Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SOLVENDIE, adj. Also solvendi, -do; silvendie, -y; salvenda, -o; silvendum; ¶sulvender. Compar. solvendier (Abd. 1825 Jam.); superl. solvendiest (Ib.). See also Sevendle. [səl′vɛndi, -ə, -o]

1. Solvent (Abd. (solvendo), Ags. (solvendi) 1825 Jam.).Sh. 1747 Hjaltland Misc. (1939) III. 75:
Perquisites previous to the Clerks Commencement as were yet due by persons that were Solvendo.

2. Of things: trustworthy, firm, safe, secure, adequate, sure, certain (Abd., Ags. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1931; Kcd. 1971). Phr. to mak salvendo, to make sure (Ork. 1930). Deriv. solvendiness, a state of trustworthiness (Abd., Ags. 1825 Jam.).Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers 47:
The lum was far frae bein' in a silvendum condition.Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums xiv.:
It's no very silvendy his comin' ower the brae by himsel.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Back o' Benachie 136:
[We] wull be ower by tae see it's a' salvenda aboot gyaun tae Porston.Ork. 1930:
That steul ye're sittin' on's no very salvendo.

3. Of persons: strong, in good health, fit (Ags. c.1840 Jervise MS.; ‡Kcd. 1971); of things: in good condition.Abd. 1929 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (24 Jan.) 6:
Puckles o' it [straw] is nae very salvendo, for it blaudit some in the ruck.Abd. 1938 Abd. Press & Jnl. (28 April):
Someone who had recovered after a somewhat serious illness, and I imagine I hear again the kindly greeting: “Weel, an' are ye fairly sulvender noo?”