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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.

Dissolve, Desolve, v. Also: dissolfe, -so(u)llve, -sollwe, disolve; desollve, -solwe, dessolve. [ME. dissolve (Chaucer), dyssolve, desolve, L. dissolvere.]

1. tr. To undo, annul, put an end to.(a) 1471 Acta Aud. 14/1.
Gif it ples ony party to dissolue thaire summondis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 15.
The peace [being] dissolvit, the Pichtis denuncit battell to Scottis 1561 Peebles B. Rec. 272.
The counsale ordanis … the claus of warrandice to be dissoluit 1562-3 Winȝet I. 110/5.
For that caus the matrimonie to be dissoluit a1578 Pitsc. II. 15/14.
Thair the contractt of pace and mariaige … was dissolweit in plane parliament 1587 Acts III. 439/1.
Our … lordis predicessouris … hes bene in vse to dissolue the saidis annexationis(b) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 185.
Thus was the peace desolvit 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 273.
For continewall dissobeydience in … making and desolving of mariages at his plesour

2. To break up, disband, dismiss. 1478 Acta Conc. 19/1.
This day the lordis of counesale raisit and disoluit thair sete 1533 Boece ix. xviii. 335 b.
Quhen Pichtis war skalit, he dissoluit his armye 1575 Conv. Burghs I. 49.
The comisaris … for this present desoluis this thair conventioun a1578 Pitsc. I. 96/16.
Sa they dissolvit the seige 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 174.
Gif the said schooll be dissolvit and skaillit

3. To resolve into elements or parts. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxiii. 22.
Now cled in gold, dissoluit now in as, So dois this warld transitorie go 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 509.
Off Flodoun feilde the rewyne to reuolfe … I nyll, for dreid that dolour ȝow dissolfe [v.r. desolwe] c1552 Id. Mon. 5116.
Sum ar dissoluit suddantlye Be cattarue or be poplesye a1578 Pitsc. I. 234/11.
I pray … that we may be laide and dissollwit in the earth quhair fre we come

4. To untie, loosen, set free, separate. c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 458.
Than Venus gart ane nobill nimphe … Dissolue his handis quhilks richt fast bundin war 1582 Edinb. Test. XI. 285.
Gif it pleisis god to dissolue the said Iames of this mortall lyf befoir the ȝeris of his perfyt age 1592 Ib. XXIV. 145 b.
To quhom I commit my spreit quhen it sall pleis him to dissolue it frome this bodie of ertht 1606 Acts IV. 297/2.
Oure said souerane lord … dissoluis and dismemberis the said castell … frome the said archibischoprik

5. intr. a. To break up, separate, depart. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 94.
Commanding him to tak it to the assemblie, which dissolued that same day a1578 Pitsc. I. 20/12.
Thaireftir the common dissolue and evirie man past hameward 1600 Haddington Corr. 208.
They dissoluit and fled sundrie gaittis 1639 Johnston Diary 51.
We will dissolve for want of baking and brueing 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 188.
That efter dissolveing from the croce the inhabitants spend the remanent of the day in shooteing [etc.]

b. To become void; to terminate. 1591 Reg. Great S. 643/2.
This oure few chartour … sall annull and dissolve in the self