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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.

Redres, v. Also: red-, ra- and -dres(s)(e, -dris. [ME and e.m.E. redresse(n (Chaucer), -dres(ce, F. redresser, OF redrecier, -drechier, etc. (11th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).] tr. To redress, in various senses and applications.

A. With a material or non-material thing as obj.

1. To put right or rectify (what is wrong, unjust or harmful); to remedy or reduce (violence, discord, etc.).Once, const. off (wrong).(a) 1375 Barb. xix 198 (E) (see Redres n. 1 (2)).
Redressyt 1384 Acts I 349/1.
That … nane … sal do skathe to tha of the boundes of the tothir partie bot tha sall ger it be redressit als law of marche vill enterchaungeabely 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 35.
Hafande souffisande pouer … for to redresse … trespasses don be see & be lande ?1438 Alex. ii 7451.
The skaith is great … Bot I trow … That it sall sone redressit be 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
And gif thai [sc. outrages] suld nocht wele be redressit [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II 164.
Al othir beistis that eittis mennis corne … sal be poindit, quhil the awnar thairof redres the skaithis be thaim done 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 161. a1578 Pitsc. II 95/11.
And was contentit … to redrese all ewellis done to thame be [I. be thame to] the Scotismen 1583 Glasgow B. Rec. I 104.
Ay and quhill the principallis … caus the said harmes and skaythis be redressit to our satisfactioun 1587–8 James VI in Aberd. Council Lett. I 23.
Gif we … interpone not oure … hand to remeid redres and puneis the samyn summarlie 1597 Conv. Burghs II 19.
To consult vpoun the meane and way to redres … the greitt hurt … done to … the … lieges 1682 Peebles B. Rec. II 103.
To … advyse with … a lawer quhatt is fitt to be done to redres the tumult(b) c1475 Wall. vi 224.
It slakis ire off wrang thai suld radres(c) 1612 Inverness Rec. II 90.
The saidis Commissionaris … hes power heirby to tak order theirin and reddris the sam as accordis

2. To amend, improve or reform (a matter, or state of things). b. To mend or repair (a material thing). 1515 Douglas Corr. 69.
A parlyament in this toune, … quhare we trast tyl haf all thyngis redressyt 1535 Stewart 25342.
The mater all … At lenth and laser [to] commoun and redres 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 395.
That he would put to his hand to redres these thingsb. 1642 Dunferm. Kirk S. 10.
Thair old mort clothe to be redrest … for the use of the poore

3. To reform, or do away with, (an evil or abuse). 1567 G. Ball. 209.
Had not that blissit bairne bene borne Sin to redres [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS 70a/40.
To nane do thow crewaltie The grit God … Will it anis redres 1637 Baillie I 11.
A Parliament in Ingland which might obtain all misorders there redressed

4. To remedy or remove (a trouble or distress). a1500 Lanc. 104.
That to redres his wo Previdith not 1567 G. Ball. 131.
And to redres my heuynes … send me remeid

5. Only Sc.: To restore, give back. 1531 Bell. Boece II 328.
The nobillis of Ingland … causit all the saidis guddis to be redressit Id. Livy I 134/9.
Gif the gudis of Tarquinis war nocht redressit [L. reddita] 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 492.
Quhill he behuvit to speir the faltouris quhilkis lang syne hes redressit the gudis 1575–6 Ib. II 498.
The gudis takin on ayther part … at the Reid Swyre … ar ordanit to be redressit of the single and principall valu quhairupoun the billis on ayther part ar alreddy sworne

b. To make good (a bill). See also Redressing vbl. n. 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 307.
He wilbe compellit to answer and redresse the said bill

B. With a person as obj.

6. a. To bring back to right conduct. b. To restore or re-establish; to set up again. c. To save or deliver (from (fro) loss of eternal life).a. 1456 Hay II 31/29.
Commonly syk men that begylis thair lordis may never be refourmyt na redressit till lautee na till honour of knychthede a1586 Lindsay MS 69.
Sic knychtis … may nocht be brocht agane nor redressit to the ordour of cheualryb. a1508 Want of Wyse Men 55.
Quhilk ar degradit, for pure pitee redresse Sen want of wise men makis fulis sit in binkis a1570-86 Maitl. F. 208/23.
Thair may na ryches thé redres Bot princelie liberalite — a1568 Bann. MS 224a/24.
Gif that gudly schap hir to redres My wofull hairtc. 15.. Dunb. App. ix 4.
The hevynnis King is cled in our nature, Ws fro the deth with ransoun for to redres 1567 G. Ball. 172.
Geue Christ, the quhilk hes me redrest, Be on my syde

7. To set (a person) right by giving satisfaction or compensation for loss or injury sustained, also of the thing harmed. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2414 (B).
All mener of men … that bene opprest Cum and complene, and thay sall be redrest 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 368.
That thai suld redres all Scottismen offendit be thame 1594 Acts IV 72/2.
That the persoun … had fund souirtie … to redres partiis skaithit 1668–76 Lauder Jrnl. 216. 1689 Acts XII 65/1.
That … the parties lessed be redressed — 1583 Glasgow B. Rec. I 104.
And all pertakeris … sould be incarcerat … ay and quhill we be redressit of our said guidis

8. reflex. To address oneself, or aspire, to a position. a1599 Rollock Wks. II 80.
A man that redresses himself to a kingdom would ever take delight to speak of it