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: 1399-1625
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Consume, v. Also: -sum, -some, -soume, -sowme, -seum. [ME. (Wyclif), L. consūmere.]
1. tr. To consume by fire; to burn up. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxviii. 506.
Scho wald haf ronnyne in the fire, … With thai that say consumyt ware 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 286/13.
He … maid his moder … to be brynt and consumyt all in assis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3432.
Brintstone and fyre … did consume that hole regioun 1572 Inverness B. Rec. I. 214.
Fynla … hes consumit the haill … thairoff wyth fyre and vtherwais
2. To consume by wearing away, wasting, using up, destroying, etc. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxix. 342.
Cancre … sa consumyt had his thé c1420 Wynt. iv. 850.
The Romanys hale Consumyt and held fra thame all wyttalle c1420 Ib. 998.
The dede Consumyd thame wythout remede 1456 Hay II. 123/4.
Thai dryar metis consumys evill fleumys 1456 Ib. 27.
The remaynis [of food] … consumes the caloure degestive a1500 Henr. Fab. 858.
Phebus with his bemis Consumit had the mistie cluddis gray 1490 Irland Mir. I. 6/5.
Quhen be wattir all mankind war neir consumyt 1513 Doug. vii. v. 43.
Agane Troianys consumyt are … The strenth of all the hevynnys 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 192.
Of thare vertew for to consume the glore 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 67/9.
Ennetseidis that consumis the ventositeis of the stomac a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS clxxx. 28.
Gif it weill gydit be And nocht in waine consumit and mispent a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xciv. 4.
Than Ouide from exyle Of Pontus cam … Conseumd with woe
b. To spend (time). 1531 Bell. Boece I. 50.
He consumit the residew of his dayis in misere at York
3. intr. To waste or be wasted away. 1572 Inverness B. Rec. I. 215.
Through want of my ease drope my wowte and sellar … dalie consumes wyth watter a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xlviii. 167.
In sorrow lat me not consome [: dome] Nor langer dolour drie 1625 Garden Kings 16.
Where he with shame and sorrow did consoume, Whill Argadus regented in his rowm
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"Consume v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/consume>
