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

Vexatio(u)n, -acio(u)n(e, n. Also: -atione, -acon, -acyoun, wexatioun, -acioun(e, -acoun, -aseione. [Late ME and e.m.E. vexacioun (c1400), wexacion (15th c.), vexation (1555), OF vexation, L. vexātiōn-, f. vexāre.]

1. (An act of) harassment, molestation, aggression or physical violence, esp. for the purpose of preventing a person's legitimate exercise of his rights. Also, the use of the law for this purpose. An instance of this, also, pl. b. In Stair Inst.: The long continued repetition of minor acts of molestation for the purpose of harassment. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2239.
Thai … Sesit frome all wexacioun Of the Troyens; tharfor the towne Was in-to pece 1460 Hay Alex. 3094.
The king … desyrit battall … And … gart his fut menȝe … cast stanis [etc.] … Than duke Balys send furth his messinger Till duke Betis … And let him wit … Of his vexatioun and his distrublance 1466 Acta Aud. 4/1.
That thai ces of all … inquietacion vexacion & molestacion of him & his landis 1475 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 453.
In cas that I … may nocht … brouk pesably the said tenement … be vexacon of pley to be movit in tyme to cum 1480 Newbattle Coll. (Somerville) (Reg. H.).
That the said vexacon injuryng … or impediment makyn be notory kend that he the said Johne … may nocht pessabily bruk nor joys the said landis 1481–2 Acta Aud. 96/1.
The wrangwis vexatioun inquietatioun & distrublance of thaim in a tak … of the landis of Ȝester 1482 Acta Aud. 103/2.
Vexatioun & distrublance of thaim in the gadering & leding of thar teyndis 1494 Acta Aud. 195/1.
For the impetratioun of our souerane lordis lettrez to the vexatioun … of the said maister Adam in the vicarage of Stony c1515 Asl. MS I 187/7.
Thai … remanit thar xl ȝeris with mekle weire & wexacoun 1496 Acta Conc. II 37.
Vexacione 1498 Acta Conc. II 205.
For the wrangus distroubling vexacioune and furth casting of the sade Jonet 1509–10 Reg. Privy S. I 308/1.
But ony hurt, harme, vexatioun, impediment, injure [etc.] … to be done to the said Colyn a1538 Abell 87a.
He cursit him & priuat him of his kinrik for wexatioun of kirkmen in Inglandpl. a1578 Pitsc. I 19/12.
Mischeif, slawchtar, baneisment troubbillis and vexatiounis 1581 Burne Disput. 188b.
Vexationis, amerciamentis, baratrie, depriuatione from leuingis and officesb. 1681 Stair Inst. iv xl § 26 (see Switching vbl. n.). 1681 Stair Inst. iv xl § 26.
The French dragoons by vexation of Protestants with quartering, reproaching, affronting, straitening in the conveniences of life and in the requisite acts of religion have made Protestants do more to dissemble … their religion than fire or gibbet … could ever do; yet every single act would not infer just fear

2. Trouble, difficulty, affliction, annoyance, esp. as brought about by circumstances, esp. the troubles of this world or life in general; the state of being so troubled. Also const. to do something. Also pl. b. specif. Of the body or mind: Physical or mental stress or affliction.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 370 (A).
Sa intermellit is adversite With erdlie ioyis so that no stat is fre Without truble or sum wexacioun 1479 Douglas Chart. 110.
My said … sone is bun by his lettres obligatouris … that he sall kepe thaim harmles and fra all scath and vexacyoun of thare band and obligacyoun maid be thaim vnto Duncan Cambell a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 837 (Asl.).
Powerte deid wexacioun and seiknes Thir thingis we dreid 1490 Irland Mir. I 40/15.
All this waurld is bot a maner of hell trubile sorow and wexacioune 1490 Irland Mir. III 117/5.
Quhen the princis … ar at diuisioun than the pepil sustenis gret trouble and wexacioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 74/41.
Tak consolatioun in ȝour pane In tribulatioun tak consolatioun, Out of vexatioun cum hame agane a1561 Norvell Meroure 20.
Thus may I not, alway in their vexatione, Contemple them, without I haue compassione 1600-1610 Melvill 133.
Whow all things went wrang be the misgoverning of that new counsall … to the grait offence and greiff of all his guid subjects, the heavie vexation of the kirk, and extream perrell of the comoun-weill 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 76.
Y hawe bein in grayt trowbell and wexaseione … in Lleisborne … Willyem Llindsay band him befor the noters of Lleisborne [etc.] … Bot he newer keipit ane word 1622 Yester Wr. 352.
Ye sall adwyse … quhat [pr. qahat] he derrit me to do heirin … I wald hawe comit meselffe bot I … belew me lord sall tyne the mylne for this last storme [etc.] … I hawe attit with all that I can do and yeit asse we sie vexatioune [pr. vetatioume] of we man be [gap] so louking for your ansswer [etc.](2) c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 981.
Bot I think greit vexatioun To tarie vpon dispensatiounpl. 1471 Ayr Chart. 36.
King James … grantit … to the burgessis … that thair tenentis … suld nocht be cohercit … to compeir as witnessis [etc.] … and dischargeit the burgessis … of all sic laubirris, chargeis, and vexacionis … for ever 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 230.
The Marquis of Huntlie … resolved to leave at home frie from factions & vexations of the courtb. 1456 Hay II 125/21.
The membris and the wit … labouris nocht … bot restis fra all vexacioun corporale and mentale 1490 Irland Mir. I 85/33.
Cauld and all maner of wexacioune and infirmite 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 197.
Seing the vomit and vexacioun that was on the young Lady Balnagoun … of the quhilk poysoun, the young Lady Balnagoun contractit deadlie seiknes