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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Recent, adj. Also: ri- and -sent; resient. [Only Sc. in early use. F. récent (14th c. in Wartburg), L. recent-. Cf. 17th c. Eng. recent (1622).]

1. Of the mind or its powers, esp. memory: Undiminished; not weakened by the passage of time; in full vigour.Also applied to the thing remembered.Also, of feelings and emotions.(1) a1500 Colk. Sow Prol. 28.
To quhich all man … With recent mynd suld evir haif his e 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1291.
Ȝe Musis nine … Len me a recent, schairp, fresche memorie 1525 Douglas Corr. 106.
The grete gentrice … quhilk I sall bere in recent memor to my lyvis end 1549 Compl. 5/31. 1567 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 559.
Hir majestie … having recent memorie of the notable … actis … done … be him … alswell sen hir returning … as of befoir 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 397.
Swa that the memorie of him is bot as ȝit recent, & not out of the hartis of mony ȝit leuand a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 16.
The statuts … should be read to the lords at the beginning of ilk session that they may have them in recent memory(2) a1500 Colk. Sow ii 136.
Notable gestis … Fresch in hir mynd & recent of memorye 1533 Bell. Livy II 47/32.
‘Ane thing remanis’ (said he) ay recent in his memorie 1535 Stewart 17091.
The rancour wes so ruttit in thair hairt, And in thair mynd so recent and so grene 1623 Blair Autob. 43.
I requested them, when matters were recent in their memories, to declare [etc.](3) 1533 Boece 269b.
He was sa blyndit be recent [L. recenti] het lufe of this new spous 1600-1610 Melvill 294.
The horrour of the deid of Dinnibirsall … be comoun rymes and sangs keipit in recent detestation

b. Of non-material, also (lit. and in fig. context) of material, things: Fresh; new and unspoiled; unsullied. c1515 Kennedy Asl. MS II 272/1.
Closter of Crist riche recent flour delys 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 22.
The recent dew begynnys doun to scaill 1525 Household Bks. Jas. V 16.]
[iij quarte merte recentis, xxj s. 1531 Bell. Boece I vi.
My wery spreit … Awalkit furth to tak the recent aire c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2578.
Of conditione, Reddy for to ressaue new recent wyne a1568 Scott xxi 39.
Scho [Reason] … teichis me both tyme & tyd, Recent befoir myne e c1590 J. Stewart 86/224.
Dictums … Be Medor vrocht, … Als recent fair and viwelie formit schew As instantlie thay haid beine forgit new 1638 Henderson Serm. 375.
And he calls it new, because it sall be a recent song so long as I liue, and it sall be new unto all generations: and, indeed, it is a new and a recent song to this day

2. Lately performed or carried out; that has just, or lately, taken place or happened.

a. In recent spulȝie.(a) 1503–4 Acts II 242/1.
Item anent recent spulȝe that it salbe lefull to the partij quhilk is spulȝeit to sumond the spulȝear apoun xv dais befor the lordis … and rycht sua befor the scheref. And that thar sall be na exception dylatouris admittit 1525 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 223.]
[James Preston … protested against process in a summons for spoliation of teinds … : it was not of recent spulȝie or tabled on the tolbooth door and therefore … should not be called 1531 Acts II 332/1.
Quhilk actioune salbe preuilegit to be callit in all tymes baith in the sessioune and outwith the sessioune siclike as recent spulȝe 1533 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 405.
That all privelegit materis togidder with summondis of recent spulȝe suld be callit wolklie … for expeditioun of recent spulȝeis … [the Lords] ordanis all and sindry that hes summondis of recent spulȝeis to be callit ilk Tiisday 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a/13a.
Recent spulȝie in tyme of vacance bydis na tabill 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 21 Aug.
Geif thai pretendit to intromet with thair teind schawes without lescience … he may persew thame & call thame for recent spoilȝe 1672 Acts VIII 81/1.(b) 1564 Perth B. Ct. 106 (10 June).
And protestit gif ony persone intromettit with the samyn for resient spulȝe & oppression

b. Of other events, actions, etc.(a) 1513 Doug. ix vii 189.
Of recent [L. recentem] slauchter and the hait effray The feld abowt all warmyt quhar thai lay 1533 Boece 69b.
The fall of all thare freyndis in the recent [L. recens] bargane Ib. 267b. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 35.
Recent murthour and tressoun 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 278.
Eftir rype and recent advisement had in the said mater … [they] admittit the said … clame a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 429/1.
Sair is the recent murmur and regrat Amang the leges rysin off the lait 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 132.
The persoun being apprehendit in the recent deid salbe deliverit in the handis of the Provest Marschell Ib. 437.
For na recent crymes committit be thame(b) 1542 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 30.
[A] ricent and honorabill victory

3. Lately obtained or originated; lately made, new, fresh. 1513 Doug. ii vii 59.
Ful glaidly in that recent spulȝe [L. spoliis … recentibus] warm Belyf ilk man dyd thame self enarm Ib. vii xii 110.
The recent spreith, and fresch and callour pray Ib. xii i 88.
Now of our recent blude, … The flude of Tibir walxis hait 1525 Household Bks. Jas. V 26.]
[Empt. … iij salmones recentes 1557 Digest Justiciary Proc. B 142.
The wound then wes grene and resent

4. Of or belonging to the immediate past. 1531 Bell. Boece I xviii.
Recent authouris Id. Livy I 8/8, 9.
I dout nocht bot the beginnyng of Romanis … sall be of les pleser to the redaris than recent historyis, becaus thai will haisty thame self to here thir novellis and recent dedis done in our dais 1533 Boece 245.
The dekin Paule, … Veremwnd and vtheris mare recent authouris