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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.

Particular, -er, a. (adv.) and n. Also: particwl-, -cull-, -caul-, partikul-; pairticul-; pertic(k)ul(l)-, pertycul-, pertecu(e)l-, particoll- and -are, -air(e, -ere, -eir, -eyr, -or; -ier; -ewer; perticlar, pertiklour. [ME., late ME. and e.m.E. particuler adj . (Chaucer), -ar (1465), particler (1472), pertyculer (Caxton), etc., also noun (1494), OF. particuler (mod. F. -ier), L. particulāris, f. particula Particul)e n.]

A. adj. Particular, in various applications.a. Specific to an individual thing or person. b. Pertaining to an individual person or group of persons and no others; private and personal, not public. c. That is one among others abstracted from the rest, individual, separate. d. Concerned with the separate parts or details of a whole; particularised, detailed: (but in ambiguity with c above).a. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 61/20.
This vniuersal knawlage … he [Adam] appliit to particulare and singulare naturis of all maner of thingis be experiens Ib. MS. fol. 166 a.
The sone wyrkis nocht his operacioun bot be the mediacioun of the causis particular and inferior 14.. Acts I. 350/1.
For sitting apoun perticlar assouerance 1513 Doug. (1553) Title.
The xiii bukes of Eneados … euery buke hauing hys perticular prologe 1566–7 Reg. Privy C. I. 497.
Power … to appoint and imputt particular taxatioun … upoun everie burgh yeirlie 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. .
Sum regent … quha sal haif cure of thayr studie … bot nocht to reid ony particular lection to thayme 1573 Grey Friars II. 152.
As the pertycular acquittances gevin to him therupone beris c1590 Fowler II. 27/5.
That in particular iniureis the rectors autoritie was iustly interponit 1595 Paisley B. Rec. 164.
Conforme to ane particular compleint 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 46.
They can rayse stormes … in such a particular place … as God will permitte them so to trouble Id. Basil. Doron 6/3.
In all the pointis of his [a prince's] calling als ueill generall, as a Christiane touardis God, as particulaire as a king touardis his people 1613 Haddington Corr. 76.
Communicat your particular dessein to our chauncellour c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. fol. 22.
Be admitting his disciples … to the degree of maisters without particular examination 1657 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 169.
Ane inventar containeing the haill particular names of the samen [books]b. (1) 1426 Acts II. 9/1.
That … the kingis liegis … be gouernyt vndir the kingis lawis … alanerly and vndir na particular lawis 1456 Hay I. 264/32.
In quhat nature cummys thir particulere bataillis 1491 Acta Conc. I. 168/2.
Abone all singulare and particulare proffit 1519–20 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 194.
That na maner of nychtbour … put thair bairnis till ony particulare scule within this toun bot to the principall grammer scule of the samyn 1531 Bell. Boece II. 343.
Perticular 1555 Acts II. 495/2.
It is thocht aganis all law … the making of particulare liggis 1563 Reg. Privy C. I. 244. 1565 Ib. 414.
Particular malice 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xlix.
Preferring thair particular avancement to the publict tranquillite 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 82.
Particular weill hes spulȝeit policie Ib. xxx. 130, 143. 1584 Gowrie P. 40.
I thoth that a particular wretting … written by my eneme was not of sufficient fors to derogat to the letter of protectione 1585 Gray Lett. & P. 54.
I haue … left afe all particulair querell 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 38/4.
For publict prayer seruis maire for exemple … then for any particulaire conforte to the suplicante 1607 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxxxvii.
Authorizit with your maiesties particular lettre to him c1610 Melville Mem. 94.
When we had vsed our conjunct commission … my compaignion tald his maieste that I had a particulaire commission 1664 Stitchill Baron Ct. 35.
Except be particular liberty fra the laird himself(b) a1500 Colk. Sow Proh. 59.
Pairticular malice & all such thing removit(2) 1456 Hay I. 265/26.
Bataill particulere is ay for hid caus c1460 Regim. Princ. 123 (Maitl.).
Quhen kingis settis thame for prow particulair [etc.] 1572 St. A. Kirk S. 369.
Wythtout hetred favour or affectioun particularellipt. a1538 Abell 4* a.
Comvn prophet is to be preferrit to particular a1605 Birrel Diary 32.
If he … faught not Godis quarrell … befoir he faucht or revenge hes awen particularc. 14.. Acts I. *89/2.
Off the kepyn of the generall gylde … all perticlar gilde hidertill oysyt … salbe away put c1515 Asl. MS. I. 42/28.
That ane particuler persone mak prayere … in his mouth for mony causis 1537 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 460.
Particaular diettis of justice courtis 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 582.
They cheis men of thair factioun and swa haldis the publict offices … amangis a certane of particular men fra hand to hand 1574 Edinb. Kirk S. 20 May.
The mater … comittit … to the particular assemblie of the ministeris eldaris and deaconis 1578 Second Bk. Disc. in Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 497.
Assembleis … ather ar … of particular kirkis … ather of ane province [etc.] 1587 Acts III. 461/2.
That a particuler register be kepit be the selff of all thingis that salhappin to be done 1595 Conv. Burghs I. 469.
That na burges … nor na partikulare brugh … presume [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I. 118/8.
Because we heir haue … ouer lang insisted … in sum particular materis and singular in explicating the lawes 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 30/4.
As for the particulaire pointis of religion I neade not to delate thame 1598 Crim. Trials II. 50.
Particuler 1610 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 175.
Summa of the particullar wecht of the persellis of the siluir wark quhilk I have 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 100.
The perticuler deidis contenit in the dittay 1690 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 25.
And to keep ane par[ticu]lar register in their toune bookes for that effect in tyme coming 1692 Pitcairn Assembly iv. ii. (1817) 63.
Did Christ … take every particular huckster-wife by the lug?d. 1609 Wemyss Fam. P.
Ane perfyte and particular inventar maid of the haill utenseills 1638 Black Bk. Taymouth 392.
That they giue in ane particular roll of ewerie nonsubscryver of the covenant 1645 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 146 b.
For collhouers and berirs feis as the pertiklour skrow will bear c1650 Spalding I. .
As be the particular condiscendanss contenit in thair imprinted protestatiouns most lairgelie do appeir

e. Distinguished among others, special, exceptional. 1525 Acts II. 297/2.
Ordanis the justice generale … to sett justice courtis particular quhen neid is for pvnicioun of particular faltis 1558-66 Knox II. 74.
Of the lordis or uthir particular men of this realme 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 501.
To his hienes particular justices abonewrittin in the severall boundis committit to everie ane of thame

f. Of a person: ? Unusual; ? eccentric; ? single-minded; ? self-interested, self-seeking (cf. B 3 below and Particularité n. 1). 16.. Hist. Kennedy 9.
This last Gilbertt [Earl of Cassillis] was ane particular manne and ane werry greidy manne and cairitt nocht how he gatt land sa that he culd cum be the samin

g. Partisan; partial to (for) (a faction). 1649 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 143.
It is weil done bot to show ȝourselff particular for any faction

h. adv. Specifically, individually, separately. = Particularlie adv. a. 1599 Household Bks. Jas. VI & Anne 31 May.
Allowit as the perticular subscryueit warrand beiris

B. absol., passing into noun.

1. In particular. a. In distinction from others; especially. b. Individually; also, privately. c. In detail; also in mair particular, in greater detail, with greater particularisation. 1490 Irland Mir. II. 112/29.
And gif he … happin trowis a thing in particular that is nocht to be trowit [etc.] 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II. 240.
But place of audience only granted to the duikis grace in particuleyr 1576 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 52.
In respect that thair commoune muris … will scarslie serue the touneschip … and that ane grit pairt thairof is ellis set furthe in particular [etc.] 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 5.
Quhen he dis cendit in mair particular requyring gif [etc.] 1586-7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 150.
The Quene … and the Earle of Leicester hes desyrit to speik with me in particulaire 1600-1610 Melvill 308.
The king … ordeanit tham to be tryed in particular be the barones [etc.] c1610 Melville Mem. 100.
Then sche entrit with me in particulair 1614 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 129.
He hes writtin the caus thairof himself in particular to your W. 1631 Justiciary Cases I. 178.
And in perticular the loird thesorar of England 1670 Aberd. Council Lett. V. 20.
What lose this burghe in particular susteines

2. That which is single or specific.

a. A particular application (of an idea). a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS. 279 b/89.
Perticular prefferris nocht vniuersalitie 1590-1 Bruce Serm. 74.
Look how weill we agree in the generall; in the particuler we loope als far sundry 1663 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 18 Nov.
It wes replyeit from a particular a generall could not be inferrit

b. An individual person. 1576 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 51.
That sindrye sewerall peces of oure communitie … ar gevin and set furth to sum particularis be your lordschip [etc.] 1585 Cal. Sc. P. VIII. 129.
Bot we fand this particulewer assured in himself of your honors good mynd toward him c1590 Fowler II. 116/25.
Upon the heades and persons of some few particulers who ar offended

c. An item (of information, of a financial statement, etc.); a point or detailed matter (of business); a detail.Chiefly pl., also coll. and sing.(1) 1577 Waus Corr. 142.
Thar is mony particularis quhilkis at the present I man leiff to wryit 1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI & Anne 28 Feb.
Summa of money for empteis spenditt … in the monethe of Februar 1597 pertecularis of the da that buik beiris 1605 Melvill 579.
And feiring the misconstructing of thair … meittingis be the bisschoppis, behavit thame selves in sic sort that thai meddilit with no particularis whatsumevir 1611 Reg. Panmure I. xcii.
Ewery man can best declaire the particulers heirof [sc. marches] quha hes the landis in labowringe 1631 Justiciary Cases I. 193.
Quhilk thrie perticulares agreis and quadrattis with the natural qualitie of the leasings 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 366.
For agenting sundrie particularis relaiting to the toune 1661 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II. 329.
Beside the arrears [of his stipend etc.] thair are leesome other particulars … For dressing the Principals garden [etc.] 1663 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 499.
For super at Leith … conforme to ane accompt of particulars [£5. 18s.] 1681 Red Bk. Menteith II. 198.
I desire your lordship's answer to these pertecuelores and that it may be poesatiue 1699 Galloway P. 23, 25, 26 June.
All quhich soumes & vtheres pertickullores abovewritine(2) 1615 Bk. Islay 306.
Because the perticular war langsum to wreit I hawe appoyntit ane of my advocattis … to confer your lordship at lenth(3) 1629 Bk. Carlaverock II. 114.
Nor acqwentit me withe yowr lordship's mynd in that particwlar quhat yowr lordschip wold have from me for it 1672 Edinb. Surgeons II. 98.
Having taken to thair consideration that particular recommended to them by the Calling … anent prentices 1672 R. Barclay Wm. Michel Unmasqued 45.
The reader … will easily observe his lurking in this particular

d. A thing among a number of things; one of a number of articles or objects. Only in plur. 1667–8 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 493.
Deburst … for severall particullares was standing in the mantioune hows 1675 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 30 June.
For meat drink and uther particullars aught pundis Scots 1675 Hist. Carnegies 358.
Ane embroydered purs quhairin ther is ane pear of gold bracelleitts an gold ring [etc.] … which particollars abowe nemed I obleidg me … to [etc.] 1677 Cunningham Diary 97.
To the Lady Foord which she wared for particulars to my wife 7.14.4. 1677 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 250.
James Affleck was deu to his mither in law sundrie particulars which shee assignet to him

3. (One's) private affairs or business; (one's) personal interest or concern; also, ? one's private belief or fancy.sing. and plur.sing. 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II. 204.
As I will nocht … for my perticuleir be ane hynder … to the welefair of ane commoun cause 1567 Sel. MSS. Q. Mary 183. 1569 Calderwood II. 479.
I assure you myne owne particular nather in blood lands or geere is so heavie to me as [etc.] 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 324.
Nawyis willing to impeid the publict peax for his particular 1585 Cal. Sc. P. VIII. 107.
Haiffing fund at all tymes your honors guid will not onlye to extend in my particulare [etc.] 1591 Reg. Privy C. IV. 627.
That for the particulair of ane persone … his majestie will tak on a weare 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 55/7.
Euer thinking the commoune interesse his cheifest particulaire Ib. 56/4.
[He will] frame the comonueill euer to aduance his particulaire 1600-1610 Melvill 65.
Whowbeit he was verie hat in all questiones yit when it twitched his particular no man could crab him Ib. 382.
It is nather ritches honour nor rent nor na warldlie particular that we crave c1610 Melville Mem. 231. 1622 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 347.
As for ȝour aun particular, itt is doin 1629 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 307. 1656 Laing MSS. I. 306.
As for your perticular medl no mor with him in it 1676 Old Ross-shire I. 299.
I doe admyre exceedinglie that you and Orde does not take up yor particullor in a more freindlie way [etc.]plur. c1590 Fowler II. 94/1.
His whole conquests Redounding not to the benefeit of his particulers … inhanced the public pouar of the papedome 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 49/9.
Gif … thay ualde urge you to imbrace sum of thaire fantasies in place of Goddis uorde or ualde culloure thaire particulaires uith a praetendit zeale Ib. 118/13.
Suffer nane about you to mell in any mennis particulairs c1610 Melville Mem. 312.
He … wan some of the lordis whais particulaires he promysed to set fordwart sa that they wald concur with him 1610 Highland P. III. 118.
Particuliers 1631 Sel. Biog. I. 365.
And let us nevir forget that quhilk we suld prefer to our particulars 1686 P. Gordon Diary 147.

b. A private quarrel, a feud. 1585 Misc. Bann. C. I. 134.
The Lord Maxwell that had been in armes all the summer before for a particuler against Johnston, the king's warden 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 623.
As I advertised you at first [he has his] perticular [against Tyrone] 1603 Moysie 2.
Calling to rememberance the particular wes betuix him and the Erle of Ergyle 1622 Grant Chart. 220.
That they dale not with him in the particulair of McIntoshes till [etc.]

c. A communication on ? specific, or ? private, matters, in distinction from a more general one. 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 623.
[As to your] particular [to my master I believe he has written to you thereanent]