclusit 1657 Misc. Hist. Soc. VII. 13.
Tusday; solitarie, ordred my bookes

2 To draw up in order of battle, array, marshal (troops). Also reflex. and p.p. ?1438 Alex. ii. 7999.
Now is it tyme that we deuyse … on quhat-kin wyse That ȝe will ordour ȝour menȝe 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 153 b.
Galdus … ordorit his batall in ane lang array 1535 Stewart 9750.
King Corbred than orderit hes the feild Of weirmen wicht c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2758.
Wycht fute men … Quhome he ordourit in sindry partisreflex. 1533 Bell. Livy II. 87/18.
[They] tuke mare attendance & cure to ordoure thame in strangest maner than ever thay did aforep.p. 1533 Boece ix. ix. 308.
Quhen aduersaris war in array ordorit a1578 Pitsc. II. 92/22.
Quhene thay saw … the Scotismen so greit ane airmie and so weill orderit [etc.]

3. To dispose in proper order (something material); to lay out, fit out or repair. 1547 Treas. Acc. IX. 88.
To Jhonne Achisoun and xij servandes … quhilkes kepit, stentit and ordourit the saidis pavilȝeonnes 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 18.
The prowest and thesawar … to wesye the kyrk of Leyth how it was ordourit 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 58.
To se the schoir be weill ordorit and reparit 1588 Pittenweem Ann. 12.
The house quhilk they have ellis coft ordourit and plenished to thair great … expense 1641 Dunferm. Kirk S. 9.
How the kirk bell may be orderit and rung without couping

b. p.p. Of persons: Arrayed, prepared; attired, fitted out; fit, apt. ?1438 Alex. ii. 5762.
Porrus … for that wark weill ordourit [F. bien tailliés] is, Mychty in armes and … weill taucht in cheualry 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 114.
Thow saw mony ane lustie fresche galland, Weill ordourit for resauing of thair Quene

4 To set or keep in order (persons or something nonmaterial); to arrange, direct, regulate, manage or conduct; to control, govern or rule. Also p.p. c1520-c1535 Nisbet I. 4.
As for all conuersatiounn and dedis he ordris thame vnto the proffit of his nechbour to help him 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 727/2.
He … is maid almaist unable to ordour his benefice as deuite requiris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2963.
Quhen scho had ordorit hir impyre [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 107.
Quhasa wald ordour thair wordis … to the plesour of God 1557 Black Bk. Taymouth 201.
That he may ordour his besines and stent his osting to haif his folkis in reddines 1565 Instit. Ct. Sess. 4 a.
The saidis maseris … remane within the bar and ordour the same 1566 Acts To reader iij.
The lawis … ordouris to the best baith godlie and manlie effairis 1567 G. Ball. 137. a1578 Pitsc. II. 123/15.
The mariaige quhilk was solempnouslie ordourit and endit at Notrodames kirk c1590 Fowler II. 106/25.
The maner to governe and ordour theme in disceplen 1622-6 Bisset I. 47/6. Ib. 83/1. 1667 Laing MSS. I. 364.
I ordoured and establisht the reeling forces and brought the lousnesse of that court to som methodp.p. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5491.
Thair is diuers … is ordorit by gude ordour for gredynes

b. reflex. To conduct or behave (oneself). c1520-c1535 Nisbet I. 14.
How wyffis autht to ordur thaimselfis towart thair husbandis

5. To make arrangements for, to see to the organisation of. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 727.
The nobyll nychtingall [etc.] … My obsequees and feistis funerall Ordour thay wald. with notis of the new 1558 Peebles B. Rec. I. 248.
Ordaines the baillies … to ordour ane [watch] of few or greit nowmer as efferis

6. To issue an authoritative directive, instruction or command; to enjoin, give orders; to direct, enact. Variously const. a1538 Abell 32 a.
Paip Gay … ordurris ilk man suld tak ordurlie ascendand c 1550 Balcarres P. 316.
As I have orderd this berrar to schaw ȝour grace at mair lenthe a1540 Freiris Berw. 474 (B).
Vntill I ordour [M. For till our ordour] it wer a grit dispyte That ony sic [etc.] 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II. 186.
My lord speirit at them gif thay had done all things as was ordourit 1636 Dumbarton B. Rec. 51.
Thay … ar orderit to be scurgit till thay bluid 1648 Sc. Ant. IV. 27.
Shee is ordiered to stand at the cross … with a paper hat … and her filthie falt wreatten theron 1649 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 177.
Anent the coall … it is ordourit to be set for twa hundrethe merkis 1676 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS.
Ye ar hereby ordrid to … aprehend … Mr. William McMillan

7. a. ? To obtain an authoritative injunction or decree against (another); ? to exercise authority or discipline over. b. ? To operate the regular procedure against (a person, in evicting him). 1586 Inverness Rec. I. 307.
Johne Neilson … said to the said baillie he suld haif ane amendis of him and that he suld ordour him 1591 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 9 April.
James … obleist hym to ramowe hymself … & grantit hym self lauchfully ordorit & ramowit

8. To be orderit with, to be boarded along with (another boarder) or by (a landlady): see Order n. 10 a and b. ? 1552–3 Balcarres P. 312.
And I had bene orderit with ony honest woman I wald nocht settin by howsoweir it had bene Ib.
The first tyme I come in France I was orderit with the lordis dochteris

9. To admit to holy orders, to ordain. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 99/13.
St. Paull ordinat Timothe and Tite, geueand thame pouer … to ordour wthiris