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

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

Descrive, Descryve, v. Also: descrywe, -schryve. [ME. descryve, descrive (a 1225), OF. descrivre. Cf. Discrive v.] tr. To describe, set down in writing; to delineate.(a) 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 33.
Gif we descryve the woddis
a1568 Scott i. 171.
Scolastic men the scriptouris to descrywe
1568 Pref. Lyndesay 11.
Vnto all men thair dewtie to descryue
1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 1012.
Wha could cleirlie descryve his cases In Parise, and in vther places
1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xi.
Gif that thou culd descryue the cairt, The way thou wald go richt
1647 Misc. Spald. C. I. 55.
Your sone … is to be imployed be the nobilite of Angus to deschryve that schyre
1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 140.
I have descryved him thus at length to show the reader [etc.]
(b) 1551 Hamilton Cat. 45.
Heir it is expedient to descrive quha is ane heretyk
c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 65.
Thair waillit weid, and stature to descriue
Ib. ii. 130.
To descriue thair honest ornament
1573 Sat. P. xl. 9.
Quhilk vprichtnes we may descriue to be: Ane traid of lyfe conforme to Godds command
a1585 Polwart Flyt. 540.
Desist, delay his death, whill I descriue him
1587-99 Hume Epistle 246.
I will not striue To slander courts, but them I may descriue

b. ? In the sense of 'descry'. Brus xiii. 184 (C).
Armoris ... With blud wes swa defowlit thar, That thai mycht nocht descrivit [E. descroyit] be

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"Descrive v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/descrive>

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