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

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

Recreat(e, -creatt, v. [e.m.E. recreate (1502), -creat, L. recreāt- ppl. stem of recreāre.]

1. tr. To refresh or reinvigorate (the body, mind or spirit); to restore (a person) to normal physical, mental or spiritual strength or vigour, to cheer, or enliven (a person). b. To restore (the strength or power of a nation).(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1406.
Ane lyoun … To recreat his limmis and to rest … Vnder ane tre lay c1590 J. Stewart 231 § 126.
Lecherie … To recreat that cairfull corps of thyn Rycht ferdie is(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 234.
Ane gentill hart is better recreate With blyith visage, than seith to him ane kow Id. Prayer 13.
Bot thow with rewth our hairtis recreate We ar bot deid 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 276.
To recreat thy spreit With dantit voce a1568 Scott v 3.
May is the moneth maist amene, … To recreat thair havy hartis(3) 1598 Acts IV 160/1.
Mononday … salbe … imployit … in … pastymes … quhairby all personis myndis and bodyis may be recreate(4) 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 93 (Ruthv.).
Recreate weil and by the chymnay bekyt, At evin be tyme doun in ane bed me strekit 1533 Boece 557b.
Be this victory … the king was swa recreate in mynde that fra mony maladyis and displesouris he grew son to perfit heill 1596 Dalr. II 457/10.
The gentle men … exercist thame selfes in sindrie games to recreat the quene and hald her out of langre, quha [was] slane amaist with sadnes, [they] labourit … quhat way tha mycht till her consolatione to comforte her recreate and gyue her courageb. 1533 Boece 574.
Nocht alanerlie was the pissance & substance of the realme recreate, bot als augmentit 1535 Stewart 33642.
And recreat agane als war thair strenth

2. reflex. To refresh, divert or amuse (oneself) (at, with, in a pastime), also without const. 1542 Coll. Rebus Alban. 27.
Scota … come out of Egipte, a maraculous hot cuntreth, to recreatt hir selfe emonges theame in the cold ayre of Scotland 1549 Compl. 62/31.
I thynk it best that ve recreat our selfis vytht ioyus comonyng c1575 Balfour Pract. 308.
Gif he was thair alanerlie to recreat him, or tak the air in the feildis, or to visie freindis 1596 Dalr. I 22/2.
Dogs, with quhilkes gentle women vses to recreate thame selfes Ib. 102/12.
In the daytyme thay ly hidd in secrete places … and thair thay recreate and refreshe thame selfes and the horses 1616 Gunn Stobo Ch. 37.
The Links of Leith where he had been recreating himself at the gowff 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 15. a1680 Blair Autob. 9.
I took only some few days to recreate myself … in hawking and hunting c1670 Gordon's Aberd. 18.
Heer the inhabitants recreat themselves with … foot ball [etc.] 1678 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 178.
Desyreing they might hav the vacanc … till recreat themselves and go hom and sie ther parents

3. To divert or distract (oneself or one's mind) (from unpleasant thoughts). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8341.
Efter my lessoun was compleit, Than to refresche, I recreat my spreit — 1643 Baillie II 62.
Wee are somewhat recreat from the thoughts of our miseries at home, when [etc.]