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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Absent, a. and n. [ME. absent (c 1340), OF. absent, L. absent-, absens.]

1. adj. Absent, not present.c1420 Wynt. vii. 33 (noucht present bot absent); 1751 (ma absent than present). 1456 Hay I. 146/35 (absent fra his service). 14.. Acts I. 377/2 (the perty absent). 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. 85 (the persouns absent). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 9. 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 72 (gif ony war absent).

2. n. An absentee. Usu. in plural.Common in 16th c. Also in Eng. in 16–17th c. c1420 Wynt. vii. 1754.
The Byschapys, that thare ware, Off tha absentys had na poware For till mak awnswere 1456 Peebles B. Rec. iii.
The suttis callit, the curt effirmyt, ilk absent in amerssiment 1504 Edinb. B. Rec. 99.
That the absents for the tyme sall haif na fie nor waiges 1513 Doug. ix. ii. 68.
The wild wolf … his rage and furour Aganys the absentis … Rasys in ire 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 72.
The first person … sall supplie the place of the absentis 1620 Ib. III. 110.
Ane vther persone … of the same qualitie of the absent 1662 Lamont Diary 156.
He desyred the clerke to marke exactly the absents 1700 Aberd. B. Rec. 331.
That … absents from the church be called to ane severe account

b. Freq. in the phr. absents to falt, amerciate, etc., used with reference to fines for non-attendance at a court of justice. 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 234/1.
Gevand him power … absentis to amerciate 1509 Ib. 290/2.
With power to set … and begyn courtis, … absentis to falt [etc.] 1529 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 249.
Trespassouris … to summont … to thar courtis, absentis to wnlaw 1587 Acts III. 457/2.
That in iustice airis … the haill assyissouris be callit for, and the absentis amerchiat 1673 Corshill Baron Ct. 107.
Sutes called, and the absents … fyned in tuentie tuo shilling scots money 1674 Reg. Privy C. Ser. 3 IV. 278.
To issue furth precepts for citeing of assyses, … absentes to amerciat [etc.]