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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.

Relatio(u)n(e, -lacio(u)n, n. Also: -yo(w)n; relesion; (reelapcons). [ME and e.m.E. relacion (1390), -ation, F. relation (14th c.), L. relātiōn-, f. relāt-, p.p. stem of referre to refer.]

1. The action of giving an account or narration; recital, report. Also personified.(1) c1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
We haue vndirstand be the commoun voyce of the countre and all sa be relacion of sum other 1422 Fam. Rose 125.
We haf herd be certane relacioun of our luffit cusine … that [etc.] 1517 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 43.
He kennes be relatioun of Ranald Helme … Wilyam to have bocht xv schep 1535 Ib. 158.
He kennes na mair nor Adam Scot … bot be relation of countre men(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1586.
Throw sic relacioun The king in gret effectioun Resavit him c1420 Wynt. viii 382.
Fals wes his relatyown a1500 Seven S. 994.
To sla ȝour sone and ȝe be sene For fals relacioun of ȝour quene a1538 Abell 118a.
He wes hes relacyon schow slane and all wes with himpersonified 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1802.
Humanitie and trew relatioun Bene ischaris of his chalmer morne and ewin

b. In legal contexts: A statement by a witness of the circumstances known to him. 1425 Liber Melros 545.
The sayd assyse gert be sworn mony worthy diuerse men to make suthfast relacion. Eftir that thai had herde and sene thair relacionis mad … the sayd assyse determynit the marchys 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 184.
And relacion to be mayd of his vicius lyff … to the Justice Clark 1622-6 Bisset I 113/27.
The foirsaidis persones … to mak exact and perfyte relatioun to the saidis lordis of the caise 1631 Justiciary Cases I 179.
His maieste had gevin him commissione to heare this examinatis relatione Ib. 194.
It is ane haynous and odious fact pwneishable be all lawes to turne relatioun to delatioun … to begyn at executioun before tryell 1641 S. Leith Rec. 35.
Sir Jerome Lyndsay made relatione and declared … that [etc.]

c. To mak relation (to, of a matter), to make reference or allusion. 1622-6 Bisset I 66/27.
Quhairof the … fyift verse … makis mention, and relatioun, of the civile law 1661 Wodrow Hist. I 179.
Relation is made to the pains statuted against leasingmakers

2. A particular relation, narration, report, or statement; a (or one's) account.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1940.
The fals relacioun Of Pallamydes 1425 Liber Melros 545 (see 1 b above). 1460–88 Facs. Nat. MSS II lxxvi.
The king vnderstandis nocht alanerly be the relacioun of the said Sir Alexander … bot alsa be [etc.] 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1223.
And be his prudent, schairp relatiounis He was expert of all thing as it semit 1631 Justiciary Cases I 179.
That the loird Reay would put his relatione into wrytting(2) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 359.
A man suld … trow nocht lichtly all relacions c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 165/17.
My brethir oft hes maid the supplicationis, Be epistillis, sermonis, and relationis 1626 Justiciary Cases I 50.
The clerk of sessioun … only hard … Gledstanes repoirt that they tuik hir depositioun quhilk is bot ane meir heirsay and ane relatioun 1631 Ib. 196.
The depositiones … ar trew in thame selffis as he thair deponed accoirding to the relationes and groundis of informatione he ressauit frome the loird Reay

3. A relationship, correspondence or connection. a. Between (betuixt) things, or of one thing to (unto) another. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Particata.
It is necessare that the measurers of land … obserue … ane just relation betwixt the length and the bredth of the measures — 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
A former large Confession … unto which it hath relation

b. Of a person to a place or office. 1657 Sc. Ant. XIII 35.
Who are burges bairnes and who not and what relation they have to the towne 1681 Stair Inst. ii viii §27.
There stood the like relation betwixt patrons and kirks patronate, as betwixt patrons and libertines 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 13 Nov. (6 Dec.).
In regard he had a relation to a charge in Ireland … from which he could not for present be loosed in ane orderly way

c. Between (betuix) persons, or of one person to another, specif. d. Kinship. 1456 Hay II 155/3.
Sik a man sall sett him … to mak gude relacioun and concorde betuix thé and thy … nychtbouris 1638 Henderson Serm. 392.
It may be called misnurturedness in me to go to him, who has not any relation to him, as David had a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 32.
Christs love becomes thus more comfortable, and our relation to him the more kindly-like, when it's illustrat by marriage

e. coll. sing. and pl. (One's) kindred, relations. 1666 Laing MSS I 350.
If hee prefer the disayrs of my Lady Stanop and hir relesions and denay me [etc.] 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 176.
For he constantlie mannases and abusses me and my relatioun 1683 Elgin Rec. I 331.
That none presume to cum to lykvakis but such as ar the relationes and freindis of the defunct or particularlie called 1703 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 20 Sept.
What was spendit before upon relecke and children and nowe reelapcons [? relatiouns]