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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.

Repres(s, v. Also: -prese, -prais. [ME and e.m.E. represse(n (Chaucer), L. repress-, p.p. stem of reprimere Reprem(e v.] tr.

1. To put down or keep under (something bad or harmful); to check; to put an end to. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 839 (Asl.).
We … settis our sapiens … sic perellis to repres
1533 Bell. Livy I 78/31.
To repres sic iniquiteis, ane presoun was edifyit in myddis of the toun
1533 Boece 536.
How beit this brag was repressit, ane vthir succedit be Rogere Mortymare
1553 Reg. Privy C. I 143.
Unto the tyme the offences done to the autorite and him wer repressit and put to syd
1568 St. A. Kirk S. 297.
Being of mynd to repres his stubburnes and … to wyn hym, ordanis … hym to be warnit [etc.]
1572 Reg. Privy C. II 173.
To forbid and repres all occasioun of violence
a1578 Pitsc. I 83/3.
The kingis rebellis quhois tyrannie he thocht to represe witht fyre and suord
1594–5 Glasgow Chart. I ii 246.
Except the samyne [sc. fornication] be punischit and represt it will incres to heichar measure
1622-6 Bisset II 204/27.
He [sc. King Fergus] institute and caused mak lawes to represe vyce
1699 Fountainhall Decis. II 54.
To repress such malversation in corrupting of compt-books after a party's decease

b. To restrain or check from (fra, of) an activity. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 804 (Asl.).
Thir wichti wordis … Quhilk may ȝour saulis fra slomber of sleuth repres
1533 Boece 1b.
My wery spreit desyreing to repres My emptive pen of fruteles besynes

2. To put down or quell (rebellion, riot, etc.).(a) 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece (M) I 191.
He … thocht sufficient … to repres the troubill amang the Britonis
1533 Boece 617.
Sone efter this breik was repressit, ane vthir begouth of new
a1538 Abell 98b.
At the king suld neuir mak ane lord of the ylis to repres rebellion
1565 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 154.
Gif thair temerarius attemptatis be nocht quiklie repressit
(b) 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI 586.
That the rebellioun and insolenceis of sa greit a noumer of personis … salbe now repraist

3. To suppress (rebels, malefactors, etc.); to put down by force. 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 94.
Thairfore ye man be all menys … repres thevis
1565 Reg. Privy C. I 357.
To persew thame with fyre and swerd, quhill thai be repressit [ed. repreffit] or brocht to obedience
1571 J. Maitland Sat. P. xxvii 89.
This realme with eis the rebellis may repres
1587–8 Reg. Privy C. IV 253.
It becomes alwayes his majestie … to repres and stay all monopolles and factiounes
1589 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 184.

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"Repres v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/repress>

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