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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.

Communité, -itie, n. Also: comunité; co(m)mwn-, co(m)munyté, communitee, -ytie. [e.m.E. community, -itie, -ytee, ME. comunité, -yté, -eté, etc., OF. co(m)muneté, -ité, L. commūnitas.]

1. A body of persons associated with each other; a community or corporation.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 864.
The erle thane had sic pyte Of sa gret a comunyte c1420 Wynt. viii. 5549 (C).
Hope of reskew hade he nane, For to sauf his commwnyte Ib. 5930.
Than blithe was al his commwnyte 1460 Peebles B. Rec. 135.
[The] balyeis in the tym … and the comvnyteis of our burgh of Pebillis 1466 Lindores Abbey 161.
The forsaid balȝeis and comunite grantit to rasawf hym thankfully for the lordis cause 1496 Acta Conc. II. 14.
Gif the sade comunite of Abirdene grantis nocht this assedacione under thare commone seile 1521 Dunferm. B. Rec. 195.
The said Andro Brovnne for assithment of the comunite promittit to sell in the tovne twa chalderis of quheit(b) 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35.
It is accordyt at the forsayde communyte sal gyfe to the forsayde masounys … vj^c mark of sterlyngis Ib. 36. 14.. Acts I. 21/2.
[A] new burges … sall swer fewte … to the bailȝeis and to the communyte of that burgh 1450 Edinb. Chart. 70.
Oure well belovettis the Provest and Communite of Edynburgh 1456 Hay II. 152/17.
For sumquhile all mon be semblit for generale poyntis of the communitee and othir poyntis of commoun prouffit 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 16.
To the said tyme the communite be fulleli aplesit … & assithit of alsmekle gudis 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 81.
Becaus the communite of our craft, walkaris and scheraris, … beris all vthir commoun chargis within this toune a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1565.
Crist enterit in, … He stude in the myddis of his communite 1534 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 67.
Till be broukit … induring the said prouest, baillies, counsalis and communiteis will 1556 Lanark B. Rec. 31.
It is statut and ordanit be the provest, balyeis, counsall, and communite, geif ony persone … rasettis fra ony other mannis servandis [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxv. 26.
Sum for communiteis hes done That ingratlie forȝet it sone(c) 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 8.
Al the communytie, alsweile vnfree as free men 1460 Lindores Abbey 158.
In plain curt befor the balȝie and the communytie 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 22.
The haill brethir and communitie of the bonetmakaris 1530 Ib. 33.
The saidis scheraris, walkaris and bonetmakaris war incorporat, vnit and annext all togidder vndir ane oureman 1564 Peebles B. Rec. 297.
The prowest, bailles, counsall, and comvnitie of the burgh of Peblis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 22.
Sic thingis as I thocht to pertene … in generall to the haill communitie of this realme 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 27.
The same day the communitie of Edinburgh and Leith wes in honouris on the calsay 1658 Paisley B. Rec. 101.
The saids baillies, thesaurer, counsell, communitie and theire successouris

b. Attrib. with sele (seal). 1387 Edinb. Chart. 36.
This endentur … wretyn vndir the seillis of the … prouest and the comunite selle

2. The common people. c1420 Wynt. v. 3879 (C).
Out of the qweyr I rede ȝhe ga, And but amange the commwnyte Byde thar ȝour oportunyte 1490 Dunferm. B. Rec. 23.
The alderman, balyeis, and a part of comunite … has consentit that [etc.] 1567 Sat. P. v. 100.
Than ye sall haue in your band The townis and communitie 1572 Ib. xxxiii. 216.
Ȝe, my barrouns and nobilitie, That dois oppres my pure communitie