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.
Blithnes, Blythnes, n. Also: blaithnes, blythnese, blythe-, blyith-, bleithnes; bli-, blythtnes (bli-, blychtnes). [ME. blythenesse, blithnesse, OE. Blíðnes, -nys.] Happiness, gladness, good spirits.In common use from c 1450.(a) 1375 Barb. xii. 276.
Fredome, welth, and gret blithnes 1456 Hay I. 176/8.
With plesaunce, and disportis, and blithnes Ib. II. 122/7.
Fulfillit of blithnes and plesaunce 1490 Irland Mir. I. 105/6.
The angellis … had gret blithnes of this concepcioune 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 64.
Mixt with blithnes a fellon dyn vpsprang 1533 Gau 44/28.
The gretast hop and blithtnes of al chrissine man c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 266.
In blithnes, [and] aduersite(b) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 501.
The grete blythnese [the] kyrk had efter sorowfulnese c1420 Wynt. v. 2396.
The delay … wes Grawntyd wytht the mare blythnes Ib. viii. 1804.
The Scottis wes Rejosyd in till gret blythnes Off that sycht 1456 Hay II. 122/11.
Be the gaynesse and the blythenes of the saule 1461 Liber Plusc. 383.
All solace and blythnes c1420 Ratis R. 1081.
With blythnes of hir lauchand chere c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxix. 4.
It makis me all blythnes to borrow 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 80.
Baill hes banyst blythnes 1533 Bell. Livy I. 164/14.
Throw thir tythingis … war the faderis … rasit with inestimabil blyithnes a1568 Scott i. 189.
This ȝeir bayth blythnes and abundance bringis 1570 Sat. P. xiv. 79.
Sa sall all blyithnes be abhorde 1570 Leslie 157.
Thair wes fyeres of blythnes mad 1596 Dalr. I. 263/16.
With blythnes consenting togither(c) c1460 Wisd. Sol. 810.
Al that is bot … transitoure blythtnes 1533 Boece v. ii. 167.
With … incredibill blythtnes and clamour 1549 Compl. 84/29.
The Parisiens maid gryt … ioye for blythtnes a1578 Pitsc. I. 323/3.
Bischope James Bettoun … maid thame great cheir and blythtnes
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"Blithnes n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/blithnes>