Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Preces, n. Also: presces. [e.m.E. (once, 1511), L. precēs pl. of *prex, prec-is prayer.] A form of litany used in the service for the dead, specifically (as in e.m.E. 1511) Psalm cxxx (cxxix) (the De Profundis). — 1454 Liber Coll. Glasg. 177.
At Sant Katrinis altar … a messe for the said Johne Steuartis saule [etc.] … and at the offertory of the messe the preces that is to say De Profundis tyll be said in presens of the pepyll 1485 Ib. 196.
Presces