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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sibnes, -ness(e, n. [ME sibnesse (a1240), subnes (1398), cf. Fris. sibbens. Also in the later dial.]

1. Relationship by common descent, kinship. 1535 Stewart 1953.
Sic hundis … for hunting ar na worth, For sic sibnes and also sic incest a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 335/20.
Neirnes of blude he sett at nocht … Quhone I for sibnes to him socht 1584 Misc. Bann. C. I 95.
Albeit I be not a Steward … yet am I als neir in sibnes 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 29.
Parentage, and sibnes of blude (within degries defended and forbiddin) c1610 Melville Mem. 317.
He is the mair hamely to sut the same, as maist seamly for his sibnes, aige, and estait sa to do 1671 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 519.
Offered to prove … that he was within the ninth degree of consanguinity … he was appointed to pursue an exhibition … for making his specific sibness appear 1685 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. III 541.
For there is a natural order and substitution according to the sibness and relation, whereby the nearer excludes the remoter

b. Applied to the relationship between Christ and man. 1630 Rutherford Christ & Doves 17.
There is a sibness of nature betwixt Christ and us 1638 Henderson Serm. 392.
His principal sibness was not because he was to come of David's seed, but because David had the spirit of Christ

2. transf. or fig. Closeness, intimacy, affinity or similarity in some respect betwixt (between) persons or things or of one person or thing with or to another. Also without const.Chiefly in Durham.(1) a1599 Rollock I 386.
Thair was never twa thingis … sa straitlie joynit togiddir as God and man is. Thair was never sic sibnes betwixt twa thingis … . Thou will count thy sibness with this man, and that man, gif thou be joined with him in blude or alliance a1658 Durham Subtile Self 81.
There is so great sibness and affinity betwixt men and this corruption a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 138.
There is sibness … betwixt the carriage of families in religious worship, and the carriage of the whole land a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 229.
There is in all these epistles a special sibnesse and sympathie between the condition of the angel and Church a1658 Durham Scandal (1740) 190.
There is a great sibness betwixt minister and people, so that a rod upon one doth indeed prove a rod to both(2) a1599 Rollock Wks. I 386 (see (1) above). a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 504.
We would observe the sibnesse and identity of this trumpet with the seven vials a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 692.
These … expressions have a peculiar suitablnesse and sibnesse with the Jews(3) 1638 Henderson Serm. 43.
There is a sibness in us to all other truths, but we are framet to believe this truth a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 545.
Of such sibnesse and likenesse to Antichrist a1659 W. Guthrie Christians Gt. Interest 39.
To be sib, or have a sibness to a man, is to be akin to him(4) a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 16.
The sibnesse being so great and neer, it is no marvel they be frequently conjoyned 1692 Pitcairne Assembly iv iii 53.
Pastoral relations and scriptural sibnesses