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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.

Assemblé, Assemblie, n. Also: assemblee, assempble, assembille, assimble; assembla(y); assemblie, assem(b)ly; essemble. [ME. assemblé (1330), assemblee, assembillé, etc., OF. assemblée, fem. p.p. of assembler Assemble v.]

1. A gathering of persons; an assemblage or assembly, esp. of a formal or important character.1375 Barb. i. 146 (till Scotland word send he, That thai suld mak ane assemble). c1420 Wynt. viii. 2824 (in Lundyn hym herberyd he The fvrst day off thare assemble). 1428 Liber Aberbr. 58 (as he repayris at consalis and assembilleis). 1456 Hay II. 7/35 (a grete assemblee that suld be maid in this land). 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 26 (thai maid thair ane assemblie of thair factioun); 51 (ane assemble of lordis in Sanct Johnestoun). 1575 Inverness B. Rec. I. 242 (ane queat rowme for halding of the assempble in). 1579 Irvine Mun. II. 21 (the Conventione and Assimble of Borrowis). 1581 Acts III. 232/2 (in all parliamentis, conventiones, and essembleis).

b. spec. An assembly of the Reformed Church. General Assembly: see General a. (In early use also a meeting of a congregation or kirk session.) 1560 Bk. Univ. Kirk 3.
The … assemblie of the people of the haill parochine of Restalrig 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 105.
Sche wes dilated … befoyr the minister and eldaris of Crayll, present for the tym in thar assemble Ib.
In the publict assemble of the congregacione of Crayll Ib. 106.
Oppinlie in the public essemble 1564 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 286.
My travell now in the Ilis may do mair gude to the Kirk nor my presens at the Assemblie 1558-66 Knox II. 295.
Maister Johne Wode … refused ever to assist the Assemblie agane 1579 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 80.
For rascheis and bent to the new kirk at the assemblie

2. A hostile meeting or encounter. 1375 Barb. viii. 293.
The kyng … left his amonystyng, And gert trumpe to the assemble c1420 Wynt. viii. 5388.
Thare at the assemble thai In the syk to the gyrthyn lay a1500 Lanc. 267.
Mony assemblay that Gawane gart be maid Ib. 977.
Fourty thousand armyt men … That war not at the othir assemble

b. A muster of armed men. 1483 Acts II. 164/2.
That the schireff sall … bring the names of thaim [= ‘defensible personis’] to the assemble of the kingis hoist 1513 Doug. xiii. vi. 74.
The gret assemly and convyn Of the Italyanys and folk of Latyn land 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 144.
We … gevis licence to the saidis Iohnne & Archibald … to remane at hame fra all our weris, ostis, assemblais, wappin scheuingis 1532 Reg. Privy S. II. 190/2.
Ony our oistis, weris, congregationis and assemblies to be had within our realme or utouth 1577 Reg. Cupar A. II. 133.
In all hostyngis, raidis, or assemblais in the authoriteis seruice

3. A meeting with another. 1615 Highland P. III. 189.
The erle of Argyll … at my last assemble … gave to me … exceiding gude prove of his religione

4. Semblance, general appearance. ?1438 Alex. i. 1417.
He was … Cumly of corps and assemble [F. avenans]; His body weill adornit he

5. Attrib. in Assemblé day (cf. 1 b). 1574 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 16.
The Assemblee ordanis the minister to charge … all and sundrie within this toun to compeir on the nixt Assemblee day