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

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

Went, Vent, n. [ME and e.m.E. went (1250), wente (Chaucer); Wend v.]Chiefly in Doug.

1. Route, course, path, way. Also fig. 1513 Doug. i vi 161.
Thy schippys and falloschip on the sammyn wys Owdir ar herbryit in the havyn … Or with bent saill entris in the port be this. Now pas thy way evyn furth that sammyn went 1513 Doug. iii iv 40 (Sm.).
Ontill ane cave we went, Vndir a hingand hewch, in a derne vent 1513 Doug. iv vii 89.
Euery rod and went Wolx of thar ithand wark hait, quhar thai went 1513 Doug. v i 49.
Tyte turn ȝour salys and set thyddyr ȝour went 1513 Doug. vi i 49.
Ariadne … tawght ful rycht Of this quent hows fortil omdo the slycht—Quhou by a threid the subtell wentis ilkane Thai myghtin hald, and turn that way agane 1513 Doug. ix vii 26.
The horsmen … fast furth sprentis To weil beknawin pethis, and turnys wentis 1513 Doug. xi x 64.
Hym self ascendis the hie band of the hyll By wentis strait and passage scharp 1513 Doug. xi x 68.
And ly at wait in quyet enbuschment At athir pethis hed or secrete wentfig. 1513 Doug. i Prol. 378.
Logicianys knawys heirin myne entent Vndir quhais boundis lurkis mony strange went 1570 Warrender P. (SHS) I 83.
The quenis party is the strangest … amangis the nobilitie [etc.] … The others as thay ar all kinsmen and for the maist part creatures of the nobilitie, sua follow thay thair went in thir caissis

2. Occasion, event; state of affairs. 1513 Doug. iii x 123.
The prynce Eneas … The fatis of goddys and rasys mony ane Rehersyng schew, and syndry strange wentis [Ruddim. ventis] 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 117.
Thar is na stait of thar stile that standis content … All wald haue vp that is dovn, Weltrit the went