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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.

Faithful(l, Faythful(l, a. Also: faitht-, faythtful, feathfull. [ME. faithful (c 1300), feythful, f. Faith n.]

1. Possessed of religious faith. Chiefly absol. in sing. or pl. 1456 Hay I. 204/19.
Suppos a faithfull man be oursett, and our thrawin with sudayn dede c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4658.
Betuix thir two quhat difference bene, Be faithfull folke it may be sene 1562-3 Winȝet I. 125/31.
For the saulis of the faythfull departit c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 353.
Christ als is with thame, … Rewlar and gydar of the faithfull all 1588 King Cat. 15.
No wark of godlines suld be æstemit of ane trew faithful [to be] hard

2. Of persons: Maintaining good faith (to others); firm in fidelity or duty. Also transf. of the turtle-dove. c1450-2 Howlat 128.
That was the turtour trewest, Ferme, faithfull and fast 1456 Hay I. 255/5.
The verray pape Clement, quhilk wes foundyn traist, trew and faithfull c1515 Asl. MS. I. 178/22.
Quhen the hert is nocht … faithfull, it is bot fenȝeing full of ewill craft 1543 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. ix. 19.
Nichol Grahame … , binding himself in manrentht … to Jhone Jhonstoun … , to be faythtfull, leil, and trew to him a1585 Maitl. Q. lxvi. 47.
That bed … Of hir to him that ay faythfull hes bene 1596 Dalr. II. 207/22.
Balcleuch … with a few quha … war faithful and true to thair maistir

b. In attributive use. c1475 Wall. ii. 193.
My faithfull fadyr dispitfully thai slew 1549 Compl. 2/22.
Oure nobil illustir prince, … ȝour vmquhile faythtful lord and husband 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 404.
It is impossibyll … That he ane faithfull iuge can be a1568 Scott viii. 15.
Sen ȝe haif … my faythfull hairt in cure a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxvii 46.
Auld fayis ar sindill faythfull freindis found 1641 Acts V. 446/2.
I … Your Maiestis most heumbill and feathfull searuand

3. Characterized by good faith or sincerity. c1420 Wynt. viii. 260.
The Statis off Scotland, … That oblyst wes be faythfull band … The rycht to gere decleryd be a1500 Henr. III. 170/4.
Thare is na faithfull fastnes found in erd 1520 Grant Chart. 64.
The fathfull band of kyndnes … to be hail kepit in it self 1542 Ib. 89.
For faythfull obseruyng … of all … the punctis of this present conthrak a1568 Bann. MS. 238 b/28.
With steidfast hairt, and faythfull trew mening a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxx. 4.
Guid iust men … That ar expert … To gif ane faythfull counsell to ane king