Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Continance, -ence, n. Also: contynance, -ans, -ence; continans, -ens; contienance. [ME. contynaunce, -ans(e, continaunce (c 1290), etc., variant of contenaunce Contenance.] Countenance, bearing.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 219.
A rout of nobill men, That all be contynans mycht ken Ib. 243.
Of hardy contynans thai war c1400 Troy-bk. i. 302.
So stalwart in-to thar passyng Thare contynance and thar stering c1420 Ratis R. 937.
Tak lyklynes … Of contynans and of persone c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 278.
I … with a kyind contynance kys his crynd chekis 1531 Bell. Boece II. 209.
The mind of al cursit tyrannis … schawis thameself criminabil, othir in vult or continance a1578 Pitsc. I. 23/2.
The gouernour … with ane hairtlie continance requestit the chancellar [etc.](b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii. 202.
Dacyane … crabbit continence can ma Brus xi. 219 (E).
A rout of noble men, That men mycht be contynence ken c1515 Asl. MS. I. 183/8.
The body … tynis all manere continens, voce, aynd, … & colour 1533 Boece i. iii. 38.
The pepill … with glade continence and voce … declarit him thair king