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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.

Reso(u)n, Resso(u)n, v.¹ Also: res(s)one, reaso(u)n -sown. [North. ME resun (Cursor M.), late ME and e.m.E. reason (c1430), resoune (Caxton), -on (a1530), OF resuner (c1138 in Larousse). Cf. Raison v.]

1. tr. and reflex. To question or examine (another, oneself). Cf. Arreson v.(1) c1420 Wynt. iii 266 (W).
Quhen the barnage of Juda Resonit [C. Aressonyt, R. Arresownyde] thaim quhy thai did sa, Thai said [etc.] 1533 Boece 186b.
It nedis nocht that be vthir witnes ȝe be resonit in this cais(2) a1578 Pitsc. I 33/22.
Quhen he had pansit in this maner wp [and doun] and ressonit himself for his slou[thfulnes] [marg. The gowernours consulltatioun with himself]

b. To submit (something) to rational examination. 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 398.
Actis of Parliament … that na man suld ressoun or call in dout the authoritie of thair spirituall Father

2. intr. To hold rational discussion or disputation; to argue or discourse (with another person). ?1438 Alex. ii 2434. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 163/13.
Now may ȝe Ask ȝour intent … At ȝour king … For he can ressoun wonder weill a1578 Pitsc. I 293/15.
He … begane to ressone then in this maner 1586 Conv. Burghs I 209.
They sall resoun, entreitt and conclude be thame selues befoir thair inpassing to the … parliamentis 1604 Aberd. Council Lett. I 98.
That thay send thair commissioneris sufficientlie instructit to resone voit and concluid quhow [etc.] 1609 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 1075.
They should be ready to reason be word or writt

b. Const. with (another, oneself). Cf. Arreson v. 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 51.
I am cum with thé for to ressoun … Tuitching my stait 1558-66 Knox II 406.
I began … to ressoun with the Secratour, quhome I tak to be ane far better dialectician then ȝour grace is a1578 Pitsc. I 344/12.
Quhan he had ressounit with him selff and saw thair was na remeid

c. Const. upoun, of, in the subject matter, or against a proposal. Also, with (a person).(1) 1549 Lamb Resonyng 15/1.
Bot swa thir twa my companionis geif attendance to heir ȝow reasown in the mater 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II 190.
And all togidder convenit and ressonit upoun the pointis of the said dittay 1578 Conv. Burghs I 56.
To the quhilk Henry Nisbet … we … hes grauntet … full commissioun … to reasoun, treitt and conclude wpoun the placing of the said stapill c1590 Fowler II 135/16.
I will not reason of Heliogabale 1594 Charteris Wall. Pref. 164.
He send for lernit men … to ressoun ernistly [pr. sernitly] thairin and cleirly to discus this intricate questioun 1606 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 14. 1625 Justiciary Cases I 28.
Quhair thay … ressonit and voittit vpone the poyntis of the … dittayis 1629 Ib. 119. — 1641 Baillie I 318.
Sundrie who had voyced or reasoned against bills presented by the Deputie in Parliament(2) 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 2/6.
I haue reasoned with sundrie in that matter

d. tr. To reason with or address arguments to (a person); to persuade by argument. a1578 Pitsc. I 292 h. of ch.
Hou Bischop Andro Forman resonit the lordis Ib. II 155/12.
Me lord Lyndsay … begane to ressone him [sc. the French ambassador] in this maner

e. passive. To be brought by persuasion to a friendly attitude towart another. 1525 Douglas Corr. 97.
With ȝour gude lawboris scho salbe resonyt towart me

f. reflex. To bring oneself to a particular situation by arguing. 1653 Brodie Diary 52.
That he be not letten reason himself into a pit

3. To discuss or debate (a topic).Also with clause object.(1) 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng 153/8.
I wald be glaid to ressone sum purposis quhilkis ar in contrauersie 1561 Monymusk Writs No. 16.
Thir iniueris beand reasonit in presance of the said noble lord 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 180.
The Lordis assignis the xiij day of November … to heir the mater resonit verbo in thair presence 1567 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 109 (7 Jan.).
Quhair sic thingis sal be ressonat betwix us c1570 Wemyss Chart. 200.
Eftir the mater wes ressonyt betuix the said partteis 1570 Bann. Memor. 29.
The ground and originall caussis … may be cauldly resoned 1574 Conv. Burghs I 30. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 221.
Efter the reiding of the … supplicatioun, the heidis thairof being dewlie ressonit and wotit 1584 Acts III 333/2.
Quhilk propositioun being … ressonit be the … lordis of articles … thay … declaris that [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 346/13.
Was reasont, doubtet, and talket with monie … quhither mair was, or sulde be applyet to his body or his mynd(2) 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) xix.
And therefore reason I, what kinde of things are possible to be performed [etc.]

b. To put forward arguments that something is the case; to argue. 1622-6 Bisset II 363/25.
Theodorus ressoned that [etc.] a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 107.
It wes reasoned that her base infeftment stante matrimonio wes mad null be the subsequent divorcement