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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.

Desolat(e, Dissolat(e, a. Also: des(s)olatt, desolait; disolat, dissolait, -et, dyssolate, dussalait. [ME. desolate (Chaucer), disolat, dissolate, L. dēsōlātus.]

1. a. Of a country: Left without a king. 1375 Barb. i. 40.
The land sex ȝer … Lay desolat eftyr hys day c1475 Wall. i. 43.
Thre ȝer in pes the realm stude desolate

b. Of countries, places, etc.: Destitute of inhabitants or occupants; empty, deserted, abandoned.(a) a1500 Lanc. 1857.
Wrechitnes richt so … Haith realmys maid ful desolat & barre 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 31.
A litil ȝet … Amang byggynnys stude desolate and waist 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1768.
Quhen scho persauit the hous sa desolait, And nane thairin that durst with hir debait(b) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 109/36.
Without me … the realme of Paradice ware disolat, the hevinly court cuthe neuir incres 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 105.
The fame was than, of Crete the cost stude quyte Dissolate Ib. v. xi. 22.
Havynnys and flote left dissolate fand scho

2. Of persons: Left alone, having no companion, solitary.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1145.
In hyr wodnes hastely Sho rane wauerand as desolate a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 77.
Than desolait sho walkit vp and doun a1500 Bernardus 33.
As the fyr throw brandis red and hate Vastis the selffe, sa is he desolate 1513 Doug. ix. v. 150.
That desolate wight to succur schaw thi cuyr 1549 Compl. 77/15.
Iudas Machabeus … gaddyryt to giddyr al the desolat pepil, and … cam contrair Anthiocus 1558-66 Knox II. 340.
The poore desolat beggaris, orphelyns, wedeos, and strangaris, quhilk ar all so crewallie entreted 1570 Conv. Burghs I. 22.
The desolatt craftismen and pure laboraris, quhilkis ar now putt to extreme povertie 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 274.
All unmareit wemen and utheris desolat and unfrie persounes without maisteris(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 573.
The clergy than mad dule & care, As men that dissolat lewit war 1513 Doug. iv. vi. 99.
Than semyt I nocht … Aluterly dissauyt nor dissolate Ib. xii. 66.
Quhat sall I first compleyn, now dissolate wight 15.. Clar. iii. 2254.
But companie thus walking dissolat

b. Of things: Abandoned, left unattended, unsupported, or destitute. a1500 Henr. III. 171/25.
Now, but defense, rycht lyis all desolate 1513 Doug. x. xi. 111.
Leif nevir … thus dissolait and waist Thy new allyans promyst thé Ib. xi. xvii. 8.
The chiftanys … went thar gait, The banneris left all blowt and desolait a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 18.
Quhen the Crowne was desolat and in pley betuix the Bruce and the Balioll 1646 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 62.
To … show to them the distressed and desolat caice of this toun

3. Destitute or devoid of something.(a) 1456 Hay I. 53/4.
Considerand that the citee was desolate of help a1500 Henr. Fab. 300.
That selie mous … So desolate and will of ane gude reid c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 269.
This isle before was bare, and desolate Off rethorike c1515 Asl. MS. I. 188/18.
Becaus thai war desolate of women thai deliuerit to thaim ane certane of wedowis and madinnis 1533 Bell. Livy I. 36/9.
It wer better to ws to de now … than … to be desolate of athir of ȝow 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9022.
The realme was desolait of ane heid Vnto that hour, sen hir father was deid 1561 Inverness B. Rec. I. 56.
Quhen it chansis … the cordiner craft to be destitutt or dessolatt of barkit leddyr 1575 Reg. Soltre 229.
Nane of the said beidmen that ar desolat of wyffis at this present 1608 Peebles B. Rec. 558.
The inhabitantis … ar desolat of prouisioun quhen strangeris reparis 1636 Sutherland Corr. 168.
I am altogidder desolat [of cloth] and can get nan to by in the north(b) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 313.
Thu … na thocht hase Of powre, thu seis dyssolate Of howse & harbry 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 39.
That his Grace suld nocht be dissolat of men (a1500 Henr.) Bann. MS. 10 b/12.
We ask remeid … That is of help and confort dissolait Ib. 333 a/139.
So dussalait and will of all gud reid 1575 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 44.
The baillies and counsale vnderstanding the Lord Lindesay … to be dissolat of ane ludginge