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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.

Resignat(i)o(u)n(e, -ac(i)o(u)n(e, n. Also: ra-, resygn-, -singn-, -syngn-, -suygn- and -asyoun, -asion, -syon, -acyoune. [ME and e.m.E. resignacioun (1387), F. rési(g)nation (14th c. in Larousse), med. L. resignation-.] The action, or fact, of resigning, in sense 1 a–d of Resing v.‘Resignation was the form of law by which a vassal surrendered the feudal subjects to his superior. The ceremony might be performed by a procurator authorised by a procuratory of resignation.’ (Sir Philip J. Hamilton-Grierson in Habakkuk Bisset's Rolment of Courtis (STS) III 138). For the distinction between resignation ad remanentiam and resignation in favorem, see Bell's Dictionary and Digest of the Law of Scotland (1890), s.v. Resignation. Procuratory of resignatioun, see Procuratory n. c (3).Freq., to mak resignatioun.(1) 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 295.
John hecht … to mak … whatkin euident, chartre, or resignacioun plaine in the kingis hand whairthruch … Alexander … micht be maste sikir 1393 Reg. Morton II 193.
The qwilk resignacione and enfeffement beand made as is forspokyn 1428–9 Cal. Charters Suppl. 7 Feb.
I … sall … make full resignacon of thir fornamyte landis 1473 Lindores A. 169.
And … mayde resignatoun in the hand of John Cristy … hall the land and the gudes it [sic in pr.] he hayd in the fawour of … his sown be staff and battown 1484–5 Prestwick B. Rec. 30.
Resignation 1526 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 280.
Eftir the quhilk resignacioune maid in my handis lauchfully and custumably [etc.] 1549 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 147.
Ane bailie … to pas to the ground … the tyme of the resignatioun thairof to be maid … in fauouris of the said Merioun for hir heretable seasing thairof 1564 Peebles B. Rec. I 294. 1569–70 Lanark B. Rec. 47.
Rasingnasion 1580 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 197.
Comperit personale … and maid resignatioun … be staff and bastoun conforme to the ordour of resignatioun 1587–8 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 3 Feb. 1590
Andro Tailȝour maid revocatione of all kynd of resignatione … that he haid maid of his landis … to … Patrik … in respect of his minorate, that he wes nocht of perfyit age Ib. 18 July. 1664 Bamff Chart. 303. 1684 Fountainhall Decis. I 295.
A resignation is made by Drummond, Lord Matherty, … of his honour and dignity of a temporal lord, in favours of … his brother(b) 1473 Lindores A. 168.
And mayde rasuygnation of iiij rudes of land in the hand of Alexander Mychyson(2) 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 34.
The kyng sall resayve all resignasyovnys at the sayde Dame Izabell lykys to mak Ib.
That he sall nocht resayve na resignasyovnys made be that ilke Dame Izabell of na landys [etc.] … bot anerly to the oyis & the profyte of the forsayde Jorge 1420 Reg. Episc. Morav. 476.
The qwhylk resyngnacioun the sayde lorde … gave agayne to the sayde Willȝame … and til his hayres male 1427 Indenture in Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 40.
Al thingis that the said John … did … inbring, in resignacoun gyfyn, in charteris makyn & sesyn takyn … I hafe … confermit 1446 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 108.
[To] ratify and apprwffe the resygnacioun … of the tak of the said landis 1450 Ayr B. Ct. 18 Aug.
The qwhilkis resingnacion resafit the sayd bailȝe gafe eritabil state & sesing of [etc.] 1550 Reg. Privy S. IV 140/2.
To ressave resignationis during hir minorite and les-age 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 224.
We requir … yow … nocht to ressaue ony resignatioun be the said Patrik of his office of watterbailyeschip 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II 209.
Full powar for our said sone and in his name to ressaue resignatiounis of landis [etc.](3) 1474 Treas. Acc. I 6.
For the resignacione [of] the crovnareschipe and hed of kyne in the partis of Galwaye 1479 Newburgh B. Ct. fol. 23b.
Eftyr the tenor of hys rasyngnsyon schowis 1511 Reg. Privy S. I 346/1.
Quhilk resignatioun, dimissioun or purchesing sal be na danger nor perell to the said [etc.] 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 1.
Resignacione … of a bakland vytht a part of the forlande 1496 Acta Conc. II 12.
For the renunciacione and resignacione of hir thrid of the landis of Craufurdmure 1567 Prot. Bk. J. Foulis 21b.
Oblisand hir neuir to cum in the contrair of the said resignatioun nor to move questioun or pley thairfoir a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 167.
Resignation denudes the resigner altogidder of the heretabill rytt and property of the landis(4) 1469 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 64.
The sade Johne … sal gyve in iunctfefftment be resignacoune charter & saysine [etc.] 1516 Reg. Privy S. I 432/2.
Quhilk office vakis now be resignatioun 1526 Reg. Soltre 93.
Quhen our saidis landis wakkit be deces or resignacioun of thar antecessouris 1569 Reg. Privy C. I 670.
To dispone heretablie the landis of Strathnaver … for payment of the sowme of four thowsand markis, be resignatioun, to be haldin of the king 1682 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 103.
Either by resignatione or dispositione by the said Sir Charles in favors of the said Andrew Fraser(5) c1380 Charter (Reg. H.) GD212.
Swa that the forsayde Alayne delyuer to me ane lettyre of resyngnacyovne … of the landys before sayde 1437 8th Rep. Hist. MSS App. i 307/2.
With a letter of resignacioun made vnder my sele tharapon 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cxxvi.
A charter of resignatioun in our lordis [sc. the King's] handis 1491 Ib. I 229/2.
Ane instrument of resignacioun 1501 Reg. St. A. App. xli.
Procuratory of resignation of a tenement 1580 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 197 (see (1) above).
Conforme to the ordour of resignatioun 1611 Scrymgeour Invent. 7.
Procuratorie of resignatioun Ib.
Ane precept of resignatioun 1621 Acts IV 617/1.
Ane signature of quhatsoeuir … resignatioun or confirmatioun or erectioun [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I 177/26.
Fourtie ȝeiris prescriptioun anent productioun of procuratories or infeftmentis of resignationis 1634 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
Procuratory of resignatioun … be it kend [etc.] 1685 Decis. Lords F. 71.

b. An instrument of resignation. Cf. (5) above. 1549 Edinb. Hammermen 179b.
Gewin to Ninȝeane … for the instrument & resignation in dowbil forme … xi s. 1611 Scrymgeour Invent. 2.
Ane resignatioun maid be James Scrymgeour … of the lands of Benwie [etc.] 1630 Rutherford Christ & Doves (1709) 22.
The Devil … gars them subscrive a resignation