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.

Resile, -seile, -sill, v. Also: -syle; -seill, -ceill; -cail; -sylle, -cyll. [e.m.E. resile (1529), F. resiler, resilir (1501 and a1615 in Larousse), L. resilīre to jump back, recoil, f. re- and salīre to jump.] intr.

1. To draw back fra. a. A statement or declaration. b. A legal action, or a particular part of such an action. c. Without const.: To retract, withdraw.a. 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 16 marg.
Proclamatioun resiled from 1622 Crim. Trials III 521.
Albeit it war grantit … that scho maid ony sic confessioun, scho may reseill thairfra a1676 Guthry Mem. (1702) 46. 1684 Law Memor. (1818) 202.
These four men … having resiled from their subscriptions against the magistrat, were reprived 1685 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World 53.
Much pains was taken on her by ministers … that she might resile from that confession(b) 1595 Old Ross-shire I 23.
Promitting faytfullie … never to contravene the samin nor resill therfra 1672 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 2.
The persone executor resylleing frae their [sc. the overseers'] determinationb. 1622-6 Bisset I 194/25.
It salbe lesum to the pairtie … to resyle fra that maner of lauchfull probatioun 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 214 (22 Sept.).
The former actis of probatioune on behalf of the defender ar resyled and past fra with consent of the defender(b) 1616 Crim. Trials III 414.
In respect of the allegeances proponit … his lordschip, as persewer, can nocht be hard to reseill fra this persute 1622-6 Bisset I 218/19.
Anentis … usaris of fals writtis … That thei sall … nocht pas nor receill fra the samin 1630 Justiciary Cases I 143.
The judges … demandit … gif the depositiones maid be him … wair trew and gif he wald abyde thairat or reseill fra ony poynt thairofc. 1627 M.P. Brown Suppl. Decis. I 43.
He … needed not to subscribe the contract … but might lawfully resile a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 268.
The lords … suffered the advocat to reseill, and choose ane wther maner of probation 1673 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 185.
Having repented him upon the place, it was lawfull for him to have resiled, likeas de facto he did resile and refuse to fight c1690 Bk. Pasquils (1868) 187.
The great grandchild resiles eir Markie's fate(b) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 748 (L).
Thairfoir now, na moir now, Lat him think to recyll [W. conceill; rh. (L. and W.) reveill]

d. To withdraw from (fra) a course of action or attitude of mind. 1637 Gillespie Eng. Pop. Ceremonies Epist. B.
Let them resile from their violent proceedings 1657 Balfour Ann. III 4.
That if aney thing should be proponed that might preiudge the liberties of ther estait they should be free to reseile therfrom 1664 in Wodrow Hist. (1828) I 404.
That I haue … resiled from my wonted zeal for the presbyterian government

e. To draw back fra, from a contract or agreement. Also, once, without const. 1226 Reg. Dunferm. 135.]
[Si altera illarum ab hac concordia resilire uoluerit 1670 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 19 Dec.
Inrespect that the tenants … has reseiled fra thair paction 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 231.
Dare you … say that the king and parliament had power either to resile, or to loose others, from the bonds which they themselves had thus established? c1678 Lauder Observes 257.
If Ged might … resile fra the consortship, his ship being a better sailer 1681 Stair Inst. i iii § 5.
And with us, agreements requiring writ are ineffectual and may be resiled from, unless writ be interposed 1691 Haigs of Bemersyde 328.
You accuse me of suppleness, as if I had resiled from my bargain with you anent the loch — 1677 Lauder Notices Affairs I 147.
Shee compleited hir 12 years of age, after which the marriage could not be dissolved, nor shee resile

2. To recoil; to shrink from (a person or thing).The Fowler quot. may simply be an instance of Recul(e v.(a) c1590 Fowler I 276/33.
Me thinks that death her self recails and from me her astrayes(b) a1689 Cleland 79.
If from their reasons you resile, I'le count you sots