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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.

Complice, n. Also: complis(e, -pliesse, -plische, -plish. [Late ME. (rare) complis (1475), e.m.E. complice, OF. complice, L. complic-, complex. Cf. Complece.]

1. An associate in wrong-doing; an accomplice.Very common in the 16th century.(a) 1455 Acts II. 42/2.
That na persone … herbery … James umquhill Erle of Dowglas, his brethir, complicis or anerdance 1456 Hay I. 6/29.
Oure Lord God … ordanyt the bataill aganis him [Lucifer] and his complicis 1494–5 Treas. Acc. I. 210.
Ane remissione to William Montros … and his complices for the slachter of William Gowane 1521 Wemyss Chart. II. 149.
The … wranguus and maistirfull … douncasting be thair servandis and complicis … of ane hous 1540 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 98.
Jhonn Auny, Egiptiane, and his complices committit art and part of the fellown and crewall slawchter of Thomas Richertsoun 1557 Peebles B. Rec. 238.
To fynd remeid of the greit enormite, done be Iames Gledstanis … and his complices 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 517.
He, with his complices … come on burd upoun the said Henreis schip … and tuke his haill kippage furth of the samyn a1578 Pitsc. I. 126/17.
He comprehendit baith the principall tyrantis and allso thair complieces 1590 Crim. Trials I. 199.
The crimes for quhilkis thay complices aboue wrettin wer convictit 1605–6 Misc. Spald. C. V. 78.
Letteris … to charge his Majesties lieges to apprehend Thomas Persie and his complices 1637 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 127.
Accompanied with William Strathe … and others thair complices boddin in feare of warre 1649 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 99.
The ryot committed by the said Patrik Innes and his complices wpone the streitis 1650 Strathbogie Presb. 123.
He vas a plunderer, and a conjunct complyce with George Geddes in collecting the poyntis of the lybell 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. ii. § 1.
Privat murder, which is committed without being known to any, but the persons who were complices(b) 1516 Caldwell P. 53.
Ye and your compliesses … are indycteit for the griet oppressioune done be ȝow 1580 Douglas Chart. 279.
George Dowglas … being hurt and mittolat be me and my complissis 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 405.
As dois al heresiarches and thair complisis of whome the lord sayes [etc.](c) 1613 Highland P. III. 138.
The … charges quhilkes he craved againes Allane and his complisches Ib. 139.
The persute of Allane … and his rebellious complishes 1630 Ann. Banff II. 28.
The Laird of Banf and his complishes have not yit satisfied the kirk for the slauchter of James Ogilvie

2. An associate, companion, confederate. 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 440.
To Juliane Drummond and his vij complicis, Italiane menstralis and trumpettis 1513 Doug. ix. xi. 51.
Thai with all thar complicis in fycht War dung abak Ib. xi. xv. 87.
Hyr complicis alsammyn … Start to thar lady in affray and dreid 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 34.
The remissioun grantit to the capitane of Dumbertane, and all his complices Ib.
That all the gudis takin fra the Capitane of Dumbartan and his complices … salbe justlie … restorit to the said Capitane 1562-3 Winȝet I. 16/6*.
Quhy ar not the Lordis … lauchfull ministeris, as Johne Knox and his complices? a1578 Pitsc. II. 62/15.
All the haill congregatioun of the prelattis with thair complices said thaies wordis 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 6.
Jhonn Robertsoun, merchant, and his complices, for performing of thair vow … intends to big ane lipperhous 1626 Garden Worthies 43.
Sir John Gordone … with some knights, his complishes, assaulted the toune [of Berwick] and tooke it