Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Romans, -mance, n. Also: -manis, -manys; -mains, -maunce. [ME and e.m.E romans (Cursor M.), romaunce (Manning), OF romanz, romans (both 12th c. in Larousse), pop. L. *romanice adv., f. L. Romanicus.In ME verse the stress is commonly on the first syllable except in rhymes.] A verse tale based on the adventures of some hero, or heroes, of chivalry, or on those of a hero of antiquity treated as a figure of chivalry. 1375 Barb. i 446.
The romanys now begynnys her Off men that war in gret distres a1400 Legends of the Saints Prol. 5.
As sais the romance of the rose ?1438 Alex. ii Prol. 22.
Ane romains … Of amourus, armis and of droury 1460 Hay Alex. MS 19635.
Als for the worthynes of the romance Quhilk treittis of … guide governance a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 1436.
Quho lykith for to here He may it fynd in to the holl romans

b. Without article.In some instances, probably pl. without inflection, or coll. 1375 Barb. ii 46.
Ik herd neuer in romanys tell Off man sa hard frayit as wes he 1375 Ib. iii 437.
The king … Red to thaim … Romanys off worthi Ferambrace 1375 Ib. ix 491 (C).
Of [his] hye … manheid Men mycht mony romanys mak 1456 Hay II 134/21.
Rycht prouffitable is to … here faire and gude romaunce of alde ancestryis, and storyes of … worthy men 1460 Id. Alex. MS 10067.
The maist sickir is to … oft tyme rede romanis [: displesance] c1460 Thewis Wysmen 4.
Vysmen that … Studyt in … Cornykils, romans and storys a1500 Golagros and Gawane 878. a1500 Bk. Chess 27.
Vthersum … That gladlie gois & in to romanis reidis Of halynes 1513 Doug. v Prol. 14.
[He] Sum plesance takis in romans that he redis