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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pretermit(t, v. Also: pretermite, -myt(t, prettermet. [e.m.E. pretermit(t (1528), -myt(t, L. prætermittere to let pass, omit, overlook.]

1. tr. To leave unmentioned in a statement, to leave out, pass over in silence, omit. 1513 Doug. vi xiv 88.
Quha wold thé, gret Cato, lefe onhyt? Or quha with silens Cossus pretermyt [L. tacitum … relinquat]? Ib. x iv 56. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 55.
Ȝe knaw quhat travaill and cummyr I haif sustenit for ȝoure commoun wele … quhilk I will pretermytt [1821 omit; L. silentio transmittere], in dreid men deme me arrogant 1535 Stewart 21787.
The lawe siclyke wald nothing pretermit 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 31.
As mony vtheris simplis … may be prescryuit quhilkis I pretermit to forder lasair 1600-1610 Melvill 367.
As efter all our fastes, quhilk I haiff pretermitted in this storie, because I have wraitten a speciall treatise thairof 1604 W. Alexander Croesus 1019 (D, E). 16.. Anderson MS. Hist. in Crim. Trials I i 135.
Thair chancit in the beginning of this raid ane thing … quhilk for the noveltie of the fact I wald not pretermit

2. To neglect or fail to perform a duty, follow a procedure, carry out a requisite action or the like; to leave undone.Const. direct obj., infin., and ellipt.(1) 1482 Acta Aud. 99/1.
That causit hir to pretermitt the productioune of hir pruvis 1513 Doug. vi viii 66.
Suyth is it, Na thing my deir frend dyd thou pretermyt [L. nihil … relictum] 1531 Bell. Boece I 134.
The capitanis faucht in sic ire, that thay pretermittit na thing that micht pertene to forcy campionis Id. Livy I 247/15.
Na thing was pretermittit [L. nihil remissum] that mycht proffitt … the ciete be ingyne and lauboure Ib. 163/7.
Pretermitting [L. praetermittens] 1555 Corr. M. Lorraine 405.
To … preas fordward to your grace service, and to pretermit na thyng quhane occasion is gevin me that I can do to your … pleasour 1561 Cal. Sc. P. I 594.
[Though he has no particular occasion to write, yet he cannot] pretermit [refreshing the memory of their happy acquaintance] 1571 Knox in Calderwood III 54.
But one thing … I may not pretermitt, that is, to give him a lee in his throat that [etc.] 1575 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 282. 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 224.
That he pretermittit na inventioun how he mycht destroy the said Maclayne(2) 1478 Acta Conc. I 16/1.
Thai pretermittit to allege to a warand c1575 Balfour Pract. 536.
And [they] sall on na wayis pretermit or neglect to do the samin(3) 1533 Boece 280 b.
Ane ȝong man … reparit to hir oftymes on the nycht, and seildyn pretermyttit the day

b. ? To cause to be left undone. 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 59.
Thairfor the said allegens suld nocht prettermet the cheissing of the provest in that part

3. To fail to deal with, by inadvertence or otherwise, to overlook, omit. Also absol. 1562–3 Treas. Acc. XI 250.
As ane compt gevin in be the said Maister Williame subscrivit witht his hand pretermittit in comptis … beris 1568 Ib. XII 146.
For vj monethis wagis restand awand to him quhilkis wer pretermittit as is notourlie knawin 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II 111.
Quhilk manifest wrang … gif it be pretermittit unpuneist, it wilbe unpossibill to [etc.]absol. 1535 Stewart 29974.
And had nocht bene the bischop of Annane, Quhilk causit him to pretermit as than, He had persewit … The lordis all

4. To neglect to avail oneself of, let pass, let slip, lose (time or an opportunity).(1) 1541 Sc. Hist. Rev. VI 155.
As to ȝour affaris heire I haue pretermittit [pr. pretermillit] na tyme 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 22. 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I 220. 1560 Ib. 528.
Pretermite 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 366.
That the said officiar on na wyise … pretermit ane hour in indorsing … the minute of his executioun 1589–90 Ib. IV 471.
Sa that na tyme may be pretermittit in this cais a1605 Montg. Devot. P. vi 80.
Quhy pretermits thou tyme and place?(2) 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 286.
[I wish to] heir ofter [from you, but believe] ye pretermit [no occasion] 1566 Ib. II 318. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 69.
The regent was also sa vigilant, that he pretermittit na occasions of victorie 1607 W. Alexander Alexandrean Tragedy 1159 (E).
[These glory-ravish'd souls that would be great] Will pretermit no meanes although vniust [J. No meanes omit, although they be unjust] 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 519.
That thair is a very proper … occasioun pretermitted be the freindis of the said James Haitlie … who now may … help … wheras efter … thay can challange nothing

5. To leave off for a time, put aside temporarily, suspend. 1539 Glasgow Prot. IV 120.
I will the suffrage … be alanerlie pretermittit yeirlie ay and quhyll [etc.] 1558 Perth Convener Ct. Bk. 20.
Thairfoir we desyr ȝow that ȝe pretermit all vthir besines and be at vs in Ed^r on Sanct Thomas day 16.. Gordon Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 397.
But the parliament … stands pretermitted