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 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Recompens, -pence, -pans(e, n. Also: racum- and -pense; -pance; reconpans. [Late ME (Lydgate) and e.m.E. recompence, -pense, OF recompense (late 14th c. in Larousse).]

1. Atonement or satisfaction, reparation or restitution made (for, of) a wrong done. b. Something given by way of atonement.(1) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 968.
In recompence of his missettand saw, He sall [etc.](2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 16/43 (B).
Thy Haly Supper for my syn recompence 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3450 (Ch.).
We May never to God mak recompence conding Ib. 3471.
An drop of his maist precious blude Was recompence sufficient c1552 Id. Mon. 5782.
Mak recompence heir, as ȝe mayb. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1149 (Asl.).
Gevand his blud, mast precious recompence

2. Compensation for loss or injury sustained; an instance of this.Chiefly in the phrase in (for) (the) recompens (of).(1) 1473 Treas. Acc. I 67.
Gevin … to ane Inglisman in the recompens of his schip and gudis that [etc.] Ib. 68.
Gevin to him in the recompens of his colare 1498 Acta Conc. II 189.
That in full recompence and payment of al soumes … aucht be the sade Mychell 1513 Doug. xii xiii 202.
Is this the ganȝeld that he rendris me In recompens of my virginite? 1527 Treas. Acc. V 324.
To Dene David Jameson, … in recompens of a gilt challice stollin furtht of the abbay … , xv li. — 1513 Doug. vii v 54.
Was it nocht eik grantit in recompens to Dyan … To [etc.] ?1572 Bann. Memor. 339.
I never socht landis nor rowme at him in the recompence(b) 1566 Mill Mediæv. Plays 343.
Payit to ane man in recompance of his ȝaird dyk cassin doun 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 190.
That thai … sall pay … the soume of fourtie schillingis in racumpans of the skayth done 1595–6 Glasgow Burgesses 22.
Given to John Briscat, tailor, for the recompans of the skayth sustenit be him of the 27 merks quhilk he debursit to pay for the laidill(2) 1606 Acts IV 300/2.
The … recompanse gevin to these … fewaris of Casche for thair lose a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 31. 1662 Lamont Diary 143.
Remember the losser had no recompence meade to him(3) a1500 Henr. Fab. 774.
The hird … for his kid and vther violence He tuke his [sc. the wolf's] skyn, and maid ane recompence

b. Compensation for something badly done. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 6.
To satisfie my foirsaid symple dyte, In recompance of it now will I wryte c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 136.
Thoght his pen purly me payis in bed His purse pays richely in recompense efter 1622-6 Bisset II 251/30.
The hyrer of him hes … na fault fund with him In the quhilk case there is na actioun of recompance

3. Return (pleasant or unpleasant) for effort, service, merit, etc.; reward or requital; payment or repayment.Also, with indef. art. and (once) in pl.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 196/63.
Alhaill almoist, Thay mak the coist, With sobir recompens c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 143.
I gat none vther recompence Bot hoyit and houndit of the toun 1540 Id. Sat. 1337.
This rok of myne salbe thy recompence Ib. 1440.
We sall do ȝour command with diligence And at ȝour hand serve gudly recompence c1550 Id. Test. Meldrum 223.
Ȝe suld haue bene my spous … With rent and riches for my recompence a1568 Bann. MS 71a/23.
Syne sall ressaif in our end recompence Eternall lyfe 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 57.
And geif I had decessit ye suld haif lesit bath thankis and recompens 1600 Crim. Trials II 211.
For the which seruice, hee humbly craued that recompence, that [etc.] 1614 Fraser Sir-Name of Baird 54.
I gaif him sufficient recompense for his painstaking … but … he thocht to have gottin sum geir of you 1661 Carstairs Lett. 85.
That recompence of reward will allay the shairpness of any cup 1681 Stair Inst. i viii §1.
The obligation of remuneration or recompense is that bond of the law of nature obliging to do one good deed for another(b) 1535 Stewart 40943.
And for his saik thairfoir he thocht agane Onto his freindis recompance to mak 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 93.
Onles we suld gif oure self to him for the recompans of his service a1568 Bann. MS 254b/64.
Thay wald haif reddy serwandis ay But reconpans thank or rewaird a1585 Maitl. Q. 260/8.
Deidis deserving recompance c1590 J. Stewart 75/99.
So Medor now possessith … The recompans quhilk campions did mis 1600 Glasgow Chart. I ii 250.
The great … seruice done to his majesteis vmquhile mother [etc.] … without ony condigne recompance 1616 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 303.
He may iustlie chalandge the recompance of his seruice(2) 1511 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 104.
Ilkane … sall content refund and pay … tua huks ane day in harsit … in recompens for thar petis castin 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 336.
To Johne Adamsone, in part of recompens of his service doyne 1590 Ib. MS 209.
In recompance of a porcopon gevin to his hienes a1605 Montg. Misc. P. x 6.
They get ay a good goosheid In recompense of all thair pane — a1585 Maitl. Q. 235/24.
I … houpis to haue ane hairt In recompence(3) 1528 Lynd. Dreme 7.
My ȝouthed … Excerst in seruyce of thyne excellence Hope hes me hecht ane gudlie recompence 1594 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 236.
Quhais meritis … craves rather ane greater recompance then anye disgrace 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 280.
Ane recompans to ane man who sall do good seruice aganis the rebels 1639 Bk. Carlaverock II 113.
To haue put such a commentar upon what was in hand … was a bad recompance for my goodwillpl. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4209 (B).
In hell sall be your recompences

4. Retribution, revenge. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 291.
This greit iniure done to our hie estait Me think … we suld mak recompence a1578 Pitsc. I 102/7.
The king and his assistaris war leath to wse sic cruelltie for thair recompance