Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Delate, Delait, v.¹ Also: delat(t, delaite, -laitt, deleat, -leaitt, delet. [L. delāt-, ppl. stem of dēferre to bring down, report, indict, etc. See also Dilate v.¹]

1. tr. To accuse, charge, inform against, denounce (a person), in later use esp. to a kirk-session or presbytery.Const. for or of (the alleged offence), with predicative complement, or without constr.(1) 1511 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 135.
Iohnne Moncur and Iohnne Mortoun wes delatit for the crewell slauchter of Ihonne Liddell 1530 Ib. II. 27.
Marget Thomsone, the spous of Robert Hog, is delatit for ane schitt of grene weluos 1555 Peebles B. Rec. 224.
To luke the buikes and se quhat faltis thai ar delatit for 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 156.
Jhone Forbes, … delated for nocht adheryng to Barbara Sandelandis his spows 1574 Aberd. Eccles. Rec. 17.
Andro Philpson wes delatted for blasphemying the doctrine and ministrie of the kyrk 1594 Misc. Spald. C. II. 125.
For quhilk [adultery] ye war deletit to the ministeris and eldaris 1650 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 169.
He had delaited ane Iohne Hunter … for haveing ingle at his kilne … in the tyme of sermone 1664 Mun. Univ. Glasg. II. 340.
That all who are delated by the publick censor for speaking of English shall be fyned in an half pennie(2) 1520 Stirling B. Rec. I. 5.
Iohen Akman and Ritsche Criste … war delatit of lipyr 1558-66 Knox I. 81.
Whosoevir wald delaite any of heresye, he was heard 1565 Crim. Trials I. ii. 458.
Delatit of the theftuos breking of ane bonet-kaise 1570 Ib. 15.
Delatit of the making of ane ragment and ryme in name of Johne the Commounewele a1598 Rollocke Lect. Passion 52 (J).
Hee is deleated of treason against the emperour(3) 1515 in Douglas Wks. (1874) I. p. lxi.
As he was informit, he was delatit to be ane evile man in diuers poyntis 1568 Buch. Indict. 45.
To clenge the erll of Bothuell of the kingis murthour, becaus … he wes delaitit as author thairof a1578 Pitsc. I. 100/11.
The Earle of Crafurd … [was] delattit trator for his rebellioun Ib. 388/4.
Quhome ewer he abiure or delaite as ane arratick to burne him 1601 Elgin Rec. II. 95.
[The] searcharis this day delatis … ane Watsone the couparis dauchter beggand 1626 Wemyss Chart. 313.
Forsameikill as vmquhile Patrick Lawerok … delait me as suspect of ane witche or warlow 1662 Rec. Iusticiary Ct. I. 34.
Iames Welsh … being examined … anent his delating several persons to be witches(4) 1528 Stirling B. Rec. I. 33.
Sir Johne Hountter is lipyr and hais bene delatit in thre or four heid courtis 1596 Highland P. I. 152.
The samin [crime] being lawfullie tryit and the person delatit found giltie 1626 Bk. Carlaverock II. 78.
The haill countrie hes raisit insidens agense his Majestie's improbatioune, and I knaw they wilbe delatit 1644 Acts VI. 97/2.
Whosoever … shall have knowledge of their being within bounds, & shall not delate & deliver them to the said Committee [etc.] 1662 Highland P. III. 14.
She was delated be confessing witches who dyed in prison 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. x. § 23.
He had … grosly prevaricat, and had delated so many honest persons(b) 1565–6 Reg. Privy C. I. 427.
That the saidis sercheouris … delait and gif up the names of the saidis contravenaris 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 149.
Thaj devysit the said Thomas … to cum in counsale and delait thame 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 146.
Quha that delaitt the brekkares thairof to haif v s. 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 147.
Ȝe being delaitit to the kirk and straitlie flightered … the tyme of the sessioun 1648 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 143.
To warne all the inhabitantis … wha has ony straingers in thair houses … suspected to be runawayes from the airmie, that they come and delaite them to the magistratis 1669 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 227.
That he may … proue our neglect of the same by delaiting the persone(c) 1595 St. A. Kirk S. 808.
Requesting all godly … personis to deleat sic transgressouris to the elderis and deaconis Ib. 811.
That he deleat to the ministrie … all incorrigeabill personis

b. absol. To accuse anyone. 1567 G. Ball. 100.
Quha will delait, they will mak na refuse Of fa or fule 1642 S. Leith Rec. 39/2.
We give and grant to the minister and sessioners … full power to observe, deleat, censer in euerie way 1650 Strathbogie Presb. 128.
Exponing ewerie poynt to them, quherby they might know how to delait

c. tr. To give in, report (the names of offenders). 1648 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 93.
Desyring them … that the magistratis wold delait thair names to the ministeris of the toune

2. To allege as a matter of accusation. 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 131.
To persew justice of the samyn [oppressioun] … , to delait and agrege the said mater in the charpast maner a1578 Pitsc. I. 81/5.
Sum of the nobillis … began to deiet his proudfull ambitioun and disdainning of the pepill a1597-1617 Hist. James VI. 107.
He … delaitit his turpitude to the judge criminall and certaine uther preachers 1650 Lanark Presb. 78.
What things are delated of them