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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.

Significatio(u)n, n. Also: -tione, -cioun(e, -coun. [ME and e.m.E. significacion (Cursor M.), -cioun (Chaucer), -tion (1542), OF signification, -ciun, L. significātiōn-, noun stem f. significāre Signify v.]

1. That which is signified by something. a. The meaning or sense of a word, term or passage of writing. b. The (symbolic) meaning, import or implication of an object or action. Also for significacioune that.a. 1456 Hay II 12/2.
Be the tothir significacioun, that is callit miles; that cummys of this foresaid cause, that he was … chosyn … of ilke thousand men c1490 Irland Asl. MS 4/12.
The writ declarit efter the mynd and spirituale significacoun of it 1490 Irland Mir. II 62/19.
The significacioun of this artikle Credo in spiritum 1490 Irland Mir. II 146/37, 147/5.
And in that significacioun na creatur is na may be caus of it; … ane vthir way predestinacioun and reprobacioun may be tane passiue … and in that significacioun [etc.] c1505-8 Donatus 1a.
Hou mony significatione of participilis … ii ane active and a passiue 1531 Vaus (1531) 4.
All verbis personalis ar actiuis, passiuis, or neutralis be the significatione 1549 Compl. 10/28.
The significatione of Gladius Delphicus is of this sort: Delphos is ane solemnit place [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 134.
The trew significatioun of this worde creatioun 1562-3 Winȝet I 80/21.
Quhy vse ȝe this terme Communioun for the Lordis Supper nocht contenit in scriptuir in that significatioun 16.. Rudiments fol. 1a.
A substantiue noune … craues nothing to be … eiked to it for to expresse its owne significatione 16.. Rudiments fol. 11a.
The optatiue, potentiall and subjunctiue moods ar discerned not by word or terminatione, but by significatione or signes and marks 16.. Rudiments fol. 14a.
Participles of the pretertime of commone verbs, put on the commone significatione but these that end in us, and rus, tak the actiue onlieb. (1) 1456 Hay II 44/11.
Of the significatioun of the armes of the order of knychthede 1456 Hay II 44/15.
The preste … has syndry … habilliamentis, quhilkis ilkane has a syndry significacioun 1456 Hay II 46/26.
Of the suerd … in quhat takenyng and significacioun it is gevin 1490 Irland Mir. I 15/17.
To reprehend and tak in euil significacioune the thing that is done for the honour of God 1490 Irland Mir. III 17/9.
The inuisible vnccioun that God wyrkis within the saule throw the operacioun … of the haly spreit baith in significacioun and presentacioun c1490 Irland Asl. MS 44/5.
It is … better that the persone that prayis haue … mynd of the sentence and significacoun of the prayere na of the wordis 1494 Loutfut MS 20a.
Foullis quhilkis has nocht sa gret significacioun to be sa nere of natur humane as the bestis c1600-1633 Johnston MS Hist. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 194.
The significatioun of the sewin planetis howe grie be grie thay rang the tyme of the kingis birth c1610 Melville Mem. 114.
That sche will rather interpret the same to the gentillest signification and not cryminallie(2) 1490 Irland Mir. III 17/11.
This haly sacrament of confirmacioun is maid in the face and forret of the persoune for significacioun & witnessing that in this sacrament is gevin grace … to confes the name of Jhesu

2. An indication or intimation of something. Also to give significatioun, to intimate, announce. a1558 Q. Mary in Keith Hist. App. 102.
Hir hienes gaif sufficient significatioun that scho intendit na drift of tyme 1558-66 Knox I 46.
The said Frear Alexander … caused immediatlie to jow the bell, and to give significatioun that he wald preach 1596 Dalr. I 190/7.
To mak sum significatione of his grate mynd, … he offired to Fincormak abundant giftes 1612 Highland P. III 123.
I most humblie beseik your Maiestie to returne the signification of your gude pleasour