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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.

Ourta, v. Also: oure-, owr-, or(e)-. P.p. -tan(e, -tayne. [Our adv.; Ta v. Cf. e.m.E. oretane p.p. (Shakesp.) and Overta and Ourtak.]

1. tr. a. To come up with, chance to meet, ‘run into’. b. To catch up with, come up to in pursuit, overtake. c. To come at, get at with hostility.(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 97.
Thai had sworn iff thai mycht se The Bruys quhar thai mycht him our ta That thai suld dey or then hym sla Ib. vi. 593 (E).
[To] Ryn eftre him & him ourta And lat him na wys pas thaim fra Ib. xviii. 325 (C).
The Scottis men emang thame raid And slew all thaim thai mycht ourta a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 521.
That in hyr bed he can hyre oure-ta & mad hyr sa bludy & bla [etc.] Ib. xliii. 76.
In a rew callit Via Apia Syndry poure men thu sal ourta ?1438 Alex. i. 980. c1420 Wynt. i. 714.
Thar sum folk bot a fute has And yhit for sped the dere ourtays Ib. v. 4630.
Oure ta(c) 1375 Barb. iii. 612.
He … saw thaim ner and ner cum ay … Bot giff we fynd sum sutelte Ourtane all sone sall we be Ib. xii. 80 (C). Ib. 139 (E). a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 42.
For-thi mycht nane Eschape that euire he [the dragon] has ourtane ?1438 Alex. i. 3147. c1420 Wynt. iv. 1493.
Schir Flamyne wes Quhen all the Romanys ware ourtane Left in the tentis hym allane a1508 Kynd Kittok (Ch. & M.).
Scho met thar … Ane ask rydand on a snaill Et cryit ourtane fallow haill 1513 Doug. ix. ix. 76.
Quham Turnus … With speir in hand persewys forto spill And quhen he hes ourtane him at his will [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 38.
Verry few of Scottis was ourtane or slane 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxxvi.
The litill beists maid hauie mane, With the gret beists to be oretane Ib. xxxvii.

2. To come upon and lay hold of, seize, arrest, catch. 1456 Hay I. 205/17.
He gettis a lettre of leve to tak ony man of that contree … that he may ourta and haldis him prisoner quhill [etc.] Ib. 208/28.
That quhare ever thai mycht be ourtane … that thai war arrestit and thair gudis 1470 Peebles B. Rec. I. 164.
That na swyn suld be haldyn out band na fund in na manys skath vnder payn of slachter quareuir thai may be ourtan 1472 Edinb. Chart. 135.
That the schireff [etc.] … mak thair gudis be arrestit quhaireuer thai may be ourtane 1491 Acts II. 225/1.
Than incontinent … he sall pas & persew the slaaris … and rais the Kingis horne on him and rais the cuntre incontinent in his support quhill he be owrtane

3. passive. a. To be found guilty or convicted in a court of law (of or with the offence, as (for) an offender). b. Of the offence: To be proven (against (apone) one).In some instances there is ambiguity with prec. sense.a. 1375 Barb. xix. 55.
Thir thre planly War with ane assis thar ouretane Tharfor thai drawin war ilkane 1460 Ayr B. Ct. 3 Apr.
The sayd Marion … was owrtane & filit be ane grete assis of all the said puncteis c 1468 Ib. 28 Mar.
Sal for the first defaute [etc.] … and geve he be ourtan tharwyth tharefter he sal [etc.] 1496–7 Prestwick B. Rec. 33.
Will Haver wes our tane for a commoun seller of pettis 1511 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 134.
He sall pay for ilk tyme he beis ouretane or tayntit thair with xv s. 1517 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 84.
Quhare ony personis beis notit and ourtane of sic convocacioun and trubillis making that thai be ponist tharfore 1533 Acts Sederunt i. 18.
Ther is cumin complant to ws that ther is certane persounis ourtane be ane assise and convicte … be speciale wais 1551–2 Reg. Privy C. I. 123.
Thaim that … revis the gudis out of Ingland … and beis ourtane and convictb. 1485 Breadalbane Coll. No. 22.
Efter the said interruption be noturly knawin and ourtane apone me 1533 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 63.
That na fals stuff be sauld … vnder the pane of [etc.] … als oft as it beis ouretane

4. a. Of a (usu. adverse) agency: To come upon more or less unexpectedly or suddenly, to seize, catch, surprise.(a) c1420 Wynt. i. 232.
That fyre and flwde sulde all oure-ga And wndo that thai mycht oure-ta Ib. 676.
Quhen eelde thaim hapnys tyl our-ta [: sla](c) a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 15.
The Jow … Ourtane be merknes of nycht Ib. xxxiii. 94.
Man na wif outane nane That with that cut mycht be ouretane ?1438 Alex. ii. 5635.
And gif outtrage hes me ourtane c1420 Wynt. iv. 1410.
A fell subversyowne and suddayne Had hale the cyte nere ouretane Ib. viii. 3971.
Sa pryde is offt ourtane wyth skath Ib. 5596.
A stane That come fra hycht has hym oure-tane Ib. ii. 715. 1456 Hay II. 143/16.
That sudaynly he war nocht our tane with unkyndely hete or calde a1500 Seven S. 1190.
He hatit women … That he wald neuer ly with nane Quhill he with seiknes was our tane Ib. 2039.
How the ill wedder has thé ourtane 1513 Doug. xi. xv. 142. a1568 Scott ii. 192.
For nycht had thame ourtane c1590 Fowler I. 197/1.
As one quhome trembling feaver hathe ortayne

b. passive. To be overcome, captivated, ensnared, by (with) some condition or emotion. a1400 Leg. S. l. 478.
Wise man call I can hym nan With ingnorance that is ouretane c1420 Ratis R. 1487.
Fore wyt is twrnyt in mail-engyne … And gret lordschip and senȝory Is hail ourtan with tyrandry c1420 Wynt. iv. 1616.
And all the senatowrys ilkane Sa wytht radnes wes ouretane a1500 Seven S. 2279.
This knycht was sa with luf ourtane c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 252 b/36.
Fro sleip haif me ourtane

c. Of a law: To have authority over, apply to (certain persons and not others). — c1420 Wynt. viii. 591.
That ilke custwme suld oure-ta And bynd his tenandis and na ma

5. a. To tackle, deal with (some matter or concern). b. To deal with successfully, manage, succeed. Const. to do something.a. c1420 Wynt. viii. 436.
Bot gyve that thare be custwme nane Wyth lauch the cas may be oure-taneb. 1375 Barb. viii. 190.
For gif he mycht nocht weill our-ta To met thame at the first, that he Suld haf the tothir at his pouste

c. To deal with or clear off in turn (a number of matters or concerns); to go through or ‘cover’ in action or discussion.Common only in Wyntoun. c1420 Wynt. i. 1583.
Quhill thretty wyntyr be oure tane Ib. ii. 884.
Swa suld I dulle hale yhoure delyte … Or that I had thame half ourtane Gyff I sulde tell thaim halyly Ib. v. 3288.
Quhill I have ouretane Off the Romanys the storys Ib. vii. 2052, viii. Prol. 23. 1502 Acta Conc. III. 178.
[Cases north of the Forth to come up during the first 8 days, those south during the second 8, then indiscriminately] as thai may be ouretane