Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Essonȝe, v. Also: essoynyhe, essoinȝie. [Late ME. essoyne, OF. essoyner, essoi(g)nier, med. L. essoniare. Cf. Assonȝe v.] tr. and refl. To excuse. 1398 Acts I. 211/1.
Na the forsaid lieutenant be nocht haldyn tyl ansuer suylke contremandmentis, na be nocht essoynyhet thruch vertu of thaim that he doys nocht his office 14.. Ib. 24/2.
Gif ony burges … be passit elde to fecht and he essonȝeis hym tharwyth in his answere Ib. 108/2.
Nane indytit sal be essonȝeit … bot allanerly … thruch essonȝie that is callyt bed yvill 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 133.
Quhou think we he essonȝeis hym to astart, … Fenȝeand hym Jherom forto contyrfeit c1575 Balfour Pract. 350.
Gif ony persoun essonzies himself be ressoun of bodilie seiknes, or bed-evil 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Sok.
The serjand thereof sall … defalt the absentes, that ar nocht lauchfullie essoinzied