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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Veng(e)abil(l, Vengeable, adj. Also: vengiable, wengibill, vengible, vengebel, vengeble. [ME and e.m.E. veniable (Wyclif), vengable (Gower), vengeable (Lydgate), vengible (1548), vengeabil (1582), AF vengable, f. venger.]

1. Of persons, etc.: Vengeful, vindictive. Dietary in c1500 Makc. MS xiv 18.
Be nocht hasty, no sudanly wengibill [Bann. vengeble, Barb. vengabill], And to puyr folk do no vialence 1513 Doug. iii iv 102 (Sm.).
Thai wald we suld perdoun and pece requier, In cace gif thai war goddessis or fowlis, Vengeable wychtis or ȝit laithlie owlis 1513 Doug. xii xiii 128.
Thar beyn twa vengeabill monstreis full of harmys, … wikkit as fyre 1531 Bell. Boece I 93.
He chesit erar to be namit ane merciful prince, than ane vengeabil tyrane c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 713.
Joys I my life … in this land, Thay sall haif caus far mair for to lament That [etc.] … Als scho that said … With vengeabil vult, lait and gude [countenance] [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS 75b/4.
Quhen ane wreche is sett to he estait … Thair is non so prowd pompous and elait Non so vengeble and full of crewelte a1568 Bann. MS 79b/52.
A crewale hairt invyous and vengeable

2. Of actions, states, etc.: a. Vengeful, vindictive. b. Accursed.a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 20/141.
Off ded or slauchter culpabill knaw I me Off tiranny or vengabill [BD vengiable, M. vengible, B. vengeable] cruelte c1610 Melville Mem. 88.
Our quen then Douagiere of France retired hir self be litle and litle … fra the court of France; that it suld not seam that sche was in any sort compellit therunto, as of a treuth sche was, be the quen mothers rygorous and vengeable dealing; wha allegit that sche was dispysed be hir gud dochterb. 1513 Doug. xi v 77 (Sm.).
Thai curs and wary fast this vengeabill [C. vengabill, Ruddim. vengeabil; L. dirum] weir a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 137/10.
Quhat vengebel vodnes is this, quhilk rengis in the Christiane hartis of men in thir dais 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Dirus, cursed, vengible