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

Reposses(s, v. Also: -possesse. [Posses(s v. Cf. e.m.E. repossess to regain possession of (1494).] tr. To restore (a person) to, or replace in, possession. Also without const.Only Sc. in this sense.(1) 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 195.
All personis … dispossest of houssis … salbe presentlie repossest to thair houssis 1579 Ib. III 129. 1585 Ib. IV 34.
He sall reposses Adam … to the teindis of Tullybody a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 41.
And … that she mycht be repossest peceablie to her awin kingdome 1664 Stitchill Baron Ct. 31.
John Guttraw … unlawed in fyve punds and ordained to repossess the said James Lowry therto(2) 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 409.
Lord Robert wes chargeit … to entir and reposses Patrik Bellenden … in all and sindry … land of Sanct Duthois Stouk 1660 Galloway P. 11 May.
[They] obleiss thame to repossess the said erle in … reall possession of the said lands(3) 1582 Declar. Causis 23.
Was not command geuin to reposses men forfaltit 1592 Acts III 572/1.
That all … quha wer … dispossessit of thair landis … suld be … repossessitellipt. 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
But how their intrusion hes ejected God out, [they must] aduyse with their answere till the great day, or else in tyme with remorse repossesse

b. To restore (service). 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 3.
The fear that their own lawfull service once dispossessed wold hardlie be repossessed