Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Converse, v. Also: -wers. [ME. converse (Chaucer), OF. converser, L. conversārī.]

1. intr. To hold intercourse, to be in company or society, with others. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 979.
We sal nocht be ws ane twa Conuerse for-owtine witting ma Ib. xl. 61.
With wemene wald he nocht conuerse c1420 Wynt. vi. 2426.
He wald ger send Tha … That than war wyth hym conversand a1500 Bernardus 6.
It is na wyt, … For to conwers wyth strangeris inwartly 1513 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 139.
That na infectit persoun … convers with clene folkis vnder the pain of deid 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 5.
That samin King, … with quhome from his ȝouth vp he conuersit 1583 Melvill 155.
Na obstinat Papist … hes it sufferit lang to converse amangs us, untean ordour withe

b. To have sexual intercourse. 1492 Myll Spect. 293/16.
Ȝit throw the delectation of the flesche scho conversit with a preist of thare law Ib. 294/26.
This nvn with quhom he had conversit before tyme 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xix.
This Albyne, with hir fiftie sisteris … conversit with devillis in forme of men, and consavit childrin

2. To behave, conduct oneself. a1568 Scott xxxiv. 118.
To compt how ȝe convers, I ug, for villanie, Ȝour vycis to rehers