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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.

Desert, p.p. Also: disert. [ME. desert (cf. Desert,a.), OF. desert, L. dēsertus p.p. of dēserere.]

1. Given up or abandoned as having no longer any validity or effect; annulled; null and void. 1491 Acta Conc. 169/1.
The saidis giftis … to be of nain … effect in tyme tocum bot aluterly expirit and desert Ib. 173/2.
The lordis … declaris and decernis the sammyn [act and decrett] desert and of nain effect in tymme tocum 1505 Lennox Mun. 173.
The quhilk obligatioun sal be desert frathinfurth 1552 Breadalbane P. (Reg. H.) No. 81.
This my letter of manteinance and protectioun in tha casis to be desert of it self a1578 Pitsc. I. 225/6.
I trow the sowmondis be desert and ewill of the self 1607 Peebles Gleanings 9.
Considdering that the submissioun was desert and na decreit

b. Of parliament: Prorogued, adjourned. 1539 Acts II. 353.
That this present parliament proceide … ay and quhill it pleis the kingis grace that the samin be desert 1593 Ib. IV. 3/1.
The saidis Lordis … declaris this present parliament to rin ay and quhill the same be speciallie desert be our souerane lord 1603 Moysie 20.
This parliament wes ordeanit to be desert

2. Deserted, abandoned: a. Left empty or waste. b. Left unsupported.a. 1513 Doug. ii. i. 29.
Desyrus for to se … The cost and strandis left desert al cleyn 1531 Bell. Boece II. 65.
Occa, … seing the campe desert, understude the Britonis war discomfist 1533 Boece xvi. viii. 623 b.
Thus had the castell been left desert were not the governor declarit to pas in proper person to the rescourse thairof 1581 Acts III. 276/1.
The quhilk tyme this abbay wes left desert the same hes bene receptakle to piratisb. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 174/21.
The public weill is nocht so desert, … bot I sal revenge the contemptioun done to the faderis and to me a1578 Pitsc. (1728) 55.
When the Earl of Douglas understood himself desert and left by many of his principal friends

3. Destitute or devoid of something. 1535 Stewart 53745.
This Hiltamis, of all vertu disert, Come to his bruther quhair he wes in Pert