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.
Quotation dates: 1590-1699
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Sacrilegious, adj. Also: sacrie-, sacra- and -legius, -ledgious, -ledgeous. [e.m.E. sacrilegious (1582), f. L. sacrilegium Sacrilege n.1]
1. Guilty of sacrilege. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. (1591) Sig. K.5a.
The sacrilegious blasphemer and the bloody adulterer … concurring in one persone 1610 Melvill 800.
His principall discours wes againes sacrielegious persounesabsol. 1600-1610 Melvill 284.
Sall the sacrilegius then pas frie and bruik the teinds?
2. Involving sacrilege. 1600-1610 Melvill 119.
Wha being about a maist sacrilegius purpose to owerthraw and spulyie the Kirk of Delphus ?16.. Forbes Discoverie of Pervers Deceit 9 (Jam. s.v. Lourdly).
Yet would all the westerne churches … have not only beene silent at so sacrilegious a derogation of the faith [etc.] c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 113.
The sacraledgeous medling with the abisie of Deir 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 288 (5 March).
The ryot and horrible sacriledgious crime and abuse done to the church of Rerrick
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"Sacrilegious adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sacrilegious>
