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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Conjure, v. Also: -jwr, -jur, -juir, -jour. [ME. conjure (c 1290), -joure, OF. conjure, L. conjūrāre.]

1. tr. To exhort or adjure solemnly; to command. a1400 Leg. S. i. 579.
I coniour ȝow … at ȝe Ber hym no mar Ib. xi. 361; etc.
In Goddis name we coniur thé, Tel gyf this dekyne gat thé ?1438 Alex. ii. 2443.
Be ȝour croun … I coniure ȝow that ȝe nocht le c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 168.
I coniure thé, thow hungert heland gaist Ib. xlviii. 83.
Full craftely conjurit scho the yarrow, Quhilk did furth swirk als swift as ony arrow a1540 Freiris Berw. 523.
Ha, how, Hurlybas, now I coniure the, That thow vprys and sone to me appeir, In habeit blak in liknes of a freir 1549 Compl. 110/11.
The said Kyng … coniurit, persuadit, solistit … nobil Pompeus to reueil the secret counsel of the senat

b. To call up, or control, by sorcery. c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 34.
Now mony vsis sosserie, Doand the deuylis of Hell coniure a1605 Montg. Flyting 400.
Be craft coniurand fiends perforce Ib. 536.
Coniure this beastly beggar impotent

2. To bind together by an oath. 1533 Boece ix. vi. 299 b.
Lyke as we war all coniurit and sworne … to hald ws at wantoun … chere 1533 Bell. Livy I. 150/25.
I am nocht the man that is onelie coniurit in thi deith a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 9.
Bayth hewin and erth ar contrair me coniurit a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxxiii. 26.
Baith treuth and promeis did thow geif To me by fayth and aithe coniurd

3. intr. To conspire, enter into league. 1549 Compl. 133/4.
The familiars of princis that coniuris ar affligit in there hart vitht ane thousand deffeculteis 1585 James VI Ess. 52.
Though subiects do coniure For to rebell against their Prince and King 1596 Dalr. I. 339/21.
Thay … invade the king be nycht, quha had coniuiret and conspiret against him

4. tr. To plan by conspiracy. 1596 Dalr. I. 313/24.
Thir newis now cam till his eiris, that sum of the nobilitie had coniuret his deith

5. To make over with a solemn oath. c1600 Montg. Suppl. 210/34.
Quhilk hert, as rube in this ring, I do coniwr into ȝour cuir