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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.

Confessour, n. Also: -owr, -oure, -or. [ME. confessur, -our, -or (12th c.), AF. confessour, OF. confessor, -ur, L. confessor.]

1. A confessor of the faith. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 702.
He … Of Goddis son wes confessoure c1420 Wynt. v. 3486.
Than wes Saynct Martyne … And othir syndry confessowris 1456 Hay I. 26/34.
The quhilk gert alssua tak up … the banis of Sanct Elizere … , and gert canonize hym as confessour 1490 Irland Mir. I. 80/9.
The martiris, confessouris, and haly virginis 1532 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 59.
The Virgen Marie and the hallye confessour Sanct Rok c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5681.
Gregor, Ambrose, and Augustyne, With confessoris, ane tryumphand tryne 1562-3 Winȝet II. 22/25.
The slawchtir of the confessouris, the banissing of the preistis

2. One who hears confessions. 1456 Hay I. 288/2.
That … he schape him to se for a gude confessoure, that be a gude wis clerk c1420 Ratis R. 748.
Sum confessour thow get thé than, … And tell hyme euer ilka wyte a1500 Henr. Fab. 646.
I will ga seik sum confessour, And schryif me clene 1490 Irland Mir. I. 15/28.
Thy fader … , that I was orature and confessoure to c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxx. 20.
Sweit confessour, thow tak it nocht in ill 1531 Bell. Boece II. 297.
Alkwine … wes lang time confessoure … to King David 1551 Hamilton Cat. 18.
Quhat remeid quhen we can nocht get ane confessour a preist 1649 Blairs P. 66.
As for help be the confessour … their is no hopes 1656 Ib. 62.
D. Jan hath ane Augustinian confessour