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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.

Restitutio(u)n(e, -cio(u)n(e, n. Also: ri- and -yown, -tiony; -cone. [ME and e.m.E. restituciun (a1300), -ucioun, -ution, OF restitution, -ucion (1251 in Larousse), L. restitūtiōn-, f. restitūere to set up again.]

1. The act of restoring (a thing) (to the person to whom it properly belongs) or of paying compensation (to a person) for damage, loss or injury previously inflicted on him.With and without const.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii 2599.
[They] Sulde hawe … full restitutyownys Off landys and all possessiownys That tharys wes befor than 1450 Smit Bronnen I 880.
In that matter in the restitucion of the gudis belanginge to oure serviture Andreu Craufurde 1463 Wemyss Chart. 83.
Land grantit to me for my lywetyme … for the restitucione off my touchyr and assithtment tharoff 1533 Bell. Livy I 134/15.
Restitucioun 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 35. 1544–5 Lamont P. 54.
Giff thair guids … beis stolen … we sall get restitution to thame for the samen again or als guid therefor 1551 Hamilton Cat. 101.
In the law of Moyses the punitioun of theiffis was restitution, sumtime of twyis als mekil [etc.] … as was stowin c1575 Balfour Pract. 197 marg.
Quhat is ane lenne, and of the restitution thairof 1576 Reg. Privy C. 539.
He billit for restitutioun thairof agane to him with dowbill and sapheir … according to the lawis of the Bordour a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 246.
Quhen as restitution was … crauit and luikit for on his pairt, he refusit 1622-6 Bisset II 230/7. 1681 Stair Inst. i vii § 2.
The takaris … salbe punisched with restitutioun of coistis skaith and interese(2) 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 107.
The accions of restitucions of certane gudis tane be the sade Jhone — 1559 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I lxxxviii.
5 chalices … delivered to the Earle of Huntley in custody upon his bond of custody and restitution(3) 1559 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I lxxxviii.
Deliverd to the said earle … in custody and upon restitution unto them within ten days premonition … the species following(4) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 104.
At the last forsuth the samyn ayr cummyne til elde & of the heretagis till him restitucone made he salbe quyt of the releff throw ressoune of the keping 1449 Acts II 35/1.
And gif ony sik trespassouris … makis nocht restitucione … of the gudis spulȝeit … thai sal not be ressauyt to the lawe … quhill … thai haif maide full restitucione of the spoliacioune 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3821 (Ch.).
Thay sall … to the pure mak restitutioun 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 19.
He hes maid na restitutioun nather wrocht nor unwrocht as yit 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Haimhaldare.
Quhen onie man seikis restitution to be maid to him of his … geare(b) 1664 Old Ross-shire II 16.
Which have recept the stolen catell that ristitution may be mead … The berer will give … thair neams

2. The restoration (of a person or community) (to an earlier, and better, condition or state). 1490 Irland Mir. I 125/14.
Our redempcioune and restitucioune to oure honour c1500-c1512 Dunb. (S.T.S.) lxx 39 (M).
Fra cair to confort thow mak restitutioun 1562-3 Winȝet I 67/9.
For nocht assenting generalie to ȝour prætendit reformatioun [MS restitutioun] 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 158.
Restitution to cleines of a sanctifiet lyf

b. Reinstatement to a previous status or position in society. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 48.
So he bendit all his wittis to the said erllis eversioun and the quenis restitutioun 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 174.
With restitutioun and reintegratioun to thair gude fame and wardlie honouris a1578 Pitsc. I 104/25.
The earle confidit mekill in the kingis clemencie quherin he had placeit his haill hope of restitutioun 1593 in Montg. Suppl. 321.
Quhilk act of pacificatioun is the ground and fundament of restitutioun of foirfalt or barat personis 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 41.
Restitvtion of felonis …: be reason of his restitution, he may not recover the heretage quhilk he had a1650 Buchanan's Hist. MS Index (Edinb. Univ. Lib. *R. 20/12).
Postliminium a restitution in integrum of one banished or forfeited

c. Restoration to one's possessions. 1584–5 Reg. Privy C. III 728.
The restitutioun … of the said Patrik to his lugeing houssis, yairdis and pertinentis thairof a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 105.
That he aucht to be assolȝied fra restitution of the said persewar to the saids lands

3. The action of restoring a minor to the state of affairs existing before, and in spite of, a deed done to his prejudice during his minority.Cf. MF restitution = a judgment that frees a person from a contract previously undertaken (1549), etc.‘The privilege of restitution may be exercised by the minor at any time within four years after his arriving at majority’ (Bell Dict. Law Scotl. s.v. Minor).(1) c1575 Balfour Pract. 179.
Minoris … sould be restorit in integrum aganis the samin [contracts, etc.] gif lauchfull revocatioun thairof be maid, and restitutioun askit, within term of law, viz. befoir the said minor be of xxv ȝeiris Ib. 180.
Bot he aucht and sould libell restitutioun in integrum, be ressoun of his enorm lesioun, hurt and skaith Ib. 182, etc.
Gif ane man, throw just feir and dredour, gevis ane … renunciatioun, he may … seik restitutioun be way of actioun or exceptioun 1681 Stair Inst. i vi § 44.
And it was found relevant against restitution of a minor of a bond granted for a debt of his father's(2) 1532 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 231.
I … beand … within yeris of restitutioun … declaris … how be … imperfectioun of knawlege I hes maid sindry … contractis … the tyme of my les aige

4. The action of restoring (a thing or institution) to an original and purer form or condition.(a) 1560 Conf. Faith in Acts II 529/1.
We … beleif that the tyme of refrescheing and restitutioun of all thingis sall cum insamekill that thay that … haue sufferit … wrang … sall … inhereit blissit immortalitie a1578 Pitsc. I 16/29.
In him lay the onlie hoipe and restitutioun of the commonisvealth Ib. 147/12.
Laurentius … did greit goode in restitutioun of the Latine tounge to the auld purietie and ornatnes 1687 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 10 May.
At the great day of the restitution of all things in and through … Jesus Christ(b) 1615 Bk. Mackay 415.
In augmentatiunn of the rentall of the said bischoprik … efter sa lang desolutiunn and lait restitutiony of the samen be way of new erectionn