A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456-1590
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Magnificence, n. Also: -ens, magnyficence, magni-, magnefiecence, mangnific(i)ence. [ME. and F. magnificence, L. magnificentia.]
1. Glory, grandeur, nobility, majesty; greatness of attainment or reputation. 1456 Hay I. 41/10.
Fra lytill to mekle it [Rome] come ay up to grete estate and magnificence a1500 Henr. Fab. 859 (Bass.).
My celsitude and hie magnificence Lattis ȝow to wit [etc.] a1500 Ib. 934.
Magnyficence a1500 Ib. 1429. a1500 Id. Orph. i. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 418.
Euery prince … With pacience vse ȝour mangnificence c1500 Crying of Play 17.
The God of most magnificence Conserf this fair presens c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 46, c1500-c1512 Ib. lxvii. 4, c1500-c1512 Ib. lxxvii. 28.
Welcum … moist of lawde and hie magnificence c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 277 a/1.
For to declair the he magnificens And grit bontie that into ladeis is 1533 Bell. Livy I. 8/5.
The impire of Romanis is … rissin in sic magnificence … that [etc.] c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 106.
Abone Goddis magnificence c1552 Id. Mon. 2919. c1550-60 Arundel MS. 275/7.
This day with hie mangnificence The Lord is rissin a1568 Scott i. 18.
Rewle thy regne with hie magnificence c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 82.
b. As a complimentary mode of reference or address. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 26.
With humbill reuerence, I thocht to pray hir [Venus'] hie magnificence a1500 King Hart 717.
Be haue displesit hir hie magnificence
2. Bounty, munificence, liberality. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 421.
Traistand to haue of his magnificence Guerdon, reward and benefice bedene c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 284.
Beseikand hir of hir magnificence My spreit inspyre c1550-60 Arundel MS. 251/386.
My prayeris … and praysingis … betaucht vnto thé efter the gret aboundance … of thi inestimabill mangnificience 1562-3 Winȝet I. 139/23.
[John Knox] … of ȝour magnificence and liberal hand hes oppinnit the ȝettis of heuin to the faythful fatheris c1590 Fowler II. 147/29.
Geving him self ane example of humantie & of magnificence
3. Outward grandeur, sumptuousness in appointments, splendour, magnificence. 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxxix.
Glasqu … quhare ane nobill kirk is … biggit with gret magnificence a1578 Pitsc. I. 76/24.
He was treitit and bankitit … witht great magnifiecence a1578 Ib. 80/27.
Quhois convoy maid this earle so proud … that he representit ane kingis magneficience
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"Magnificence n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/magnificence>
