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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.

Convene, Convein, v. Also: konvene, convenne, -wen(n)e; convein(n)e, -weine, -veyn(e, -weyne; convine, -vyne, -viene; conveene, -veane. [OF. convenir, L. convenīre. Also e.m.E. (1528) but rarer than in Sc.]

1. intr. To come together, to meet, gather, or assemble, esp. as a body, or for a common purpose.(a) 1429 Rymer Fædera X. 430/2.
It is accorded that four persones of either partie … shall convene and assemble togidder 1487 Acts II. 179.
That ȝerely in tyme to cum certane commissaris of all burrowis baith south and north convene … in the burgh of Inuerkethin 1495 Acta Conc. 423/2.
That the clerkis of chancellary and signete sall in tyme tocum convene togiddre ilk day in the house of the chancellary 1512 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 138.
It is statute … that the baillies convene euery day at ix or viii houris before none 1513 Doug. i. vi. 97.
Togidder conuenys … All thai quhilk hatis the cruell tyrrantis dedis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 66.
The miserabill moderis and wiffis … convenit to the schippis, with hidduous spraichis and schowtis 1548 Buccleuch Mun. II. 186.
That vther part conuenit awestill Cowsland 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 216.
The haill merchandis that purpos to saill in ane schip to convene and compeir in the Tolbuith 1570 Waus Corr. I. 66.
Seing the lordis of the contrar factioun are to conwene schortlie 1587 Acts III. 447/2.
Vacance to be … during the moneth of Maij and thairefter to convene and sitt doun agane 1601 Conv. Burghs II. 109.
With powir … to the saidis burghis … to vnlaw the burrowis nocht conweneand 1622-6 Bisset I. 152/24.
The lordis, quha convenis nocht at the houre appoyntted, … sall nocht be breved nor wreittin [in] amang the rest of the lordis sedentes(b) 1513 Doug. viii. vi. 24.
Tha ontaucht pepill of this cuntre, … He maid forgadder togidder and conveyn 1522 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 104.
Ane liscence … to byd at hayme fra this oist now set to conueyne … on Rosling Muyr 1525 Douglas Corr. 97.
Hyre grace writis to part of my lordis to conweyne, in the quhilk I fynde me ay exceppyt ?1549 Monro W. Isles 6.
In this ile thair conveinit 14 of the iles best barons 1570 Waus Corr. I. 66.
That all the Nobillitie of this realme … suld meit and conweine in Glasgw 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 108.
Thair daylie to the drink conveins The obstinat papistis of the toun 1596 Dalr. I. 145/5. Ib. II. 266/21.
Quhen the states of the hail realme had conueined in Beregon 1601 Conv. Burghs II. 106.
With powir to the saidis brughis that conweyneis to vnlaw the burrowis absent 1636 Urie Baron Ct. 79.
The haill tennents within the barrouny … ar ordeanit to conveine and pairt the mainse of Wrie 1657 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 167.
The counsell hes statut … that in tyme comeing non presume … to caus convein any congregatioun within this burgh(c) 1596 Dalr. II. 355/5.
The Quene … thocht verie necessar, that commissaris conuinet to mak peice 16.. Herries Mem. 130.
The lairds of Lochinvar and Fernihurst convyned to surprise the toune of Edinburgh(d) 1613 Highland P. III. 139.
Proclamationes ar past and exped chargeing all … substantious yeomen … to conveane 1643 St. Andr. Presb. 10.
A man and his wife, quho were … cursing in such sort that the neighbours were conveening about the doores c 1670 Crauford Hist. Univ. Edinb. (1808) 63.
The other classes returned to their wonted frequencie, only no bajans conveened all that year 1690 Inchaffray Reg. 140.
To grant commission to John Hadden … , James Graham [etc.] … to meet and conveen at Creiff

b. Of single persons: To come together, to meet or fall in with another; to put in an appearance. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 66/26.
Be wit and ressoune thai [sc. man and woman] had conuenit togiddir for that caus 1520 Peebles B. Rec. 51.
He sall conuein and compeir wyth his brethir chaplanis … in the quer … [at] all solempnit festis 1539 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 199.
Thomas … sall conweyne at the kyrk of Fintre vpone ane Sonday … in tyme of the he mes befoir the parrochianaris c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 823.
Our trew knicht … Esperance, quhair he convenit With Desperance 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 37.
He … passing to the feildis in pastyme, convenit and met him Andro Keyth … with certaine utheris 1611 St. A. Baxter Bks. 76.
Alexander Sharpe, to convene vith the deakin before the varnare c 1641 Soc. Ant. XXV. 55.
The said Niniane convened accidentallie with Iames Mowat 1659 Irvine Mun. II. 87.
[The baillies] ordanes him before he be payit to first convine with the Thesaurer

c. To combine, unite. 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 303.
Thai produce a child, that baith thar naturis convenis in

2. tr. To summon before a tribunal or court.(a) c1420 Wynt. vii. 890.
The bychape Robert … He conwenyd before hym than, And argwyd hym rycht scharply Ib. viii. 3295.
Before that jwge convenyd he was 1465 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 60.
He was within age, quharefore he mycht nocht convene his hienes to mak him warandize vnto the tyme he war of lachful age 1511 Reg. Privy S. I. 348/2.
To gar apprise the grond, or to convene the intromettouris thairwith for the sammyn [distress] 1518 Peebles B. Rec. 46.
Thai conuenit him befor the Lordis of … counsale, and schew thar ald infeftment, and optenit thair decrete aganis him 1560 Bk. Disc. 207.
Yf his offencis be knawin, … the nixt one or two superintendents, with their ministeris and elderis, may convene him 1622-6 Bisset II. 60/7.
In caise the defender be convened upoun his awin deid 1630 Kirkcaldy Presb. 58.
Desiring them to convene Mr W. Spittell befoir them and discharge him to preach(b) 1633 Reg. Great S. 45/1.
It sall not be leisum … to conveine or judge thair awin tennentis or subtennentis for any blude or bluideweitt 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 35.
Iohne Gordoun … and George Levingstone, … being baith conveinit for committing ane ryot 1667 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 246.
[The council] ordaines him to be conveinit befor the magistratis and rebookit(c) 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
He … may be called and conveened for the gudes spuilȝied 1653 Peebles B. Rec. III. 17.
Issobell Patersone, … and Euphain Melrose, … conveanit for selling of victuall with ane unjust cop 1671 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 65.
He was conveened in the former lybell with Caldwell and was declared fugitive 1683 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 303.
The council … ordains the said printer to be convenit and rebovked as having done the same without any authoritie

3. To cause or summon to assemble; to convoke.(a) 1539 Soc. Ant. II. 389.
The assyse ordains the Baillies till convene the Great Counsale … to cum for rype avisament concerning divers … matters of the commonweill 1556 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 459.
That nane of thame tak upon hand to mak ony conventione, … or have anseinȝes, to convene the quenis legis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8458.
Thay being all togidder sa conuenit, To thame in plane the king schew quhat he menit a1578 Pitsc. I. 292/11.
They laid thair heidis togither and conwenitt ane counsall at Glasgow Ib. 18.
The lordis beand conwennit thane in Glasgow 1584 Edinb. Test. XIV. 147 b.
Prouiding thay [sc. bells] be imployit for the vse of the said kirk to conuene the peopill to the sermon 1603 Moysie 23.
A great number of freindis wes conuenit to the buriell 1633 Peebles B. Rec. 372.
[The council] appointis Wednesday next to convene the haill persones … gevin vpe in roll [etc.] 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 131.
The toun being convenit be the drum passing throw the haill streits(b) 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 130.
Letters to be derect to everie scheref and bailie … charging tham that thai conveine the friehalderis of everie schyir and bailyarie a1578 Pitsc. II: 211/8.
My counsall … is that ȝe pas to the quenis grace and cause hir to convein the counsall 1585 James VI Ess. 10.
Conveine your selfs (O sisters) doe not lose This passing tyme 1596 Dalr. I. 187/24.
Nocht lang eftir, Carance him selfe conueinet baith the Kingis 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 233.
The principall sall conweyne oulklie all the regentis and all the classis 1613 Highland P. III. 127.
Quhen all, boithe noble men, barrounis and gentilmen, … wer conveyned c1650 Spalding II. 251.
The counsall thocht it good to convein the conservatoris of peace and … haill Estaites, to capitulat vpone thir and vther vrgent bussines 1681 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 309.
The councell … ordaines the inhabitants of the toune to be conveined the said day in their best armes and abuliment 1702 Peebles B. Rec. 402.
The provest … and counsell of Peebles, … conveined for taking the oath of alleadgance … , suore the said oath(c) 1659 Mun. Irvine II. 87.
The petitioner [is] to convine then, and if he be in mora and doe not convine thame he not to be hard after(d) 1611-57 Mure Dido ii. 553.
Their souldiers they do secretly conveene 1649 Peebles B. Rec. 387.
At the ending of the afternoone sermone he shall conveane the saids maill bairnes and tak ane compt of their noittes of preaching 1653 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 138.
The saidis prowest … and counsell, conveenit as said is, desistit from any new electioun

3. intr. To come to an accord; to agree. 1513 Doug. i. v. 81 comm.
Thai … convenyt that the tayn of thaim suld tak his brother and all his complicis [etc.] 1533 Boece vii. xii. 245.
The dekin Paule … and vtheris mare recent authouris … convenis nocht with Galfrede nowder in calculacioun of datis nor narracion of the history 1549 Compl. 116/4.
His purpos vas to pas to the kyng of Meid, … in hope to conuen and accord vitht the said kyng … contrar the Greikis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 112/23.
Quhy cry ȝe nocht … or conuenis amang ȝour selfis on the ane syde — 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 154.
My lord regent convenit with Mairtene Ellot, that he sould betrais Thomas erle of Northumberland 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 18.
For they … peaceablie convenes and aggries in ane constant will, and vniforme sentence 1622-6 Bisset II. 62/31.
They convened that the samin be registrate in the saidis buikis

b. tr. To agree upon; to arrange. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 56/9.
Thir sex brethir, as was convenit, tuke thare armoure and wapynnys a1578 Pitsc. I. 22/9.
Accompanyit with ane small number of his freindis, as was convenit betuix thame 1589 Trans. Edinb. Archit. IX. 131.
It wes convenit … that the said Mr Dauid sould augment the sowm of four scoir merkis

4. intr To be suitable or fitting to; to pertain naturally to. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 67/25.
Sene felicite convenis nocht to the angell na man be nature nor creacioune Ib. 102/15.
All perfeccioune that may conwene to a lady 1549 Black Bk. Taymouth 188.
The said Ihon Menȝeis hous sall be reddy with mete and drynk and wther necessaris conwenand thairto 1573 Cath. Tr. 17/30.
To preif tnat this mark dois on na way conuein to your kirk, … I will wse bot ane argument 1596 Dalr. I. 62/3.
Euerie foul conueining to the gretnes of the schel 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 146.
This qualitie conuenis na wayes to thir tua markes 1627 Forbes Eubulus iii (J).
Barking can conveane but to living and sensitiue creatures