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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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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.

Quentance, -ans, n. Also: quentence, quaynt-, quantance, quyntans. [ME (c1300) and e.m.E. queyntance: cf. Acquentance n.]

1. Acquaintance, personal knowledge, familiarity, entered into or possessed with another. Also transf.Freq. to ma(k quentance, (also one's, ane) quentance, (with another). a1400 Leg. S. xxx 85.
He com to this Theodra & mad his quyntans apon fare With hyr ?1438 Alex. i 722.
Ȝit sawe I neuer the king … with sik tythandis, for na chance, Think I to mak my first quentance Ib. ii 2902.
And Gaudifere sall with me ga, With Alexander ane quentance to ma c1420 Wynt. vii 2518 (W).
Thare maid thai speciall quayntance [R. acqweyntawns] c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 7936. c1475 Wall. v 672.
[He] hyr besocht rycht hartly of quentance. Scho ansuerd hym, … ‘War my quentance rycht worthi for till pryse, Yhe sall it haiff’ a1500 Sir Eger 1220.
Reverently she made him state, But quantance none other they wate a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1313.
Of me as freind suppose thow lytle leit, Ȝit for the lytle quantance that we had, [etc.] a1500 Seven S. 2338.
Than kest he quentans to contruf 1535 Stewart 43607.
Quhome with befoir into his lyfe had he Quentance and greit familiaritie Ib. 51667.
This samin freir … gat … sic quentance and hamlines with all, That he wes welcum in the erlis hall Ib. 51652. 1567 Sempill Sat. P. viii 28.
For all thi quentance with the quene Thay hound thé to the hangmanis grippis 1603 Philotus 323.
To mak mair quentance vs betwene, I glaidly could agrietransf. a1568 Bann. MS 144a/1.
Rycht fane wald I my quentans mak With Ser Penny

b. The state of being in friendly agreement, friendly relations. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1120.
Wes newthir casar nor king thair quentance that knew 1550 Corr. M. Lorraine 439.
Nochtwithstanding thai haif menurit, quhilk is contrare ressoun and gud quentence

2. concr. Persons with whom one is acquainted, acquaintances, associates, friends, collectively. ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 144.
Quhen a man passis bair till ane vnkend land, but quentence, wittall, or money a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. xvii 19.
For and thy bak be at the wall … Then will thy quentance leif thé all