Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Seminary, -ie, Seminar, n. Also: seminare, semenar(r)ie, semenar, semnare. [Late ME semynari, semynair (both c1440), e.m.E. semynary (1581), seminarie (1589), F. séminaire (1564 in Larousse), eccl. L. seminarium, L. sēminārium a seed-bed.]

a. A place or means of instruction. b. specif. A seminary, a place of instruction in the Catholic priesthood, esp. those institutions set up to advance the restoration of Catholicism in Scotland. Also attrib. with preist(is. c. A school or educational establishment more generally. d. fig. or transf. A ‘seed-bed’ (of future trouble, etc.).The forms seminare and semnare may belong with the seminary variant rather than with seminar.a. 1573 Cath. Tr. 26/17.
The kirk of God hes at na tyme bene sa obscurit nor hid, bot He of his prouidence hes reseruit sindrie, as ane seminar, be quhome he hes prerogat his doctrine to the posteritieb. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 80/25.
He [sc. Archbishop James Beaton] hes not neglectit the occasion offrit to plant sindrie learnit and godlie yong men in a publik seminarie 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 81/6.
Semenarie 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 51.
That the Erill of Huntly haid erectit the messe publikly in the north — that his oncle haid institut ane seminary in the auld toun of four & twenty skollairis, [etc.] 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 571.
[That the Earl of Huntly provide for his brother] that studeis in coistrary [sic] and wald nocht byd in our seminarie(b) 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV 2.
Nocht the les as Sathan … hes evir steirit up his instrumentis for subversioun and exterminioun of the professouris of the Evangill … be secreit … meanis … erecting to that effect universiteis and seminareis for instructioun of craftie personis be subtiliteis to illude and blind the eyis of the commoun people 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 571.
Off almesour of beneficis for our semenar … No [sic] favoure of the seminar, with procuratioun autentik to resave heir as salbe awin him … F[ather] G[ordon] most clainge himself of that is alledgit aganis him … [That he has deceived his highness by false information to] dryve [money out of him not for the restitution of the Catholic religion but [etc.]]attrib. 1587 Acts III 430/1.
Jesuitis or seminary preistis … salbe … persewit and incur the pane of death and confiscatioun of all thair guidis movable 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV 233.
Seminarie 1609 Acts IV 429/2. 1643 Acts VI i 23/2.
Semenarrie a1650 Row 67. 1646 Moray Synod 82.
The Brethren regrated that … seminarie priests ar trafficking in thair bounds 1658 Argyll Synod II 170.
The said letter anent the seminarie priests in the South Uist and Barra 1671 Moray Synod 150.
Seminarie priests and Jesuits who are abounding lyke locusts 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv 308.
Add … of seminary priest's loyalty quantum sufficit, after fermentation clape in nine miracles(b) 1588–9 Irvine Mun. I 75.
Divers strangeris as wele as borne subjectis of the sect of Jesuittis excommunicat personis, semnare preistis and utheris passangeris ar … brocht within our realme careing … bukis [etc.] … to the hurt … of the trew religioun 1643 Acts VI i 24/2.
That thej shall not … reset supplie nor interteane with Jesuitts seminares preists nor excommunicate papistsellipt. or absol. 1589 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 760.
Jesuits, and seminary or messe priests. 1600 Crim. Trials II 211.
That the fellow … was some Scots priest, or seminarie so disguised c1625 Misc. Spald. C. II liv n.
The names of preistis and traffecting seminaries in the dyoceis of Aberdene and Murraye 1661 Acts VII 26/1.c. c1650 Spalding II 58.
The kingis commissioner … presentit thame [sc. the General Assembly] ane letter … protesting … to sie seminareis of learning advanced(b) 1657–67 Old Ross-shire I 59.
All brughs royall are obleist to uphald ther owne school and seminars of learning upon their owne proper chargesd. fig. or transf. 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1308.
About this tyme was sawen The seminar and seeds Of ane most wrackfull futur warre 1647 Misc. Maitl. C. I 436.
Pennie bridles … becomes seminaries of all profanation