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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sacrifice, -f(y)is, n. Also: sacre-, sacrie-, sacry-, sacra- and -fyce, -fys(e, -fece, -feis. [ME and e.m.E. sacrefise (c1250), sacrifijs (Cursor M.), sacrifice (a1325), OF sacrifice (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. sacrificium.]

1. a. The slaughter and, freq., consumption by fire of an animal, etc. as a propitiatory offering to God or a deity. Chiefly in reference to Old Testament or pagan times. b. The surrender of a possession or object as an offering to God or a deity. c. An instance of either of these. Also fig. d. In or tyll sacrifice, as a sacrifice. e. To do, mak (mo), offer, graith (the, one's, etc.) sacrifice.a., b. c1420 Wynt. i 174.
Quha doys noucht … Hys det to God … Offerand teynd or sacrifice 1460 Hay Alex. 2558.
Thair was the tempill of Apollinis Ane gret repair of sacrifice thair is a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 115.
The pepill … Befoir the none vnto the tempill went With sacrifice, deuoit in thair maneir 1513 Doug. iii ii 88.
From thens com eik the wod of Idea, And the traist serymonys of sacrifice alswa a1568 Scott xxxvi 65.
Knew I Thow covet sacrifyis Or offerand holocast wald pryis 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vi 246.
Libamina prima, the first part of the sacrifice of a beastc. 1513 Doug. iii vi 97, 101.
Settis vp ane altare thi sacrifyce to ȝeild, Thyne haris with a purpur vail ourheild, Les than … Thi ennemeis mycht occur and knaw thi face And so perturbyng all thi sacrifyce [: gys] Ib. vi iv heading.
Of Eneas sacrifyis [Sm. sacryfys] be nycht Ib. 22.
In the haly ingil … [she] Kest thame, in maner of the first sacrifice Ib. xiii ii 8.
On the altarys with detfull sacrifice [: gys] 1533 Bell. Livy I 96/26 (see Lustrale adj.). 1549 Compl. 7/32.
That quhen ane pure man makkis ane sacrefeis & throucht his pouerte he vantis ensens to mak the seremons of his sacrefeis that sacrefeis sal be acceptabil befor the goddis 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 156/37.
Als the wordis of the prophet can nocht be vndirstand of the sacrifice of the Jewis, becaus the wordis planelie declaris that all thair sacrifices war repudiat be the lorde God 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. v 53.
Sollemnisque … pompas, processionis, plays and sacrificesfig. a1568 Scott xxxvi 77.
This sacrifice than thow salt have Off thy just pepilld. c1420 Wynt. iii 134.
And he [sc. Jephthah] tyll sacryfice has hyr [sc. his daughter] slayne c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 12/18.
That … lyk a lamb in sacrifice wes dicht 1513 Doug. vi iv 29.
Ene him self a ȝow … Brittnnyt with hys sword, in sacrifice ful hie Onto the moder of the fureys thre Ib. xii iv 36.
And cowpys full of wyne in sacryfys [: gys; Sm. sacryfice] Abowt the altaris ȝettis he and he Ib. iii vi 32.
Sacryfys Ib. xi ii 62.
Sacrifys [Sm. sacrifis]e. (1) ?1438 Alex. ii 454.
Than Arestotil him asked sone Of sacrifice [F. du sacrefisce] how he had done c1420 Wynt. iii 127.
Yhit syne he wes oblysyd swa Hys sacryfice set hym to do(2) a1400 Leg. S. xiii 106.
That a mane of Galilee Dyspysit thare goddis, & na-vyse, As thai did, wald make sacrifyce c1400 Troy-bk. ii 416, 422 (D).
To the god … It plesed hem … To mak solempne sacrifice Wher-to thai put alwey thar peyne The multytud of bestes sleyne. Ande as thai forseyd bestes war Llode to be brent one the alter And to hem fyre put for to mo Thys sacrifice [etc.] Ib. 1124 (C).
And hyr virgynite sche syne To all the goddes … And to ded, to mak sacrifice, She offred wp in-to that sted c1420 Wynt. ii 568.
To mak thare sacrifyce [C. sacryfyis, W. sacrifis] Tyll God … , in wyldyrnes Ib. v 53.
Sacrifyis 1460 Hay Alex. 2208.
[He] prayit thame ga mak sacrafice a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 126.
Allace that euer I maid ȝow [sc. Venus and Cupid] sacrifice [: wyse] 1513 Doug. xii iv 24.
The preste, quhamto accordyt mak The sacrifice of concord and contract 1531 Bell. Boece I 8. Ib. 54. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1509.
Quhen Noye had maid his sacrifyce, Thankand God of his benefyce Ib. 2114.
Sacrifyse(3) 1513 Doug. iv ix 58.
Thocht Annes wenyt not hir systir wald Graith sacryfice for hir ded body cald

2. What is offered as sacrifice; the material or non-material thing surrendered or in some fashion dedicated (to God, etc.) in propitiation or homage; the sacrificial victim.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxii 451.
I me offyr to God of hewine In sacrifice of swetnes Fore contryt spryt euir ȝet was To my God thankful sacrifice Ib. xliv 125.
Thankful sacryfice … Is to helpe pure men & fede, & visit mysterful in ned 1456 Hay I 32/26.
Tribulacioun is worthy sacrifice a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 115.
The pepill … vnto the tempill went With sacrifice 1513 Doug. ii viii 115.
Priamus, at the altar … sperklyt ful of blude Of sacryfice, quhamto he bet the fyre(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Hebrews xi 4.
Be faith Abel offrit a mekile mare sacrifice than Caym 1562-3 Winȝet I 31/7.
Sayis the Lord … I wyl not haue ȝour brunt sacrificeis a1568 Scott xxxvi 77.
This sacrifice than thow salt have Off thy just pepill and ressave Thair laill trew hairtis 1629 Justiciary Cases I 110.
To burie the ox and catt quik uith the salt … as ane sacrifice to the devill

3. Said of Christ's offering of Himself on the Cross; the Crucifixion regarded as a sacrifice. a1400 Leg. S. xiii Prol. 71.
The sacrifice that he [sc. Christ] Mad for man one the rud-tre Ib. xxviii 322.
He … For our synnis come sacrifice 1533 Gau 36/7.
[Christ's] halie preistheid and sacrifis without the quhilk we cane noth cum to God 1558-9 Godlie Exhort.
Jesus Christe … offerit hymself upon the croce to the father of hevin, ane acceptable sacrifyce, for our redemptioun 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 158/5.
Ȝe sall mark the difference betuix the sacrifice of the lordis body on the croce and the sacrifice of the mess 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 88.
His bludie sacrifice anis offrit vpon the croce 1581 Burne Disput. 44.

b. The Eucharist regarded as a reenactment or commemoration of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross; also said of Christ's dedication of the bread and wine at the Last Supper, prefiguring the Eucharist. 1535 Stewart 16500.
He … grauit wes in to his graif … with sacrifice solen Of Cristin wyis 1551 Hamilton Cat. 203.
It is callit the sacrifice of the altar because it is ane quick and special remembrance of the passioun of Christ 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 162/23.
Gif our Salueour in the latter supper had institute onelie the conmwnioun and nocht ane sacrifice, than [etc.] Ib. 162/28f.
Attour, the oblatioun and sacrifice maid be oure Salueour in the latter supper is ane mair propir commemoratioun … of the sacrifice of the croce nor is the commwnioun, quhairfoir the sacrifice of the mes is callit ane sacrifice of commemoratioun Ib. 176/26. 1562-3 Winȝet I 56/18.
The mayst … haly sacrifice of the mes c1590 Fowler II 65/5.
Christ being prefigurat be Melchisadek of necessitie man hau ane lyke maner of sacrifice to witt vnbludie Ib. 65/36.
Quha laubours to abolich the sacrifice of Christs body and blood in the messe ar blasphemous 1596 Dalr. II 436/24.

4. The surrender of something regarded as valuable or desirable in order to attain something else. a1578 Pitsc. I 70/8.
Thinkand that throw the sacrefice of thair enemieis liues all the rest might eschew the present danger

5. An execution for heresy regarded as a sacrificial act. 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (STS) 400.
Our prelates … apprehendit … Paull Craw … & maid ane sacrifice of him in Sanctandrois a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 41/24.
With swerd and fyre for zele of relegiown Off Christin peple [they] oft maid sacrefece a1578 Pitsc. II 59/4.
They send for Mr. George … , lyk as ane lambe led they him to sacrefice Ib. 74/26.
Thay condampnit him to be brunt as ane heretick … thinking verelie that thay sould do to God gude sacrafice conformable to the sayingis of Sanct Johne Ib. 80/25.
Quhair the bischopis might ly on the wallis and sie the sacriefice