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.
Quotation dates: 1420-1610
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Complexioun, -ion(e, n. Also: -plexiown, -ioune, -eoun, -plextioun, -plectioun, -ione. [ME. complexioun (Chaucer), -ion(e, -plection, -pleccioun (1340), etc., OF. complexion, L. complexio.]
1. Bodily constitution (of persons).(a) c1420 Wynt. ii. 613.
Thai that … felys thare complexiownys Movyd be constellatyownys Discordand 1456 Hay II. 114/30.
Till hele him quhen he is slyddin out of his propre temperaunce of equalitee of complexioun 1456 Ib. 118/10.
A persone that is of waykare nature or complexioun c1450 Craft of Deyng 108.
Thir men, for the strenthe at thai have of complexioune, ar laith to de a1500 Henr. Fab. 2814.
For clerkis sayis the inclinatioun Of mannis thocht proceidis commounlie Efter the corporall complexioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii. 50.
Thair cumis ȝung monkis of he complexioun 1545 Reg. Privy S. III. 196/2.
Thomas Stewart … is … waik of complexioun, sua that he may nocht indure travell 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 57/4.
At that tyme, men and vemen of ane tendir complexione ar in dangeir of diuers maladeis c1550 Rolland Court of Venus Prol. 59.
Of thir four foirnamit elementis Mannis complexioun takis maist part regimentis a1568 Scott xxvi. 6.
I fynd thair haill affectioun So contrair thair complexioun 1610 Wemyss Corr. 43.
His complexioun aggreis nocht to feid vpoun fische(b) 1542 Montgomery Mem. 127.
Vaik and tender of complectioun, and trublit with seiknes 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 9686.
His complextioun, It was sa stark, it tuik na infectioun 1570 Leslie 152.
He did declare that his eldest douchter Magdalane wes of ane tender complectione 1596 Dalr. I. 64/13.
Thay ar al induet with a gude constitutione, and starke complectione of body
2. Physical constitution (of animals or things). 1456 Hay I. 76.
The quhilkis four qualiteis makis all the … diversitee of all erdly complexioun of creaturis a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 122.
All beistes for to blassoun, Of thair diuers naturis, Complexionis and cullouris 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 28/6.
Euyrie thing is corruppit be ane vthir corruppit complexione c1550 Rolland Court of Venus Prol. 7.
Of the planetis aspectis and complexiounis
3. Personal character. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 116.
Fawdoun … was haldyn of brokill complexioun 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 106/15.
Euere nations reputis vthers nations to be barbariens, quhen there tua natours and complexions ar contrar til vtheris 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 49.
Following his naturall complexioun, he wald troubill the cuntre a1578 Pitsc. I. 163/1.
His brother was far different from his qualitieis and complexeoun, for he … lowit sollitarnes [etc.]
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"Complexioun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/complexioun>
