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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Obtest, v. [e.m.E. (a 1548), L. obtestārī, and cf. OF. obtester (c 1350 in Godef.).]

1. tr. To charge solemnly in the name of something sacred, to adjure; to beg earnestly, beseech, entreat (a person). Variously const.(1) 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II. 732.
[Yet for our] auld freyndschip [I will] obtest [your honour … to] schaw [my said brother-in-law some reasonable favour] 1635 Wodrow in Hay Geneal. 95.
I attest that great … judge … to be witness and obtests you all as ye shal be ansuerable to Him in that day … to carie yourselfes so on this matter as ye shal be answerable to Him 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 277.
I beseech and obtest you in the Lord to make conscience of rash and passionate oaths 1662 Carstairs Lett. 93.
Let me … obtest you to have a speciall care of your health 1678 Maxwell Mem. II. 328.
I … obtested him not to make such overturs 1685 Declar. Earl of Argile 3.
I do hereby earnestly invite and obtest all honest Protestants ... to concur with us in the said Declaration 1692 Edinb. Kirk S. in Sc. Ant. XIII. 73. 1702 Irvine Mun. I. 231.
Earnestlie obtest the presbyterie to doe me justice 1714 Rothesay Par. Rec. 295.
Patrick Fleeming … being seriously obtested and requested in the bowels of Jesus Christ to acknowledge the truth(2) 1600-1610 Melvill 467.
That I might ernestlie obtest the King and breithring all, That keippars of the scheipe sould nocht to wolffishe fasones fall 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 640.
Wee obtest and exhorte you … that ȝe abandon not the schipe of the comonwelthe in this tempest 1644 Baillie II. 240.
Yow would write to him … to obtest him he doe not any such work, so unworthie of himself 1648 Laing MSS. I. 233. 1648 Comm. Gen. Assembly II. 58.
We doe obtest yow in His name who is the prince of peace that yow will lay doune armes(3) absol. 1653 Binning Wks. 559.
But He comes yet lower to request and obtest poor sinners

b. With the person supplicated understood: To beseech or entreat (that something be done). 1618 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 1162.
I beseech you and obtest that you retaine these two together 1646 Baillie II. 355. 1648 Argyll Synod I. 110.
We humbly desyre and obtest that the union betwixt the kingdoms may be inviolably preserved 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. ii. 25. 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose (1797) 784.
I desire not that you should, yea, I obtest that you may not [etc.]

2. To call (God) to witness (that something is so). 1678 Fountainhall Decis. I. 110.
The six who were non liquet yesterday … obtested God that they followed nothing but their own conscience

3. To affirm solemnly, protest. 1681 Lauder Observes 32.
He dyed obtesting his innocence