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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.

Reputatio(u)n(e, n. Also: -acoun. [ME and e.m.E. reputacion (c1375), -ioun, -atioun (1553), F. réputation (1370 in Larousse), med. L. reputatio (1291, 1330 in Latham), L. reputātiōn-, f. reputāre Reput(e v.]

1. Social standing; (high) rank.(1) c1459 Liber Aberbr. II 106.
Becaus that tyme in thai tua baronys vas few men of reputatioun bot the said lard of Meldrum c1515 Asl. MS I 228/2.
xxvj slane and tane bot na man of reputacoun war tane nor slane 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 75.
Thai suld nocht be admittit to pas vpone the samyn [assise] becaus thai ar sempill and sober of reputatione and substans to pas of this or sic caisis 1542 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 155.
Gyf ony honest man of ony reputatioune [etc.] a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 165.
Bot … it was sumthing narrolie espyit that a speciall gentilman of reputation was murdreist amang thayme callit Erskin(2) 1549 Compl. 77/32.
Gedeon … vas ane pure lauberar of lytil reputatione and discendit of smal linage Ib. 170/22.
Ony of ȝou that thynkis ȝou of maist reputation throucht ȝour superfle veltht a1578 Pitsc. I 194/6.
The quhilk will caus gret lordis … to be discontentit thairwith that sic men of law reputatioun to be promoweit abone thame of the nobillitie

2. The condition of being highly regarded; credit; good repute. 1549 Compl. 136/2.
The dissymilatione of … Brutus conquest til hym mair reputatione and gloir nor [etc.] 1568–9 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 186.
Ȝe may be drevin to that whairintill ȝe can haif na thing but reputation and honor 1580 Hume Promine Epistle 10.
Thocht ouir all quhair thy famous louing springis In reputatioun and greit reuerence 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 400.
To the tynsale of the great reputatioun quhilkis the saidis subjectis … hes to thane acquirit

3. a. (To be) of (les, ane excellent) reputatioun, to be estimable, worthy of esteem, or, of high standing. b. To hald (have) in (of) (gret, na) reputatioun, to hold in (great, etc.) esteem.a. 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece I 210.
Seand thair houndis of les reputatioun [L. longe inferiores] than the Scottis, baith in bewte … and hardiment 1549 Compl. 43/21.
For in ald tymis pastoral and rustical ocupatione vas of ane excellent reputationeb. 1567 G. Ball. 90.
He that hes in na reputatioun The wickit men [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 53/23.
Forfare … of na reputatione is haldne Ib. 81 marg.
Thir … leiders ar haldne in gret reputatione

4. The name, or credit, of being (something; const. as or of) or possessing (some quality; const. of). c1555 Edinb. Hammermen 3.
Vnder the pane & reputatioun as brekar of gud ordour & preueleges c1590 Fowler II 113/11.
A prence that wald mantiene amangs men the reputatioun of a liberal 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 70.
To conquise to thame selfis a reputation of lerning

5. The opinion or view held by one person of another. a1599 Rollock Wks. I 406.
As he is him self, sic is his estimation and reputatioun of uthers