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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Recompensatio(u)n(e, -cio(u)n(e, -coun, n. [ME and e.m.E. recompensacyon, -cion (both Chaucer), -tion (1581), OF recompensacion (1269 in Greimas), late L. recompensātiōn- n. of action f. recompensāre Recompens v.]

1. Satisfaction or atonement (for (of) a wrong action, sin); reparation. = Recompens n. 1. a1400 Leg. S. iii 707.
Na thinge here wes … Bot ewynly recompensacion Mycht mak to the retribucione 1456 Hay I 245/16.
Men may fynd mony excusacioun that … ar bot a symple mendis or recompensacioun till syk a tynsale c1490 Irland Asl. MS 22/31.
The thrid part of … pennance is satisfactioun the quhilk is … recompensacoun … of the culpe and offence committit Ib. 23/4.
Sen the synnare be his syn … is oblist to … mak recompensacioun and satisfactoun 1534–5 Prot. Bk. Sir J. Cristisone (S.R.S.) 35.
[The prior declares … that] throuch his patience, humilite and satisfactioun, and recompensatione done to God and religioun and to ws … he serue … to be deliverit … of the said pennance a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 46 (M).
Dirtin Dumbar … Se sone thow mak my commisar amendis … in recompensatioun of thy scorne

2. Compensation for (of) loss or harm sustained or likely to be sustained. = Recompens n. 2 a.Chiefly const. in. 1496 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 304.
[We] haue resauit … ane hundretht markis … for the assithtment … ande parte off … recompensation callit kynbutt for the offences and violence committit ande done … tile us 1498 Acta Conc. II 277.
For a schip … in recompensacione of skaith be the awnaris of the sammyn sustenit 1505 Treas. Acc. III 147.
To ane man … that hed his medow etin, in recompensatioun … , xiiij s. 1538 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 12 Feb.
Protestit that the baillies … gyf thaim sum recompensation againe in cais that ony pest or oyther perrill happen to cum, throwch quhilk thai get not thair mercat 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 411.
In recompensatioun of ane barrell of Lochbrume herring coft be the said Katherene … and not deliverit 1580 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 308. 1580 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 112.
Skair on the south the mers … and that in recompensatioun of the lands [etc.] 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 593.
In sum part of recompensatioun of hir said richt, the said Richart … patt hir in ane cott hous [etc.]

3. Return for or of some outlay made; payment or reward for services rendered; something given, etc.; repayment; recompense. = Recompens n. 3.Freq., and in earliest use, in the phr. in recompensatioun (of, for).Common in Treas. Acc.(1) 1415 (1430) Reg. Great S. 39/1.
In recompensacion and assytht for the sayd mariage … the forsayd Villiam … haf giffin [etc.] 1436 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 48.
In recompensacioun for the permutacioun 1498 Reg. Privy S. I 32/2.
The landis of Wra … in recompensatioun of x lib. wortht of landis of Kinckavill quhilkis he had of befor 1503 Treas. Acc. II 317.
To William Bosuell … in recompensatioun of his fee 1506 Ib. III 350. 1506–7 Ib. 361.
To Maister William Dunbar, in recompensatioun for his goun 1507 Ib. 362.
To Colin Campbell … in recompensatioun of ane dans maid be him 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 227.
To Thome Peiblis in recompensatioun to the beting of his dykis [etc.] 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 15. 1559 Reg. Privy S. V i 144/1.
In recompensatioun of the travellis, panis, and chargeis sustenit 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 411.
Ten pundis money … in compleit payment recompensatioun and satisfactioun of xl ruif sparris a1578 Pitsc. I 114/1.
His sone … in recompensatioun thairof was maid Earle of Caitnes(2) 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 231.
To rander … the same four scoir crownis … to the said Patrik Menzeis for his releif and recompensatioun of the lyke sowme alreddy payit … be him c1575 Balfour Pract. 101.
Donatio propter nuptias is inventit … that … the wife may … have recompensatioun for hir tocher-gude

b. Something received, or given, as a return or reward. — 1460 Hay Alex. MS 18699.
Perdicas … hes ane guid recompensatioun

4. Retribution. = Recompens n. 4. 1531 Bell. Boece II 254.
Be solistation of thair freindis he ceissit and tuke recompensatioun of thair guddis Id. Livy I 128/21.
He was slane in recompensacion of the grete murdir and slauchter made be him afore

5. In an action for debt, a counter-plea of compensation raised by the pursuer to meet the defender's plea of compensation.Prob. derived directly f. compensation. 1681 Stair Inst. i xviii § 6.
Compensation is sometimes elided by recompensation which doth but seldom occur and hath not been distinctly determined as to the several cases in which it may occur Ib. iv xl §37.