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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, v. Also: deisert, disert, deseart. [f. Desert,p.p., or F. deserter, late L. desertare. In e.m.E. from 1647.]

1. tr. To abandon or give up; to go or remain away from; to leave unregarded. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1466.
Quhy lufis thow deid, desertand lyf spirituale 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 240.
To Wauchop, currour, to pas to Laudir to summond the man that desertit the aire of the samen 1533 Bell. Livy I. 231/1.
The public weill was desertit and cowartlie betrasit 1603 Grant Burgh Sch. Scotl. II. 365.
He … was resoluit … to leave and desert the said school 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 264.
I only, to my gret disgrace, am as desceirted a1680 Blair Autob. 61.
When I began the sermon, I was so far deserted … that I was … like to desert the work of that day

2. To drop, discontinue, cease to go on with (a summons, action, etc.). 1496 Acta Conc. II. 28.
The Kingis hienes … has … contenewit all summondis, accions, cawsis and querellis … that ar nocht disertit to this day [etc.] Ib.
The Lordis … willdisert the summondis and nowther of the partiis compere the first day of this seyt (1532) Bisset I. 150/19.
It wes statute be the lordis that thai sall … athir desert the summonis the first day na partie comperand, or admit protestatioun 1661 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 23.
The diet [is] deserted because none compeared to insist Ib.
The diet is deserted and he liberate 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 466.
His Majesties High Commissioner [etc.] … heirby disert and discharge the prosecutione of the complaint given in against the said Henry Bredden

b. intr. To cease to have force; to become inoperative. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 152.
That thair was na persoune reddie thair to persew him, and thairfoir that the saidis lettres sould desert in thameselff

3. tr. To dissolve or adjourn (a parliament, etc.). 1594 Acts IV. 55/1.
This present parliament To rin ay and quhill the samyn be desertit 1596 Conv. Burghs I. 491.
The samyn day [the commissioners] deisertis and dissolueis this present conventioun

b. intr. To come to an end; to close. (1605) Melvill 573.
Thai wer chairgit that … thai sould suffir the Assemblie to desert, and to repair … to thair awin dwelling places 1623 Melrose P. 486.
That dyet haueing desertit, without ony certane conclusioun 1639 Acts V. 281/2.
The dyett befoir the Counsale to desert and ceis