Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nyte, Nite, Nyit, v. Also: nyt, nytt-. P.t. nyt, nyit. P.p. nytit, nyit. [North. ME. (Cursor M.) nite, p.t. nitt(e, p.p. nite, ON. níta. After the 14th c. only Sc.]

1. tr. To deny, refuse to admit (a statement etc. or that something is or was so). Also absol.(1) 1375 Barb. i. 52.
Othir sum nyt all that cas, And said [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 579.
This thu ma nocht nyt, parde Ib. 586.
Tho scho the dede nyt wele mocht c 1390 Reg. Morton I. App. xl.
And gif thou be the man that this nitis I sal outrak it apon thé 14.. Burgh Laws c. 41 (B); etc.
And he nyte the thyft 14.. Acts I. 41/2.
Gif ony man … myssayis the aldirman … it behufis hym … to nyte it wyth opyn mouth sayand that he leyit a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 899.
His name and his nobillay wes noght for to nyte(2) a1400 Leg. S. viii. 66.
Hevynutis, That throw wikit heresy nyttis That Criste [etc.] Ib. xxxvi. 421. 1390 (1535) Reg. Cambuskenneth 260 (see sense 3 a). 1535 Stewart 7032.
Thairfoir he said with him he wald nocht nyit, As it wes said that he had all the wyit(3) c1450-2 Howlat 70.
absol. Is nane bot dame Natur, I bid nocht to nyte. Till accus of this caise 1535 Stewart 6761.
I bid nocht for to nyit

2. To refuse to acknowledge, disown, abjure (a person etc.); also, to deny knowledge of. a1400 Leg. S. xii. 401.
For he Criste nyt wald nocht Ib. xvi. 642.
& fals mawmentis gert hym nyt Ib. xxii. 351, xxxviii. 193; etc. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1039.
Kyng Agamenone … Demaunded hath Schyr Anthenor. And he hyr nyt a1568 Bann. MS. 226 b/13.
For febill plyt ȝit cuth I nyt hir neuir

3. a. To repudiate, disclaim (an obligation or debt). b. To refuse to another (a request, etc.). c. To refuse to do something.a. a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 807.
Bot thane the Cristine man … Nyt his det al wtrely 1390 (1535) Reg. Cambuskenneth 260.
That quhare the forsaid Robert nyit that he was man to the said abbot … we find that he … was his man … and that he had nyit of his maill half ane mark wrangusly … and for nyting of ilk penny to pay ane pund of siluerb. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1027.
He had nytit him his askine 14.. Burgh Laws c. 21 (A).
A burges may … put him to the atht that nytis him his dett Ib. c. 43 (B).
Ane vthir … that nytis his det til hym 1513 Doug. ix. v. 164.
I may thé nyte na thyng a1568 Bann. MS. 219 b/27.
I may nocht lest ȝour lufe and ȝe me nytc. a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 319.
Thane Laurens cane nyt opinly Til fals godis to sacryfy Ib. xxxvii. 225.
To grant the suth thu sais I nyte [: wyte]