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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.

Repet(e, -peit, v. Also: ra- and -peyt; -peat(e, -peet(e; -pat(e, -pait, -payt; -pit(t. P.p. -petit, etc., and -peit. [F. répéter (13th c. in Larousse), L. repetere attack again, do or say again, demand the return of, f. petere to attack, make for, demand, seek, etc. Cf. late ME(once, 1432–50), and e.m.E. repete, -peat, to seek again, return to, e.m.E. also = to say over, etc. (1559). Chiefly Sc. till c1560.]

1. tr. To say over again what one has already said; to say, utter or express repeatedly; to reiterate.pres. a1400 Leg. S. vi 77.
He can hire pray, In the sammyne led, fore til repete Thai sammyne wordis 1490 Irland Mir. I 35/24.
That we repet na thing haliar nore sa haly as him and his glorius name 1562-3 Winȝet I 138/24.
I said this, and now to moue ȝou to repentance repetis the samin 1595–6 Cal. Sc. P. XII 121.
Thus repeting my commendations to … all our nichboores(b) 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 220.
By thé wil I repeyt [1553 repit, Sm. repeit, Ruddim. reporte] this vers agane 1596 Dalr. I 16/6.
That we neid nocht this to repeit agane(c) 1561–2 Laing MSS I 18.
It wer not seamyng for me so oft to repit thankis as I haif just occasion to gyf thayme(d) 1566–7 Crail B. Ct. MS 21 Jan.
In the contrar … thay repayt … thay awht to be admittitp.t. a1400 Leg. S. xli 15.
Ther fywe scho repetyt efte 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 8.
Thomas Michell … repeted his confessioun of fornicatiounp.p. 1522–3 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 67.
That … Wolle Turnbyll suld have said malicefully, ‘Jhone Smyth pak yow in your hous,’ thris repeit 1607 Crim. Trials II 536.
Quhilkis wordis sould be repeitit thryse nyne tymes(b) 16.. Rudiments fol. 26a.
The lesson sall be … repeated the morne

2. To say over or recite (something previously written, learned, etc.); to say or enunciate formally or in public; to read aloud; to relate, to recount.Common after 1586 in reports of legal proceedings.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xliv 32.
A mes, Quhar the ewangel repetyt ves Of a woman [etc.] a1500 Lanc. 2940.
Thai pas one to the knycht Whar sche repete hir mesag haith ful rycht c1500 Makc. MS iv 33.
Russit one the cors, thir wordis did rapet, ‘Scitio’ 1533 Bell. Livy II 262 (B.M.).
The legatis … sall repete the wourdis afore rehersit to the first man that he metis a1538 Abell 69a.
He fand … ane othir [witch] … repetand charmes 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 12.
The rest of the tyme [shall be taken] to repet and pas thair actis(b) 1596 Dalr. II 394/20.
Thir and mekle mair, pronouncet and repeitet be the legatis publiklie in parleament 1649 Kingarth Par. Rec. 12.
Repeitted(2) 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 298.
As at mair lenth is contenit in the letters which he repetis 1594 Crim. Trials I ii 313.
And the saidis aduocattis repetis in forme of probatioun the notorietie of the crymes libellit. … Thay produce and repeittis that the saidis erllis … hes incurrit the pane of tressone 1608 Ib. II 554.
My lord aduocat repeitis the practikes concerning the shiphird 1626 Justiciary Cases I 53.
His maiesteis aduocattis repeittis the writtis producet for preving of the dittay 1631 Ib. 191.
He thairefter repeittit the examinationes of the loird Uchiltrie producet ȝister day in proces 1672 Highland P. I 257.
Together with the … rental repeatet as ane part of the lybell 1699 Argyll Justic. Rec. 171.
The said persuer repeited the foresaid indictment and depositions of the wittnesses

b. To utter again, after another or others; to copy or quote in speech or writing. 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 883.
To speik ony mair … is not necessair, Thair friuole foches to repeit [: debait] 1594 Charteris Wall. Pref. 171.
Thir ar his awin wordis Lanquet in his Epitome of the Inglis Cronikillis mouit be thair wryting repeitis the samin 1653 Inverness Rec. II 207.
Who … minassed … me with many proud and insolent speiches not worthie to be repeitit

3. To mention or refer to (a matter); to state, lay down (a point of law). 15.. Clar. v 2910.
All circumstance I omit to repeit 1564–5 St. A. Kirk S. 206.
His offencis brevely being repetit be the minister 1638 Sc. Ant. I 28.
And as representing the remanent lands before repeatit 1676 Glasgow Chart. II 196.
In the samyn act quher the priveledge of importing is repeitted, their is noe the leist mentione made of salt

b. Of a relative pronoun: To have reference back to an antecedent. 16.. Rudiments fol. 8b.
A relatiue is that quhilk repeetes some thing of the preceeding orisone

c. With compl.: To refer to or speak of as belonging to (a category specified). 1562-3 Winȝet I 30/5.
Quhow mony … repetis this Haly Kirk Vniuersal as ane necessare articule of thar beleif 1564–5 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 15.
As he wilbe repettit a member of the kirk

4. To trace (something) back in time.Only in rendering L. repetere. 1533 Bell. Livy I 8/2.
Attoure, the historie of Romanis is of grete besines, becaus it is now to be repetit abone sevin hundreth ȝeris 1596 Dalr. I 68/6.
We think nocht sa far to repeit the beginning athir frome thir schameles and finȝet goddis, or frome … gyantes

b. To return to, seek out. a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. 91/99.
Repeit the poetis auld and reid thame gif thow can

5. To perform (a deed) again. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 60.
Bot Christ, let be to bring another exposition …, be the contrare repettis the same eiting of his flesch 1597 Hist. Carnegies 60.
Ther is ane falt in it … quhilk … is four tymis repatit

6. To seek or claim the restitution of (money, goods, etc.); to require the return of.(1) 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 499.
All proffite and commoditie quhilk our said soverane lord … mycht ony wyse ask, cleame or repeit fra the saidis pertiners 1585 Acts III 408/2.
To recouer and repeit furth of thair handis sic sowmes of money as he ressauit 1587 Ib. (1597) ii 103.
The maner how gudes taken away, may be repeated Ib. Table s.v. Thieues.
Stollen gudes may be repeted fra the thiefe 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Waife.
It is leasum to the awner of the beast to repeate & challenge the samin within ȝeir and daie Id. Reg. Maj. 1 51b.
Ane lenne may not be repeted or called back againe, vntill the vse be perfited and fulfilled, to the quhilk it was lent Ib. ii 63b (Table).
He quha haymhalds and repeates his cattell, sould sweir that [etc.] 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. 1 xxxiv 7 (1678) 327.
The debitor could not repeat what he had justly payed Id. Observ. 322.
These who are restored by way of justice, will have right even to repeat the sums of money, which formerly belonged to them(2) 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 89.
We can repait and claime bak agen any enrolled soiouris which ar alreddie apprehended

b. To seek to regain, win back. a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 28.
Mackduffe … did perswade him to return and repeat his fathers kingdom

7. To repay, make restitution. 1639 Monimail Reg. Ct. 1 Oct.
Ordanes the haill tennentis … of my lordis landis of Murdocairny to repat & delyuer to his lordship … of thair haill byrun teindis 1698 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 741.
[In case the said Barnhowrie] shall evickt the sam in law, [the said Mary obliges herself to] repitt [the same to the said Thomas and to warrant him at all hands]

8. intr. To hear recitation or repetition of learned work (with students). 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 244.
Mr. Magnus wes placit in the said college be way of interim to repeit with the studentis