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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.

Vew, Vieu, v. Also: vewe, wew, veu(e, veiu, weiu, view, wieu(e, wiew, viw(e. [e.m.E. view (1523), veu (1534), vewe (1551).] tr.

1. To inspect, examine (formally).(a) 1551 Acts II 489/1.
Diuers prentaris … prentis … ballattis sangis blasphematiounis rymes [etc.] … not sene vewit and considderit be the superiouris 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 587. 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V 175.
That the lytes before the electioun sall be considderit and vewet be your Majestie and Lords of your hienes Sessioun 1625 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 123.
The … bailȝeis … searchit and vewed the said waird hous 1633 Inverness Rec. II 172.
Eftir lange disputatioun … visitinge, vewinge, and perambulinge the said James Robertsone landis 1650 Kelso Glovers 11.
The oficer … shal go through the markit … and wew all the work whither it be suficient or not 1657 Balfour Ann. III 15.
Ordained tuo of eache estait to weiu them [sc. signatures] 1663 Glasgow B. Rec. III 23.
To sight and vew the rooff of the hie kirk 1667 Edinb. B. Rec. X 32.
To vew the ship and to report ther opinion of the damnage she hes sustaind 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 201.
That the Highland forces … be randezvoud and veued and a report made … of ther condition 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 201.
Veiu(b) 1670 Inverness Rec. II 240.
Ane constable and ane officer to wieue ewerie streit, and to imprisson such persones as [etc.](c) 1672 Dunblane Synod 93.
The presbyterie booke … to be viwed be them

2. To look at, regard, observe; examine visually; take cognisance of (a place, phenomenon, etc.).(a) 1570 Leslie 226.
The Scottis … wer still vewed by a gret nombre of Inglis horsmen; bot nevirtheles thay nevir assailȝeit 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 166.
Sho … casting hir eye to vewe the place whair shoe was for the tyme a1585 Maitl. Q. 223/17.
I vewit the feildis … Quhair I ane place maist plesand micht espy c1590 Fowler I 27/48.
The proud attyre … Be rearing vp my fainting eyeis … I did veue c1590 J. Stewart 62/193.
Great vonder vas thair vraithe so vod to wew c1590 J. Stewart 86/222.
The cairfull comte … Full monie luiflie dictums heir did vew Be Medor vrocht 1615 Highland P. III 271.
Cadell said to the deponner that he wald onlie go veu the ile and that he wald do no thing thairin quhill the cannoun come 16.. Herries Mem. 9.
The English … marches up to vew Edinburgh; and sent a strong partie up the Cannogat thinking to enter the toune without resistance(b) 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xx 17.
Vieu 1626 Garden Worthies 102.
He … drew … each cavallars eie His wondrous valour … to wiew 1626 Garden Worthies 106.
Wieued 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix 390.
[He] sent a guide with me … to view the mountayne more strictly … Having viewed and reuiewed this [etc.] 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) ii 110.
Tis wonder … Ladies … have their naked breeches Both view'd and lanced by the leeches 1706 Rothesay Par. Rec. 223.
[She] found the said Bryce lying in the inset bed above Issobell … but whither they were base or immodest she could not tell her oun modestie not allowing her to view them narrowlie

3. To pay attention to. 1571 J. Maitland in Sat. P. xxvii 123.
Quha hes the wogue, him all the warld dois wew