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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Insist, v. [e.m.E. (1586), L. insistere, F. insister.]

1. intr. To persist or persevere (in or with a course of action, etc., also, in protracted discourse); to follow (in the path of a person). a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxii. 51.
Ȝow … that in ȝour synnis insists As Godis word war haldin bot ane fable c1590 Fowler II. 134/12.
Commodus … had no other thing to do bot to insist in the tred and fallow the futstepps of his father 1596 Dalr. I. 118/7.
Bot because we heir haue perchance ouer lang insisted, and haue beine tedious to the reider, in sum particular materis … in explicating the lawes 1601 Conv. Burghs II. 104.
Be the moyane of my said lord imbassadour ... to insist and trauell at the handis of the Kingis maiestie 1618 Select Biog. (W. S.) I. 110.
We insisted continually in praying for him 1622-6 Bisset II. 188/18.
That … we may be all incuraged to supplie & insist with oure … lawchfull kingis

2. spec. To proceed with a legal pursuit or prosecution; to proceed, pursue, prosecute. Variously const. (This sense only Sc.)(1) 1576-7 Crim. Trials I. ii. 71.
The pennall askis instrumentis of the personis comperand and insistand in persute 1588 Glenartney Docum. MS.
Commanding alsua oure advocat … to compeir and insist in persute of the saidis lettres 1669 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 392.
To insist in that proces 1679 Cullen Kirk S. II. 3 Aug.
Compeered William Hay insisting in his complaint against John Allan 1690 Peebles B. Rec. II. 134.
The counsell … doe commissionat John Muir, proveist, and … ane of the baillies, to goe to Edinburgh and … insist in the said persuit 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. (2) xix. viii. 453.
Our law has ordained that the pursuer, when he raises a criminal libel, shall find caution to insist in the intented pursuit(2) 1611 Fife Synod 7.
George Kermeg, trilaps in adulterie … is … ordained to be insisted against be the censures of the Kirk 1669 Justiciary Rec. I. 308.
The dyet deserted as to all of them except Steill, who is insisted against and acquitt by an assize 1683 Dundee B. Laws 555.
The … Thesaurer … to charge the said J. Duncan and vthers, contraviners, with horneing, and vtherwayes to insist against them as accords of the law(3) 1592 Acts III. 575/2.
To be callit to vnderly the law ... at the instance of the partie offendit gif thay pleis to persew and althocht thay insist inocht at the instance of his hienes ... aduocatt 1629 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 304.
Thay have raised a suspensioun … whairin we ar advysed … not to insist till the burrowes in commoun tak resolutioun to prosequute the controversie 1661 Justiciary Rec. I. 9.
The triall of Margret Allan continued till the 27th instant and the Laird of Newhall enacted to be ready to insist 1681 Stair Inst. iv. lii § 21 (1693) 757.
If the charger do not insist to discus upon the bill, the suspender ought not to be put to uncertain attendance