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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.

Sacrilege, n.¹ Also: sacry-, sacra-, sacre-, sacria- and -leige, -lage, -le(a)dge, -lidge. [ME and e.m.E. sacrilege (Cursor M.), sacriledge (1632), OF sacrilege (c1190 in Larousse), L. sacrilegium, f. sacrilegus one who steals sacred things, after the phr. sacra legere to purloin sacred objects.] The sin or crime of robbing, burning or committing any outrage against or concerning consecrated objects, places or persons, or an instance of this; sacrilege.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxii 385.
Gud mene of Rome, wil ȝe here Quhat solace the feyndis here To this sacrylege makis now, That nothir wil in Godis trew Na dredis ws na oure torment? 1456 Hay I 28/23.
Thai lytt thair rede cardinale hattis with … usure, scisme and sacrilege 1490 Irland Mir. I 87/18.
He committit sacrilege spirituale, fornicacioune, thift [etc.] ?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/2.
All thai that dois sacrilege 1562-3 Winȝet I 106/22.
Or ellis to be sacrilege [sc. the robbing of churches] war than commoun thift 1581 Sat. P. xliv 95. 1600-1610 Melvill 286.
Sa lang as indurdlie against thair conscience they ly under the curs of that execrable sacrilage 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. iii.
To defraude the most landles liuer … of his septipedall inheritance [sc. burial] so equally proportioned to all by death … were a shamelesse sacriledge(b) a1538 Abell 10*a.
Sacralege is grit displesur to God 1535 Stewart 46191.
Sic sacraledge [sc. violation of sanctuary and church-burning] aganis almichtie God For to commit [etc.] 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 502.
To tak onie of this patrimonie be onlauchfull meanis … we hauld it ane detestable sacralege befoir God 1596 Dalr. II 10/20.
To haue amendis of sik sacralege and crueltie c1615 Chron. Kings 67.
Sacralidge(c) a1538 Abell 97a.
Eftir at he had … gottin absolutioun fra the paip for his sacrelege committit in Dumfreis 1549 Compl. 165/1.
Sacreleige a1578 Pitsc. I 65/17.
Sacreledge c1615 Chron. Kings 65.
Sacreleadge(d) 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 261.
Sacrialedge