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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Incres, Increse, v. Also: incresse, -cresce, -cresche, -creas, -cras. [ME. increse (c 1440), increasse, L. incrēscere. Cf. Encrese v.] intr. and tr. To increase, in various senses.

1. intr. a. To increase in size or quantity; to become larger, to grow to greater sizc. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1790.
Go ȝit, quhill it is tender and small, And pull it vp; let it na mair incres [: peis. ceis] a1500 Colk. Sow iii. 13.
Gold, siluer, mettell, and alkyn vre, Fynit be folkis, vanisis and nocht incressis c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 99.
With wamis … In creische that did incres [: les] Ib. lxxxii. 50.
Ȝour proffeit daylie dois incres [: les] 1533 Bell. Livy I. 16/11.
Thir townys … increscit togidder in sic affluence of men and riches 1549 Compl. 20/8.
Childer … growis & incressis … to the perfyit stryntht of men 1597 Frasers of Philorth 263.
The said brughe hes … greatumlie florischit and incressit in bigging 1609 Gardyne Garden 32.
The silver Cynthia Doeth both incresse and waine

b. To increase in number(s). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 57/23.
Without me … the hevinly court cuthe neuir incres c1515 Asl. MS. I. 303/17.
Thar Noe & all come out of the arke, incressit & multiplijt in all partis of the erth a1500 Bk. Chess 2137.
In four poyntis syne may his moving be And syne incressand in to poyntis aucht 1533 Boece i. ii. 34 b.
The inhabitantis fering that this bannyst pepill … suld beside thame incres … addressit for batell c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 461.
Thow knawis veill … God bad ilk man incres and multiplie 1581 Cath. Tr. 75/26.
The … Arrians daylie incressit in nomber to the gret suppression of the Catholikis 1596 Dalr. II. 427/1.
The aduersaris daylie persauet the force of the Frenchmen to multiplie and incres

2. To increase in degree, strength, power, or other quality.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2874.
The dreid of deith hir strenthis gart incres c1475 Wall. vii. 1112.
Malice he had at gud Wallace befor, … and than incressyt mor c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvii. 10.
As the ta lufe vaxis auld The tothir dois incres moir kene a1500 Doug. K. Hart 239.
Alwayis … His malady incressis mair and mair 1531 Bell. Boece II. 93.
The fury and rage of insolence ilk day more incressing 1549 Compl. 2/6.
Ȝour honorabil amplitude of verteouse dignite incressis daly a1578 Pitsc. I. 189/7.
This mischief daylie incressit 1592 Acts III. 569/1.
The corruptioun increscand in the said college in this later and declyning aige 1587-99 Hume 79/367.
Let Sathan rage, let wickednes incres [: comfortles] 1622-6 Bisset I. 17/19.
Oppressioun and crowall deidis untrew Into this land incressand(b) a1578 Pitsc. I. 23/18.
Amitie … daylie increassit betuix the gouernour and the chancellor (1621) Chron. Perth 23.
The wind … incrassit

b. Of persons: To go further in some respect. a1500 Bk. Chess 2142.
In sobir wys richt so he wald begyne, And so incres in mor & mor in deid 1531 Bell. Boece I. 193.
Seand his fader incres ilk day with mair pine, he solistit the medcinaris [etc.] Id. Livy I. 51/8.
Beleving his pepill to incres dull and vnweildy 1533 Boece ii. iii. 61 b.
Ferleig … is … daly incressing mare abill to bruke the public authorite 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8376.
Not alone in vertew he increst, Bot also was of body the liklyest

3. tr. To cause to increase; to raise. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xli. 7.
Be secreit, trew, incressing of ȝour name 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4361.
Mahoun thy hart hes mufit To do sic thing, and me to ire incres 1567 G. Ball. .
God sall augment his peple and incres, And eik thair sonnis & dochteris mair & les a1578 Pitsc. II. 43/13.
Beseikand hir god … ffor to incrase him in mantening of the defence of Scotland 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 207.
They sal be cleirlie incressed … a tua pairt of thair yeirlie rent 1645 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 120.
It will incresce our joy