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

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

Solace, -a(i)s, v. [ME solacien (1297), solase(n (14th c.), e.m.E. solace (c1475), OF solacier, -asier, med. L. solatiare; cf. MDu. solacen, -sen.]

1. tr. To comfort or console (a person or persons). a1400 Leg. S. xxi 805.
& quhene thai saw Clement gret sare & thane to solace thame sad he [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 176.
I wend … Gud sonnis haf had of thé To solace & to confort me

2. a. tr. To provide (a person) with pleasure or recreation. ?1438 Alex. ii 1979.
To solace him we suld vs pane c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 144.
Thus I sell him solace thoght I it sour think

b. reflex. To supply oneself with recreation or entertainment. a1400 Leg. S. xii 63.
The quene, To solace hyr, went to the se ?1438 Alex. ii 2174.
Made thay play and gamyn To solace and to sport thame a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 217.
With menstralis myrthfully makand thame glee Thus thay solaist thame selvin

c. To partake of recreation or entertainment. c1420 Wynt. viii 5949.
And with swylk gammys solasand [C. solassande] He rade offt blythly c1420 Wynt. viii 6399.
Till the forest syne fure he, And lay solusand [C. solasande] wyth his menyhe