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

Presbyterial(l, Presbiteriall, adj. Also: presbitt-, presbet-. [e.m.E (1592).]

1. Of a presbytery or body of presbyters. 1639 Argyll Synod I 5.
We cannot have our presbyterial meetings so frequent 1640 Acts V 278/2.
Of hir generall provinciall presbiteriall assemblies and kirke sessiones 1643 Ellon Presb. 132.
To colledges, bruches and presbyteriall seatts 1649 Moray Synod 100.
The moderator of the presbyterie is ordained to pronounce the sentence before a congregation in the presbyteriall seate c1650 Spalding II 157.
It wes ordanit by this presbiteriall visitatioun 1655 Argyll Synod II 127.
The presbiteriall book of Sky 1661 Wodrow Hist. (1828) I 161.
Presbyterial acts and letters 1664 Dunkeld Presb. I 137.
The Bishop of Dunkeld had ordained Mr. John Ratray, elder, to moderate the presbeteriall meeting for this half year ensuing 1701 Ib. II 19.

2. Organised by presbyteries or presbyters. = Presbyterian adj. a.attrib. a1650 Row 107.
Haters of religion and reformation, particularlie of presbyteriall governament 1646 Gillespie Aaron's Rod Blossoming To the reader. 1648 Laing MSS I 232.
Presbitteriall 1649 Acts VI ii 727/1. a1658 Durham Scandal (1740) 131.
The presbyterial church 1684 Lauder Notices Affairs II 537. 1691 Master Clark Defended Preface.
The silly feckless fetch that the witty relator makes to disparage presbyterial governmentpredic. 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 47.
The discipline and government was from the beginning presbyterial