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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.

Sonȝe, v. Also: sonye, sounȝe, swnye, soinȝe, soyne P.t. sonȝete, -eit, sonyeit, soneȝeit, -it, sunȝete. [North. ME soigne, soyny (Cursor M.), soyne (Alexander), or aphetic form of Assonȝe v., Essonȝe v.; Sonȝe n.]

1. intr. To hesitate. Also const. for, and to do (something).(1) pres. 1531 Bell. Boece II 241.
Quhy sonye ye, maist vailyeant campionis? 1533 Boece 329.
Gif ony wald sonȝe or mak ane licht excuse of payment(b) c1420 Wynt. viii 6118 (C).
And fra men saw this infortone, Syndry can in thar hartis soyne [W. schone, R. schwne] And calde it ewil forbyssenyngep.t. c1420 Wynt. viii 6800.
Thai … sonyeit noucht for thi the more c1475 Wall. iii 110.
Thar sonȝeit nane of that gud chewalrye c1475 Wall. v 926.
He … Kest doun his sper, and sonȝeit nocht a deyll 1533 Boece 69.
Eftir thai had certane tyme prolongit the fecht … athir partie soneȝeit and to vthir gaif place 1535 Stewart 37832.
Sonȝeit c1530-40 Stewart in Maitl. F. 248/8.
He sonȝeit nocht nor said me nay(b) 1533 Boece 54.
Gif ony persoun sunȝete or ran to hiddillis … he was at hame murdrist(c) 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 368.
He soinȝeit not to ga him self and se(2) 1533 Boece 153b.
To the Romane armye mycht neuer be impute that thai sonȝete fra batell(3) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) vii 31.
Withe us to liue … Quhilk never sall swyne for thy saik to bleid 1533 Boece 49b.
The king quhilk sonȝeit nocht to expone him self to perrellis 1533 Boece 116.
Thare feris … soneȝit nocht to fecht a1586 Lindsay MS 65b.
The evill knycht quhilk sonȝeit to help ane vthir man

b. reflex. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1528.
He sonȝeit him as he wald forthir pas

c. To dally (with another). a1568 Scott xxxiv 93.
Swa ladeis will nocht sounȝe With waistit wowbattis rottin

2. tr. To delay, put off. 1533 Boece 208b.
Scottis sonȝete nocht thare cuming