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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.

Tent, v.² [e.m.E. tent (1594) to probe, treat (a wound).] tr.

1. To treat (a wound). See Tent n.⁴Cf. also Tent v.¹ 2 of which some of these may be examples. ?1438 Alex. i 3283.
His maister leich … tentit Emynedus and the wound a1500 Sir Eger 372.
The bloody tents away she drew, And tented me again with new 15.. Clar. v 1509.
The constabill … abaid with the chirurgianis Whill visit all and tentit was his wound, And bundit up with sawis

2. To try, test, probe, investigate. 1592 Mining Rec. 82.
He hes avouit that he … hes tentit ane copper sem … fywe myle lang 1600-1610 Melvill 37.
My uncle … enterit with me to understand to what calling my hart inclyned … Coming ham, my father tented me in the sam maner 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 27.
Why should not such devoring gulfs be discovered? And why should not such hulcerous phisters be bard and tented? 1630 Skene Mem. 198.
With full power and privelege … to kid tent delve dig and search the ground … for the saidis mynis

3. ? To bring under suspicion, accuse. 1598 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 42.
Not only is princelie vertue … disgraced … but … the wisdome of the most mightie Christian monarke is traiterously tented by the false suggestions of a malicious sophyste 1607 Dundee B. Laws 412.
That na maister gif his prentise ane frie discharge induring the ȝeiris of his prentischip … in preuidice of the craft vnder the paine the maister tentit thairwith never to haue ane prentise in tyme cuming

4. ? To probe, insert a lance into. 1594 Warrender P. (SHS) II 259.
Rinning at the ring, the lawes quharof wer these … he that tuyse touches ring or tents it winns alsmeikill as gif he had caryed awey the ring