Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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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.

(Oversile,) Oversyle, v. Also: ovir-, ower- and -sylle, -seyll. [Over adv. and Sile v. (to cover). In earlier use only Sc.; cf. e.m.E. oversile, -seil (1584), and Oursile v.] tr.

1. To cover over, conceal. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 106.
Ouersylit ar with cloudis odious The goldin skyis of the orient 1531 Bell. Boece I. xv.
Phebus … Quhen he began ouirsile his visage dry With vapouris thik 1535 Stewart 11268.
Argatill, … With … mony wodis wyld, And ron and roche with mony rammall ouirsyld

2. To obscure (the spiritual sight), to blind or dim (the perception).1540 Lynd. Sat. 1616 (Ch.) (see Oursile v. 2). 1567 Sat. P. iv. 38.
Backwart fra God my spirite fra sho wylit Daylie with darknes my sycht sho ouersylit a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 296.
Sathan … hes now sa oversylit the eyis of all estaits [etc.] 1632 Lithgow Trav. 30.
Oversylled

b. transf. To diminish, dull (other senses). a1605 Montg. Misc. P. lvii. 5.
Poets … Quhais senceles sences Satan so ouersylis By oracles illuding all thair eirs

3. To deceive, delude, ‘hoodwink’ (a person). 1540 Lynd. Sat. 229 (Ch.).
Beleiue ȝe that we will begyll ȝow … Or with euill counsall overseyll ȝow a1568 Scott iii. 40. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5201.
The Empreour … with thair slicht and science was ouirsylit 1572 Sat. P. xxxi. 69. 1573 Ib. xxxix. 244.
Sa thay wald ouirsyle vs Creip in our strenthis and suddanelie exyle vs 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 3 b.
Gif thow hes gwid intelligence Be nocht owersylit with slwggarte negligence 1603 Philotus 66.
With sweit discourse the simpill till ouirsyle