A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1568, 1667
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(Surmise,) Surmyse, -mize, n. [Late ME and e.m.E. surmyse (1451), -mise (1531), OF surmise (OED), sormise (13th c. in Larousse).] A (false) charge or allegation; ? (a) suspicion, conjectured or uncertain knowledge, rumour. — 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 160.
Considering thair injurious and intollerable proceadings afoir this tyme be secreit surmysis, salving thair untrew sklanderis agains our said soveranis honor 1667 Highland P. II 18.
He … burnt the toun and beseidged the castle, at the surmize of quhich all the well affected gentlemen of the neighbouring shyres gaythered to armes
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"Surmise n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/surmise_n>
