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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.

Mankind, -kynd(e, n. Also: mane- and plur. menkynd. [ME. mankind, -kynd (Cursor M.), e.m.E. also pl. menkind (ME. men kyn); superseding mankin, OE. man-, moncynn.]

1. Mankind, human beings in general, the human race.Chiefly coll. without article, also the mankynd. Const. both sing. and plur. verb.(1) 1375 Barb. iv. 225.
Fendis … to mankynd has invy a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 52.
To ransone mankynd that ves lorne Ib. xxxii. 541.
Al mankynd … Ware send me c1420 Wynt. v. 888.
Wyth all mankynd off his eyld, He wes the joy callyd Ib. 5315. 1456 Hay II. 5/28. Ib. I. 6/33.
Betuix him and the inymy of mankynde Ib. 68/4. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 75.
Fore al mankind is knawin … Be froyt [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I. 113/10.
Ȝour … miserabile creatur and seruand mankynd 1553 Doug. i. Prol. 468.
Thou salviour of mankind Arundel MS. 274/17.
Be blitht, mankind 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 12.
The redemar of me and all mankynde 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 181 n.
And restorit mankynd to his foirfaltit heretage 1567 G. Ball. 7.
Thir ten commandis, To teiche to mankynde euerie ane 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 12. 1596 Dalr. I. 29/23.
[Oxen] war sa … wylde that frome mankynde thay abhored(2) 1456 Hay II. 97/3.
Syk melodious soundis … gerris the mankynde tak delectacioun naturale

2. Human nature, the nature of man.(Of Christ) To take or fang mankynd, to become man.(1) 1375 Barb. iv. 530.
Mankynd biddis vs that we To procur vengeans besy be a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 5.
Of mankynd thru brukilnes 1456 Hay II. 102/37. Ib. I. 291/26.
Suppose thou be a king … ȝit art thou bot a man and mankynde mon folow 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 14.(2) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 242.
How mane-kynd that he can fange c1450 Cr. Deyng (S.T.S.) 66.
To tak mankynd to radem the trespas that Adam [etc.] 1513 Doug. x. Prol. 106. 1567 G. Ball. 67.

3. The male sex, male persons. a. sing. b. plur.a. a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xxxv. 129.
Of man kynd Ma wicked may be called Then of the wemen stryindeb. 1535 Stewart 44409.
All the menkynd of his surname and clan [he] Gart lib thame all than be the leist ane man 1596 Dalr. I. 133/19.
Gif the king left successione … vndir xiiii ȝeiris in menkynd, and xii ȝeiris in womenkynd

c. adj. Ayre mankynd, = heir male. 1479 Reg. Cupar A. I. 230.
Ane ayre mankynd, gottyn of the said John Boyd 1495 Ib. 245.