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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ses(e, Seis, v.² Also: sess(e, seice, seiss, sceis, seys, seas(e, seace, sace, siss-; Ces(e. [ME and e.m.E. ses(s)e (Cursor M.), sece (Lydgate), sees (c1440), seace (Caxton), seas(e (1528).]

1. intr. To come to an end. = Ces(e v.¹ 1.In the perfect aspect const. to be.(1) a1400 Leg. S. l 87.
Sa sall althing at his lykine Sese and faile c1420 Wynt. iv 2073. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 154.
Gif he agaynis quham the perambulacone is purchasit be within elde the perambulacione sal ses 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 39.
Sesse a1500 Lanc. 2759.
And gladschip aucht to ses 1490 Irland Mir. I 103/9.
Incontinent all lust and carnale delit sessit in thame c1515 Asl. MS I 323/29.
In this age kingis sesit and the fourt ordour prestis rewlit 1513 Doug. vi ii 48.
As the divyne fury gan first sessing, And eik hir ragiand mowth begouth to rest a1538 Abell 13b.
& sa the plag sesit a1568 Bann. MS 217b/17.
How sall I lat all sorowis ses(b) 1535 Stewart 456.
To stanche thift … and wrang gare seis 1554 Boyd Fam. P. No. 41 (14 Aug.).
And grantis the samin haill effect and strent therof to seice and to be exspiret for euir 1635 Maxwell Mem. I 441.
The pleag seissed once at Cramound, bot is now broken vp againe(c) 1567 G. Ball. 54.
In Jesus Christ … Be quhome his wraith sall end and seace [B., D. ceis] 1600-1610 Melvill 67.
The argument seassed(d) 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI 510.
The said citie being inclosit and all trafficking and handling sissing(2) perfect 1570 Leslie 232.
The long and contenowall weir … wes seassed 1581 St. A. Kirk S. 462.
Quhill the thrid bell to sermon be sessit

b. To suspend activity, come to rest, rest. 1513 Doug. viii i 19.
The nycht come, and al thing levand sessit

2. To cease to do (or be) something. Also const. present participle. = Ces(e v.¹ 2.(1) c1420 Wynt. vi 721.
Kyng he sessyd for to be c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 223.
That sum men sesis neuir to labour … to wyne the warldis gud a1500 Lanc. 14.
Birdis … That sessit not one lufaris for to cry 1533 Gau 63/28.
Seis to dw eweil(2) 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 109.
Ilk counsalour to … entir to the keiping of the counsale dour befoir the counsale bell sceis reinging

b. To cease from (fra) (or of) some action. = Ces(e v.¹ 2 b.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1509 (C).
But the Troyiens … Preyed Eneas … That he of hys purpos wald sese c1420 Ratis R. (STS) App. ii 23.
And se thow ses of surfat syne c1420 Ratis R. (STS) 1519.
[He] … neuir of vanite wald ses a1500 Henr. Orph. 270 (Ch. & M.).
The vgly quhele sessit of hir quhirlyng 1504 Justiciary Rec. I 313.
The schereff of Tuedaile … til decist & seis of the ponding of the said crownar(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2239.
Thai alsone Sesit frome all wexacioun Of the Troyens 1530–1 Edinb. B. Rec. II 46.
Till deces and ses fra all maner of selling and tapping of ony Letht aill a1538 Abell 2a.
Nocht tirit in wirkin bot sesand fra making of now creatoris 1596 Dalr. II 427/20.
That from the weiris first tha sulde nocht sease, than al the Frenchemen war dung out of the ile 1610 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 160.
[To] seas from brewing and selling of aill and beir 1676 Glasgow Chart. II 192.
To desist and seas fra any langer buying, selling [etc.]

c. Without dependent phrase or clause. = Ces(e v.¹ 2 c.(1) 1460 Ayr Chart. 34.
That ye sesse and decist and intromit nocht wyth the kepyng of the sayd new fayr a1500 Henr. Fab. 554 (Bann.).
Thay our the feildis flaw … And seissit nocht schir Lourence till thay saw a1500 Henr. Orph. 511 (Bann.).
Than seisis of our hert the wicket will, Fra frawart language than the tong is still a1500 Lanc. 3399.
And al his folk chargit he to ses 1513 Doug. ii ii 61.
Ses couth I nocht bot in my franacy … I hecht tobe revengit a1568 Bann. MS I p. 22/3.
For all sic sorrow ȝit thow nocht sest Bot past to hell with thy pissans 1570 Sat. P. xix 79.
Seis not quhill he and his curst kin repent The slauchter of our Regent 1596 Dalr. I 21/12.
The dog … seases nocht afor he find the trad of the fliaris 1596 Dalr. II 309/20.
Tha … neuir sease, quhill quhat thay intend thay haue perfyted(2) 1375 Barb. viii 12.
Or he wald ses Of Conyngayme the maist party He gert held [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1384 (C).
Pyrrus … Boustous wordes, or he wald ses, Put manasand in fele manerese 1572 Sat. P. xxxi 207.
Ȝit God will haue his will … Fulfillit or he sace

3. tr. To bring to an end or stop. = Ces(e v.¹ 3. a1400 Leg. S. iii 71.
Tharfor sesis all, for dout that he Confundis [vs] for our cruelte! ?1438 Alex. i 1600.
And gaif sic dintis … At the formest chace can seis c1420 Ratis R. 386.
I can … wykit werk in foly ses c1420 Wynt. v 3845.
Than ire may be seysd welle 1428 Wemyss Chart. 55.
For to sese discorde and stryfe a1500 Henr. Orph. 151 (Bann.).
Thair wes no solace mycht his sobbing ses a1500 Bernardus 157.
Thow sal soner sese Of ewyl women the sorow than [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I 15/19. a1500 Seven S. 1962.
Scho sesit hir sang & maid na glewe 1491 Lennox Mun. 143.
To mes and sese all sik thingis quhill it cum befor thaim self and thar well awysyt frendis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 23.
Sa mony lordis … That better accordis To play thame at the trulis Nor seis the dulis that commonis dois sustene 1513 Doug. ix v 2.
The othir bestis all, Thar bissy thochtis sessyng ?1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 312.
And to the greit weill of our pwre hws and to seis the scandell

b. To discontinue, suspend. 1495 Acta Conc. I 408/2.
And therfore askit the saidis lettres pannis contenit in the sammyn to be sessit in tyme tocum

c. ? To cause to discontinue doing something implied by the context, or ? to cause to become silent. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 205/31.
Wilfull men son argown thow no tyd Quhome no ressone may seis nor pacify