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 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Oratory, -ie, Oritori(e, n. Also: oratoury, oratry. [ME. (14th c.) and e.m.E. oratorie, -y, L. ōrātōri-um: cf. Oratour n.²] a. An oratory or chapel for prayer. b. A study. c. In Douglas: An inner shrine of a temple, as the seat of an oracle. — 1478 Grey Friars II. 15.
The anourment of the said oritori in buk, vestment and chalice c1420 Wynt. v. 3023 (W).
Till his oratory [R. orator, C. oratoure] he past And him revest als fast c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxii. 2 (Asl.).
Amang thir freris in a closter I enterit in ane oratory [Maitl. F. oritorie] 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 103.
At the tempill of Phebus … from the secret oratory [L. adytis; Ruddim. oratry] … Thir soroful tythyngis he ws brocht agane Ib. vii. iv. 172.
I haue a douchter quham responsis schaw Furth of my faderis oratory [L. adyto; Sm. oratoury] law 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 2.
Secreitly sittyng in myne oratorie I tuk ane buke