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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.

Continue, -tinew, -tinow, v. Also: continw(e, -tynwe, -tenwe, contynue, -tienue, -teinue, -tenue; contynew, -tienew, -tenew (-uew); contynow, -tainow. [ME. contynue (a 1340), -tynewe, -tenewe, etc., OF. continuer, L. continuāre.]

1. tr. To keep up or going; to maintain in action or in existence; to prolong.(a) 1375 Barb. xix. 235.
Men … continuit thair mavite Quhen euir thai met thame on the se 1411 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 45.
The aniniversar of that Alis Cambell yher be yher till be done and contenuit c1420 Wynt. i. 17.
The thryde [buke] sall contynwyde be, Quhille made of Rome wes the cite Ib. viii. 5577.
That sary lyff conteinwyd he, Qwhill wast but folk wes the cuntre a 1660 Coll. Aberd. & B. 191.
This ancient and noble familie, who hath … conteinued ther greatnes(b) 1432 Lamont P. 13.
The said Robert and his ayris sall continev thar gud … cosynage to the said Finlow … in furm forwretyn 1456 Hay I. 178/4.
All men of were … has ay contynewit sik maner of governaunce 1477 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 36.
That Alexander … be continevit vpper and principale maister of wark 1531 Bell. Boece II. 102.
It was concludit to continew him stil in prison 1539 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 93.
To by the waist [land] … that the fische mercatt may be continewit thairupoun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3578.
Ȝe continew his life and takis na cure Of my greit sturt Ib. 4770.
Scho continewit hir glaikit game 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 105.
Continewand this [siege] ane dosand of dayis or mair 1585 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 118.
[The council] hes … continewit the last yeiris statutis in the same forme 1613 Highland P. III. 128.
Praying God Almychtie to contenew long ȝour heighnes … reigne 1680 Peebles B. Rec. II. 98.
The counsell … have continewed James Melros eldest officer(c) Brus xix. 235 (E).
Men … contynowyt thair mawyte 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. Pray. 2.
Preuine, aduance, & contenow vnto the end al my guid actions 1695 Acts IX. 480/1.
It pleased that honourable Court … to continow his forsaid personal protection untill the next session of Parliament 1695 Conv. Burghs IV. 204.
The conventione … doe containow his pensione of fyve hundreth marks for the year to come

2. intr. To go on, remain, in a certain state, occupation, place, etc.; to last in time. Also with inf.(a) 1456 Hay I. 227/13.
His men ar contynuand to mak were on the king 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 245.
The intra of thir werkmen … was the acht day of September, contenuane to the xxv day of Marche a1578 Pitsc. I. 233/22.
Thir tuo bodyis lang contienuant to the aige of xxviij ȝeiris Ib. II. 102/10.
The Protectour … contenuitt still in Scottland the space of ix dayis 1591 Reg. Privy C. IV. 587.
Still continuand in thair bangstrie sa neir the place of justice 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 146.
The franisie continwit quhill ȝe gatt the thrid(b) 1456 Hay II. 6/9.
To contynew in sik devocioun … perpetualy Ib. 149/8.
Quha best continewis in his … gude counsaile 1492 Myll Spect. 297/16.
Scho gaif me thre gyftis lyk as scho dois to all thaim that contynewis into hyre cowrt 1507 Edinb. Chart. 191.
For the space of acht dais … thairefter folowing to continew, persevere and indure 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. iv.
Thair weris lang continewing aganis the Romanis, be support of Scottis 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 1.
Quhat sall becum to kyngis that contynewis in iniquitie a1578 Pitsc. I. 218/24.
The king continewid in the said castell ane sessone 1584 Inverness B. Rec. I. 295.
The samyn to induir and continew aye and quhill ane bettir ordour be tane heirintill 1622-6 Bisset II. 388/6.
As this begyning wes … , sua hes it continewed heireftir 1656 Nicoll Diary 188.
The West sea hering … continewit fresche … almoist all winter(c) a1578 Pitsc. I. 152/3.
Margaret … contenowit at the seige 1600-1610 Melvill 22.
To continow speaking alean the space of an hour 1615 Highland P. III. 255.
His cumpany … salutit him with thair wolly of schoittis, and continowit sua schuitting 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 51.
Euerie watch to continow for the space of tuentie four hours 1685 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 112.
Each of the saids faires to continow for the space of three dayes 1693 Conv. Burghs IV. 181.
That no magistrats in any burgh … shall containow longer then two yeares at once

3. tr. To continue (parliament or a court of justice) after an interval; to prorogue or adjourn. 1425 Acts II. 13/1.
In the parliament begunnyn at Perth the xj day of Merche … fyrst contynuit til Edinburgh to the xij day of Maij 1467 Ib. 88/2.
The said persouns … sall haue powere to prorog, contiinew & adiournay the said parliament 1482 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 501.
[Giving power] my courtis of the said landis to hald, begyn, afferme, and continew 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 184.
To Schaw, currour, to pas to the towne of Ayre to contynew the ayre of the saim c1515 Asl. MS. I. 219/13.
Parliament … remanit thar bot iij days and was continewit till Edinburgh Ib. 242/14.
Than this parliament was continewit for xv dayis 1532 Stirlings of Keir 348.
Owr courtis of … our said landis to fix, hald and afferm, fens and continew 1558-66 Knox II. 76.
The Parliament sall be contyneuit, as use is, unto the fyrst day … of August 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Adiurnatus.
‘Curia dicitur respectuata,’ that is, continued or respleited 1641 Acts V. 305/1.
The estates of parliameint presentlie conveened by his Maiesties speciall authoritie continowes this present parliament 1651 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 126.
The provost and counsell prorogatis and continwes the dyet and terme contenit in the minut

b. To adjourn (a case or suit); to postpone or delay, or put off (an act); to hold over.(a) 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 5.
The actioune of blodewit betuix Robert Aysoune & Iohne Howisoune is continuit a1578 Pitsc. I. 303/8.
He so contenuit the seigis and passit hame 1611 Hist. Rev. XIX. 109.
Gif the celebratioun of the Lordis Supper … sould be continwit quhill [etc.] a1639 Spotsw. Hist. 258.
But the Regent's death, and the troubles which thereupon issued, made all to be continued for that time(b) 1466 Acta Aud. 4/2.
The decisioun of the excepcion … is continewit quhill Monunday at viij houris with continuacion of houris and dais 1478 Acta Conc. 20/1.
The lordis continewis the mater to the morne efter Vphalyday nixt tocum 1498 Lanark B. Rec. 10.
The breif raisyt be Iohn Yong continewit to the law dayis efter Michaelmes 1533 Bell. Livy II. 4/13.
Thai desirit this mater to be continewit to the returnyng of hir fader 1549 Compl. 177/21.
I vil conteneu our querrel and ald fede til ane moir oportunite 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3083.
We will continew at this place The Doctouris taill ane lytill space a1578 Pitsc. I. 291/26.
He concludit … that he wald contenew the persecutioun … quhill he thocht better tyme 1584 Crim. Trials I. ii. 137.
The Justice, vpoun certane allegeances … continewit the mater 1603 Wemyss Corr. 561.
We haue continewit the handilling of that mater … vnto the xxv day of Marche 1652 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 131.
The counsell continewit any farder procedour agains him to the twentie aucht of this instant 1661 Conv. Burghs III. 537.
The commissioners … continewis the agent his supplicatione for ane gratuitie(c) 1644 Strathbogie Presb. 55.
The bretherin thoght meet to continow all of that sort to the advyse of the Assemblie 1669 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 256.
The councell … continowes ther answer theranent to ther farder advysement 1691 Falkirk Par. Rec. II. 12.
The Presbyterie … finds his diligence not to quadrat with their apointment, thairfor continowes

c. To postpone the case of (a person); to grant a delay or respite to. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii. 31.
Sum castis summondis, … Sum is continwit, sum wynnis, sum tynis 1546 Corr. M. Lorraine 157.
Your graice wrait to … my lord cardinall in favouris of … Sir Adam Otirbourne, and … that tym Sir Adem was contenwat a1578 Pitsc. II. 50/25.
Thairfoir thay besocht the governouris grace to continew the erle of Angus Ib. 137/17.
He … was contienewit quhill they saw forder in the matter