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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.

Pacify, v. Also: pac(i)e-, pasi- and -fie, -fé. [e.m.E. pacyfy (Caxton), F. pacifier (15th c. in Littré), OF. pacefier (1250 in Godef.), L. pācificāre. Cf. Pecify v.] To pacify.

1. tr. and reflex. To bring or restore (a person or persons) to a state of peace or tranquillity; to calm, to quiet. b. With material or non-material object.Also fig. and transf. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xx. 31.
With wilfull men … Quhome no ressone may seis nor pacify [: flattry, cumpany, invy] a1578 Pitsc. II. 44/9.
At thir wordis King Harie was sum thing paciefieit 1596 Dalr. I. 155/6.
The hiland yland men … quhome esilie he pacifet 1641 Baillie I. 291. —reflex. 1584–5 Elgin Rec. I. 177.
The saidis persones … being commandit to pacifie thame selffis continuit in thair disobedienceb. (1) 1565 Reg. Privy C. I. 394.
To send fourtie … men of weir to the west bordour for helping to pacifie the cuntre 1596 Dalr. I. 182/28. Ib. 281/8.
Quhen now Findok had pacified the iles [etc.](2) a1578 Pitsc. II. 48/18.
The Quene … sould pacifie all thingis at his [sc. the Cardinal's] plesour 1577–8 Reg. Privy S. VII. 236/1.
James, Erll of Mortoun, … hes … pacefeit the seditionis and civile weir 1589 Misc. Spald. C. II. 279.
And no difference nor dedlie feid … to be … pacifeit be ane of ws but [etc.] 1589–90 Waus Corr. 447.
Thair hes bene some hanking amangis our lordis, bot the King hes pacifiet it 1596 Dalr. I. 120/5.
Quhateuir is thocht necessar to pacifie this controuersie [etc.] a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 236.
He past first to the east marches and pacefeit all purposes thair 1637 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. ii. 248/1.
We … doe give you hartie thanks for the paines yow tooke to pacifie the same [insurrection]fig. 1513 Doug. vii. i. 6.
and transf. And all the blastis pacefyit and still 1562-3 Winȝet I. 13/11.
We dout not bot al idolatrie … salbe pacifiit be small labouris to ane godly concorde 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 139.
Sa that the conscience … is quieted and pacified c1600 Montg. Suppl. xii. 8.
My spreit is pacefiit from panis

2. To allay, calm or appease (passion). a1500 Henr. III. 165/82.
Now pacife thy feid c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 277 b/22.
The malyce of men thay [women] meis and pacify 1574 Sc. Ant. XIII. 31.
Quairby … God's wrayth [may be] pasifit 1570 Leslie 57.
He could on na wise pacifie and brek the … hatrent conceyved aganis him a1578 Pitsc. I. 323/6.
Paciefie

3. intr. To become peaceful. c1600 Montg. Suppl. xii. 23.
My panis wald pacefie, perchance, In cais I culd ȝour favour find