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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.

Renoun(e, -non(e, n. Also: ra- and -nown(e; -nouin. [ME and e.m.E. renoun (Manning), renon (Piers Plowman), AF renoun, renun = OF renon, renom (1175 and 1240 in Larousse), see Renoume n., f. as Renommit p.p. and Renoumit ppl. adj. See also Renommé n. and Renouné n.]

1. Of (gud, gret, etc.) renoune, of renown, fame or distinction; celebrated; of (good, etc.) fame or reputation.Also, once, pl. in same sense (as, rarely, in 14th c. Eng.).(1) 1375 Barb. i 260.
I leve all the solucioun Till thaim that ar off mar renoun c1400 Troy-bk. 1 231.
Baith lordis and marchantes of renown Ib. ii 158 (C).
Because of religacioune Of Amphymacus of renowne c1420 Wynt. iii 135.
Thar eftyr wes Sampsone off renowne Ib. iv 2635.
For off that hous … He [sc. Joseph] wes off kyn and off renowne c1475 Wall. i 326.
Thar stekit thai that gud knycht of renoun ?a1500 Rosw. & Lillian 634. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 104/38
With hounds and ratches of renown. 1513 Doug. iii v 123.
Helenus of renown c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 16.
Lindesayis all thrie, in surname of renoun a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 28/37.
Ȝe lordis and all barounis of renowne(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 16.
Vchis & cronis Mad fore sere folk that of renone is a1570-86 Maitl. F. 437/1.
My lordis of renon(2) c1450-2 Howlat 546 (B).
Murray, the riche lord of renownis [: townis](3) 1375 Barb. v 172.
Gud Cristole off Setoun That wes off sa nobill renoun a1400 Leg. S. xvii 18.
Avynone, A place now of gret renovne Ib. xxxii 102.
A man that was of il renowne c1400 Troy-bk. ii 370 (C).
That relyk of gret renowne c1420 Ratis R. 938.
Of gud lynag and gud renown c1475 Wall. i 26.
His systir fair, off gud fame and ranoune 1490 Irland Mir. I 120/28.
Mony spiritis of gret ranoune and hie estait c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 16/42.
The sacramentis sevin of gret renoun Ib. 99/34. 1596 Dalr. I 8/4.
Was never off halff so gryt renowne(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 664.
Johnis conversacione Wes … of sic renone, That [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS I p. 22/28.
For he to me hes done thingis greit Off he renouin

b. With grit renown, with much distinction or display. Appar. only north. ME (Cursor M. and c1440) and Sc. c1578 Reid Swire 23.
The Rutherfoords with grit renown Convoyed the town of Jedbrugh out

2. Celebrity, fame; (one's) fame, (high) reputation or distinction. Also fig. and personified.(1) 1375 Barb. vi 348.
Forthi has worschip sic renoun That it is mene betuix thai twa a1400 Leg. S. xliv 13.
Of Agatha the renovne Gert hire haf deuocione c1420 Ratis R. 691. 1456 Hay I 281/31.
Sa that for the renoune of the Parisien, his werkis suld be the better sauld Ib. II 85/26.
All princis suld laboure and travaile here to … wyn gude renoun Id. Alex. (S.T.S.) 1974.
Quhat los, quhat honour, quhat renoun, Was spokin of him … That all the cuntre quakit helelie c1460 Consail Vys Man 406.
Al riches passis gud renoune 1461 Liber Plusc. 385.
Thare is na ryches peire to gud ranoun a1500 Seven S. 2143.
Gret reward Thai haf hecht and gret renovne For to absolue the questioun 1513 Doug. v x 11.
Byd hym … do hys grandschir honour and renown Ib. xi Prol. 196. a1568 Scott xvi 43.
And for sa schort renown warryn so bald To susteyn weir a1568 Bann. MS 265a/2.
Sum man luvis … for rentis and renoun a1578 Pitsc. I 132/11.
The flurischand renone and fame of Ingland(2) ?1438 Alex. 1673.
Quhat sall I say of his renoun c1420 Wynt. iv 2142.
We sla thaim … That ȝhit relewe wald oure renowne 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 981.
I haue hard of thi renoun a1500 Henr. Fab. 1486.
It will degraid sum part off ȝour renoun To sla ane mous a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 50.
His hie renoune c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 72.
I suld at fairis be found … To schaw my renone royaly quhair preis was of folk Ib. 332.
Wer not ruffill of my renoune and rumour of pepill Ib. (O.U.P.) 133/66.
That thay rys never to his renowne 1513 Doug. iv v 89.
At thai thar fame and gude renown forȝet 1533 Bell. Livy I 30/26.
His renoun was grete in thai boundis 1619 Garden
His renowne and name abone His marrows muche did mount 1619 Elphinstoun 444.fig. a1500 Henr. Garmont 18.
Hir gown suld be … Weill ribband with renownepersonified c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 175.
Hir folowit … Will, Wantonnes, Renoun and Libertee

b. Of renoune, in respect of fame. c1420 Wynt. ii 1664 (C).
Venes … the gret towne That ȝhit is ryalle of ranowne c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 88.
Rich to behald, and nobil of renoune

c. A source or cause of renown. c1475 Wall. xi 605.
It war a hie renoun, And we mycht qwyk leid him to Sanct Jhonstoun

3. Report, rumour (of something); an instance of this.Also, be renowne.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 74.
Of his religione and of his wisdome, ran sic renown Ib. xii 189.
[Of] that sad ded the ranowne Sowne rane throw al the towne Ib. xxxvi 340.
& Johne … Of Cristis warkis herd renone c1420 Wynt. iii 921.
As nowe lardys be renowne Ar comoune off condityoune(2) 1456 Hay II 7/35.
Thare is a grete renoune gangand in ferr contreis of a grete assemblee

4. a. To have (the) renoune (of a specified quality), to be famous or well-known for. b. Const. infin. compl.: To have the reputation (of being a certain kind of person).a. a1400 Leg. S. xxxix 36.
A matrone, That of gret gudnes had renon c1420 Wynt. vi 352.
He … That had be vertu the renowne [W. of vertu the renovne] Off manhad, helpe, and off defensb. 1456 Hay I 281/28. Ib. 281/5.
A maister armoureur of Paris that had renoune to be the best of that craft that war in Fraunce