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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.

Sensualité, -ie, n. Also: censualité, sensualitee, -ytie, senswalitie. [ME and e.m.E. sensualite(e (Rolle), -yte (Lydgate), censualyte (1463), F. sensualité (OF sensualiteit, sensualité, c1190 and c1265 in Larousse), late L. sensuālitāt- the capacity for sensation, sensibility.]

1. That part of Man's nature concerned with the senses; the baser instincts as opposed to the reason. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1118.
This volf I likkin to sensualitie a1500 Henr. Orph. 430.
The part intellectiue Of mannis saule and vnder-standing, free And separate fra sensualitee a1500 Henr. Deth & Man 31.
Trestand ay ȝowtheid wald with me abyd, Fulfilland evir my sensualitie c1490 Irland Asl. MS 24/31.
For the sensualite aye inclinis to the plesans of it self and nocht of the saull and resoun 1490 Irland Mir. I 61/7.
Originale justice … throu the quhilk … the mannis sensualite [obeyed] to God, to ressoune and to his will 1490 Irland Mir. I 85/19.
The sensualite without ordour of ressone … folowis the desyre and plesaunce 1490 Irland Mir. III 109/22.
The body of the man & sensualite turnit in scisme and rebellioun agane his saule c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 21/1.
Salviour, suppois my sensualite Subject to syn hes maid my saule of sys 1535 Stewart 43.
Appetite … Throw persuasioun of sensualitie, Lawand ressoun and his hevenlie indyte

b. The sensual part of Man's nature regarded as a source of evil. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1127.
Thow may brek sensualiteis heid And fleschlie lust away fra thé sall fle a1500 Henr. Fab. 1136. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1629.
Thairfoir our saull with sensualitie So fetterit is in presoun corporall c1490 Irland Asl. MS 29/23.
The persone is abasit … and censualite falis and cessis and the passioun and gret inclinacoun and mocioun to fleschly luf & syn … faylis

2. Preoccupation with sensual desires or needs; preference for the sensual as opposed to the spiritual, passing into excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures. a1500 Bk. Chess 78.
Wantoun he was & prowde in all degre And levit halely in sensualite 1531 Bell. Boece I xv.
Or haif, ane moment, sensualite Of fuliche youth, in life voluptuous 1535 Stewart 26966.
The Britis … War sopit so with sensualitie, With gluttony and lichorus appetyte 1535 Stewart 54419.
Sensualitie … bringis thame to sic miseritie Sone efterwart 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 188.
Thay haue nocht God before thare ee, Bot seruis thare sensualytie a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 41/13.
We ar so sowpit in sensualite a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 315/5.
Fra perfyt luife to fraude and fikilnes Fra godlie lyf to sensualite 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 6b.
Of the pwir haif thow pitie Leife senswalitie

3. specif. Sexual appetite, lasciviousness, lust. Also as the allegorical character. Also, an instance of lust.(1) 1456 Hay I 296/14.
The bestiale appetitis of sensualitee that is callit warldly lustis of the flesche a1500 Henr. Fab. 783.
Sum bene also throw consuetude and ryte Vincust with carnall sensualitie 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 108.
This furyus flambe of sensualite 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 171/31.
Sic prowd pultrouns … quha … seikis onelie the liberte of thair flesche … sua thai may suage thair insaciable sensualite 1567 G. Ball. 197.
Preistis … leif ȝour foule sensualitie(2) 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 392.
Lusty lady Chaistitie Hes baneist Sensualitie 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 934.
To resyste subtell Sensualytie, Strongly thay bene enarmit, feit and handis, Be abstynence 1540 Lynd. Sat. 131 (B).
Fair lady Sensualitie, The beriall of bewtie 1540 Lynd. Sat. 367, etc. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 572.
Compeirit sone Sensualitie thair Quhilk to Venus was richt cheif cubiculair(3) c1515 Asl. MS I 321/13.
This innocent Susan wald nocht consent to thair sensualites is figur of haly kirk