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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.

Neces(s)itat, p.p. and ppl. a. Also: -ate, nes(s)es(s)itat, (necessecitat). [Med. L. necessitat-us, p.p. of necessitare, late e.m.E. neces(s)itate (17th c.).]

1. p.p. a. Obliged, compelled, forced, chiefly by circumstances, to (do) something.(1) a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 82.
The said Sir Alexander … was necessitat to go to Holland c1590 Fowler II. 122/1.
As a prence is necessecitat to play the beast 1631–49 Conv. Burghs IV. 552.
If any merchand shall be necessitat, throw storme of weather or otherwayes, to transport his goods 1652 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 189. 1654 Laing MSS. I. 294.
I was necessitate either to lose their companie or to be gone timelye 1655 Conv. Burghs III. 405.
Necessitat 1660 Honours Scotl. 112.
Hie should be nesesitat to capatilat 1663 Peebles B. Rec. II. 58.
Many inhabitantes … that buyes hors … and wanting hors meat of their awne ar necessitat … to oppres their neighbours gras 1664 Decis. Lords G. 79.
Necessitate Ib. 118. 1667 Highland P. II. 36.
Necessitat 1668 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 286.
[He] wes necessitat before his releasment to pay for his ransome … three thousand gilders 1668 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 355.
Necessitat 1671 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 276.
Necessitat 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 155 (15 Oct.).
He was nessessitat not onlie to … pay the foirsaid sowme … but lykwayse [etc.] 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 352.
Necessitat 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxiii. § iv. (1699) 118.
Necessitat 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 101.
When he comes, our seamen are necessitate to quit the fishing of all other except himself 1661-88 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 738.
Necessitate 1691 Cramond Kirk S. III. 3 Dec.
And therefore he would be necessitat to pursue some of them by law 1698 S. Ronaldshay 69.
Through bodily infirmity he was not able to walk the length but was necessitate to go on horse back(2) 1645 Baillie II. 305.
What we have done we were absolutlie necessitate to it 1669 Jus Populi 5.
The souldiers … assault them with drawne swords, whereupon the countrey men were necessitate to their defence 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. I. 55.
Being incensed with such harms, We were necessitate to arms

b. Required, needful, necessary. 1664 in Decr. Dalr.
Tuo suits of cloathes she had at hir husbands decease … being necessitat for the vse of hir sone

2. ppl. a. a. Compelled, compulsory, unavoidable. b. Needy, indigent.a. 1644 Baillie II. 224.
All the world is sensible of our necessitate delays 1649 Inverness Presb. 169.
A letter … importing … relefant reasones of his necessitat voyage to [etc.] c1680 McWard Serm. 180.
With a necessitate briefness and blunt abruptnessb. 1652 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 242.
To consider the most necessitat persounes quha ar in building … and speciallie to have regaird to widowis and orphandis