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. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Subject, adj. Also: subjecte, -iect, subjet(t, -get, -iet, sug(g)et, sudiet. [ME and e.m.E. suget (Rolle, Manning), soget (Wyclif, Trevisa), subget, -it, -iect (all Chaucer), soubgit (Gower), subjecte (1560), OF suget, sujet (c1120 and c1138 in Larousse), f. as Subject n.]

1. Under the dominion of, subservient to (till) (chiefly) a ruler (also, his power, authority, etc.), or a state. Also to mak (one people or region) subject till (another). Also in fig. context, and fig.predic. (1) c1420 Wynt. iv 2408.
The empyre efftyre than Wes all subjecte till a man c1420 Wynt. v 4280.
All the ilys in the se Subject ware till hys powste 1456 Hay I 107/29.
It is na mervail that the king of Fraunce be nocht subject to the empire, na to the emperoure 1528 Lynd. Dreme 398.
Payntours, poetis ar subiect to his [sc. Mercury's] cure 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 271.
Under thy feit all thyng terrestryall Ar subiect to thy plesour and pastance 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 858.
Thay grew so subiect to Dame Sensuall And thocht bot paine pure pepyll for to teche(b) a1400 Leg. S. ii 148.
He the same sall do to thé Gywe thu to hym will subiet be(c) 1456 Hay I 251/33.
Subget 1535 Stewart 22365.
And tha to Rome perpetuallie sould be Subjett(d) 1456 Hay I 218/4.
Suget(e) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 830.
Till his crowne all kingis moist sudiet be(2) c1420 Wynt. iv 2540.
Taknyng … off thare homage That thai suld aw to Rome … Sen thai ware made till it subjet c1420 Wynt. v 1747.
He faucht wyth syndry natyownys, … and made thare regyownys Till Rome subject c1420 Wynt. v 3202.
Quhen Maximiane wonnyn had All Frawns, and till him subjecte mad 1456 Hay II 59/8.
That he be nocht subject till unworthy persounis, na wyrk nane unworthy dedis a1568 Scott xx 26.
Quhen thow wes weill at eis And subiect to no wicht a1568 Scott xxi 1.
Lat me leif allone At libertie, subiect to none(3) 1513 Doug. xii iv 74.
Ne will I not command Italianys To be subiect, nor obey the Troianysfig. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 34.
His flesche sa dayntyt he had, That to the saule subiet he it madattrib. 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 115.
Your hienes humill and subjet servitour ?1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 319.
Youre graicis maist humill and subget servand

b. Subject to the law, (another's) jurisdiction; liable to undergo judgment, interdiction, etc. a1568 Sempill in Bann. MS 125a/72.
Ȝe latt rukis and ravynis rin throw the nett And saikles dowis makis subiect to the law 1578 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 425.
That they [sc. the bishops] impyre not above the particular elderschips, but be subject to the same 1579–80 Reg. Privy C. III 271.
[He is the King's servant, and is therefore] subject to the judgment of his Hienes maister of houshaldis 1581 Acts III 223/2.
Quhether he be subiect … to interdictioun or inhibitioun or be at his awin fredome and liberte to contract

2. In a state of dependence or subjection, enslaved. Chiefly in fig. context, const. to (a particular vice, virtue or emotion).(1) a1568 Scott x 43.
At hir behufe My hairt is subiect, bound & thrall a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 50/38.
I luif fredome ȝit man I be subiect(2) 1456 Hay I 28/9.
For he is thrall and subiect to the gude c1460 Thewis Wysmen 280.
Wysdom … wyll nocht rest in cors that is Sugget to synis and to wysis 1461 Liber Plusc. 383.
Thow man … art subject till all humain passioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxiv 44.
Suppois my sensualitie Subiect to syn hes maid my saull of sys 1513 Doug. xiii iii 72.
The chance of kyngis standis onderlowt, To mekill dreid ay subiect 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 159/18.
Men ar daylie subiect to the hevy seiknes of syn 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 333.
As equall juge … Abone all vices subiect leist to pryde

3. Submissive, obedient. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 272.
Thou lytill quair, be evir obedient, Humble, subiect, and symple of entent c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 327 (C).
Quhen I him saw subiect, et sett at myn bydding c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xxvi 6.
And now for the hope of repromyssioun … I stand subiect [P. suget] in dome

4. Prone to be affected by or exposed to (unto, till) (some misfortune, undesirable condition, etc.), or to do or be (something).(1) 1533 Boece 159.
Sic men as war subiect to the instabil lawis of fortune 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 242.
I am subject to sum infermyte of gravaill 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 7.
We see dalie the pure mair subjecte to sic calamitie 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Eclogues i 49.
Obnoxiis adversis rebus (that is subject to straikes) 1570 Leslie 152.
His … douchter … wes … mickell subject to seiknes a1578 Pitsc. I 105/27.
Ane that is fallin in errour to the quhilk everie mortall man is subiect 1580 Dysart Gleanings 37.
Patrik Dunbar … knowing him subject to seikness & infirmities 1584 Laing MSS 38.
This interprise apperit to be subject to mony perillis & difficulties 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 72/3.
Quhat peccant humouris his patient … is maist subiect unto 1683 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 200.
A tenth part … to any person who draws a levell ten fathoms under the work if it bee so subject to water that it needs one(2) a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxv 5.
Syn I am subject somtyme to be seik 1654 Baillie III 265.
I am not so easily subject to take the pett

b. Characterised by (to) (a certain condition or state). 1616 Stirling B. Rec. I 144.
All weyabill merchand wairis, sic as lint, hemp, irn, woll, and utheris subject to great wecht

c. Obliged, forced (to do something). a1400 Leg. S. xxi 657.
He [sc. Pope Clement] tholit nane subiet be mad To beg, that baptysme takine had