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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.

Compas, v. Also: compace, -pes; cumpas, -pais. [ME. compas, -pace (c 1300), cumpas, AF. and OF. compasser.]

1. tr. To go round; to encircle, surround. c1450-2 Howlat 330.
Spar-halkis, that spedely will compas the cost 1513 Doug. i. vi. 108.
Als mekill grond … As thai mycht compas with a bullis hyde 1533 Bell. Livy I. 88/16.
He began to compes the foundment of ane tempill … with large boundis 1533 Boece iv. xviii. 159.
Romanis … had be oure folkis bene environit & cumpasit, gif at thare bak had nocht bene thare campe 1567 G. Ball. 66.
I am compassit round about With … strang temptatioun a1578 Pitsc. I. 128/6.
It offendit him maist … that he was compassit with rebellieoun on ewerie hand 1596 Dalr. I. 7/26.
Quhen the sey compassis the hale ile about 1630 Peebles B. Rec. 370.
Ane mortclayth … compassit round about with ane blak silk frenyie 1636 Orkney Bp. Ct. 99.
From that wpwith compassand the quoy callit Sand quoy

2. To consider, plan, contrive. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 124.
Compasand & castand cacis a thousand, How he sall tak me 1513 Doug. i. vi. 3.
Eneas, That in his mynd gan mony thyng compas Ib. vii. Prol. 151.
Within my mynde compasyng thocht I so 1560 Rolland Seven S. 973.
Ȝit he compast into his mynde agane … that he [etc.] Ib. 8925.
Scho kest and did compas Seir diuers thochtis 1568 Buch. Indict. 34.
The summe of hir talk to hym wes that the lordis hes compassit his death 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 205.
Thir things culd difficillie be cumpassit be force