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 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Similitud(e, n. Also: similytude, simylitude, similetude, symilitud(e, symylitude, symylytude, simlitud, simlytude, symlitud. [ME and e.m.E. similitude (Chaucer), symylitude (Wyclif), symylytude (Caxton) etc., F. similitude (c1220 in Larousse), L. similitūd-.]

1. The form, likeness or image of some person or thing; freq. of man being the image of God. Also, to (the) similitude of, and to (another's) similitude, the same as; similar to.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 507 (C).
They in hast shold ger maid be Inne of one hors symilitud [D. symylitude] A brassyng hors 1456 Hay II 159/5.
And tharfore suld a man have grete drede to slay ane othir, quhilk is the ymage of God and beris the symilitude of all the grete warlde a1500 Henr. Fab. 608 (Bann.).
[Flattery] This wikkit wind of adulatioun, Off swete socour haifand a similitude a1500 Henr. Fab. 1661 (Bann).
Man, quhilk God maid … Lyke till his ymage and his similitude 1490 Irland Mir. 24/8.
Similitud 1513 Doug. x iv 132 (see Huddo(u)n n.). 15.. Lichtoun Bann. MS 48a/10.
Remembir man how noble thow art wrocht Vnto the similitud of Godis image 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 235.
xiij grysis off the quhilkis thair wes ane a monstoure … It haid twa ene, ane nois [etc.] … lyk to the similitude of man in all sortis 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 55/24.
God will not permit Sathan to vse the shapes or similitudes of any innocent persones at such vnlawful times 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 167.
With thy devilische companyeounis … transfformit in vther lyknesse, sum in haris sum in cattis, and sum in vther similitudes 1605 Crim. Trials II 478.
In ane of the endis of the quhilk belt appeirit the similitude of foure fingeris and ane thombe 1608 Crim. Trials II 543.
Nichtlie the said Beigis appeirit to him in hir awin similitude(2) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 92.
And to the similitud of mut of dowry in alssmekil as pertenis to the warand it may tharof be mot 1531 Bell. Boece II 206.
[They] fand ane image of wax, maid to the similitude [L. imaginem] of Duffus, drepand … afore the fire 1533 Boece 385.
In Forth war sene fische to symylitude of men c1552 Lynd. Mon. 723.
He maid man to his simylitude c1550-c1580 Art of Music 1b.
The long is ane figur of quhilk the lynth dois dubill the breid haw[and] virgle to the similitud of the larg

2. a. A symbolic representation of a thing or event. b. specif. An image of a (pagan) deity, as an object of worship.a. 1513 Doug. iii vii 51.
Symilytude [L. effigiem] of Exanthus and Troy ȝe se Quhilk ȝour awyn warkis hes beldit vp on hie 1513 Doug. v x 72.
[They] gan excers by semblance vndir scheild The symylitude of batell or a feild a1578 Pitsc. (1814) I 172.
This hollie bischop schew ane similitud to the king … ane great scheife of arrowes knitt togidder … and desired him to … break thameb. 1490 Irland Mir. I 30/31.
Agane thaim that prayis and anournys ydolis & similitudis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2466.
Thay suld nocht … gyf worschip tyll ony simlytude … Bot onelye tyll his souerane celsitude 1562-3 Winȝet I 123/12.
Quharein he gart mak sindry images and similitudis, as of the angelis, cherubin [etc.] a1568 Scott ix 38.
It is na gravit hairt in stone … Nor ȝit ane payntit symlitud 1632 Lithgow Trav. i 19.
Romanists will worship their counterfeit similitude in stone or tree

3. A figure of speech; a metaphor or simile; a parable or allegory. a1500 Henr. Fab. 47 (Bann.).
My author in his fabillis … Putting axample and symilitude How [etc.] a1500 Colk. Sow Prol. 43.
So may he lyknit be A fair flureis fadit in a falty tre All be my self is this symylitude 1490 Irland Mir. III 23/27.
The blissit body of Jhesu … vnder the sammyn figur, accedens, and similitude 1490 Irland Mir. II 26/19.
The discens suld nocht be wnderstandin properly bot be similitud 1513 Doug. i Prol. 196.
In similitudes and vndir quent figuris The suythfast materis to hyde 1513 Doug. x Prol. 73.
Similytude 1533 Gau 60/2.
As it is contenit in the same forsaid chaiptur onder ane simulitud of ane king quhilk haid [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4934.
This moste tryumphant court of Rome … This simylitude full weill I may compare a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 113/24.
Bot ane syng and takin only of the body and bluid of our saluiour, sayand … ‘this is my body’, ar spokin be ane figure and similitude a1578 Pitsc. I 267/19.
I will gif ȝow fourtht ane similetude … I compair ȝour lordschips to ane honest mearchand quho [etc.] a1585 Polwart Flyt. 153 (T).
And sayis thy similitudis vnslie Ar nawayis verie pertinent 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 74/5.
The agreement of the lawe of nature … with the laws and constitutions of God and man … wil by two similitudes easely appeare 1598 James VI Minor Prose 75/20.
And for the similitude of the head & the body, it may very wel fall out that the head will be forced to garre cut of some rotten member … to keepe the rest of the body in integritie

4. Resemblance, similarity. a1500 Henr. Prayer 45.
Remembir lord how deir thow hes ws bocht … Haif rewth lord of thyn awin similitude a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 333 (Asl.).
Sa be resembland and a similitud In spirituale battall & temptacioun Men may wyn tryvmphe 1490 Irland Mir. III 2/14.
Thir corporale and sensible thingis has part of similitud with the wertu of grace 1498 Acta Conc. II 201.
For certane cawses dubitacious of law tweching the similitude of the persons contenit in the endenture 1513 Doug. iv vi 97.
Had I a child consavyt of thyne ofspryng … Quhilk representit by symylitude thi face 1513 Doug. v xi 41 (Ruddim.).
Iris … became agit Beroes in hy In manere of schape, similitude and face 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 44.
Seir bittir bubbis and the schowris snell Semyt on the sward a symylitude of hell 1513 Doug. x vii 75.
Ȝe war sa lyke in form and symylitude Nane mycht decern betwix ȝou quhar ȝe stude 1535 Stewart 28925. 1567 G. Ball. 181.
For ȝour abuse may be ane brother To tharis, als lyke in similitude, As euer ane eg was lyke ane vther 1604 Reg. Privy C. VII 16.
[To unite Scotland and England] thairby accompleishing that quhilk … the similitud of persounes ydent[it]ie of language [etc.] … had … foirtaikned

b. specif. Of linguistic resemblance (i.e. similes, etc.). 1531 Vaus (1531) 2.
Qui, que, quod, that ar callit relatiues of similitude 16.. Rudiments 17b.
Of similitude or likenesse 16.. Rudiments 41a.
Conjunctiues … Quam, than, and other some adverbs of lykliehoode, resemblance, similitude

5. In similitude, the same (as us). 1533 Gau 50/26.
We haiff ane bischoip [sc. Christ] the quhilk cane haif pete af our infirmiteis, He wesz prouine in al thingis in simlitud bot without sine

6. Manner, fashion, customs. 1533 Boece 144.
Thai suld beild templis stretis and lugeingis to the similitude of Romanis [L. Romano more]