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.
Quotation dates: 1572-1697
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Rehabilitat, v. Also ? erroneous or altered form: rehabitat. P.t. and p.p. -itat. Also ? erroneous or altered pres.p. and p.p.: rehabiting; rehabit, rehabitate.[Only Sc. L. rehabilitāt-, p.p. stem of rehabilitāre, med. L. (Eng.) rehabilito to reestablish (c 1400). Cf. Rehabilit v., also 18th c. Eng. rehabilitate (1731).] tr. To rehabilitate.
1. To restore by decree (a degraded or attained person) to his former rank, privileges, etc.Common in p.p.pres. 1580–1 Reg. Privy C. III 358.
Oure soverane lord … rehabilitattis and restoris the said Robert … to his gudeframe 1678 Lauder Observes 273.
The man that would affirme the king could not rehabitat, to the effect of rendering them capable of brooking the … dignities they could have done beforepres.p. 1697 Justiciary for Securing the Peace of the Highlands.
Hounding-out or rehabiting thiefs, robbers, sorners p.t. 1641 Acts V 442/1.
Quharby our said soverane lord … rehabilitat and reentegrat the said Margrat Stewart to hir good fame and to all quharof shoe was depryved and prejudged [in 1591]p.p. 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 199.
That the airis … of the personis forfaltit … salbe restorit rehabilitat and maid lauchfull to entir be brevis to thair landis 1572–3 Bann. Memor. 311.
All sic persones now returning to the kingis obedience … salbe … rehabilitat to thair bludis and honouris 1572–3 Bann. Memor. 314.
That the airis … of persones foirfaltit … be restored, rehabitate [etc.] 1586–7 Reg. Privy C. IV 154.
Ay and quhill the said James sumtyme archiebischop of Glasgow be fullelie restorit and rehabilitat be oure said soverane lord a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 282.
2. To legitimate (a bastard).Cf. Rehabil(l v. c1575 Balfour Pract. 240.
Gif ony persoun born bastard be efterwart lauchfullie rehabilitat and legitimat be the king … the airis lauchfullie gottin of his bodie … have full powar and richt to succeid c1575 Ib. marg.
A bastard rehabilitat may mak ane testament a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 109.
If … the bastard wes rehabit befoir his decease, the intrometter may be convenit for spuilȝie
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"Rehabilitat v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rehabilitat>
