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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.

Societé, -ie, n. Also: -iet(e)y, -iat(i)e, -ieatie, sosiet(i)e, -y, -eattie, sotietie. [e.m.E. society (1531), -e (1541), -ie (1553), -ee (a1548), sosiety (1621), OF societé, L. societas.]

1. Association, contact. a. specif. Of the soul's contact with the body, etc. b. Of a person with his fellows; companionship, fellowship, social intercourse; peaceable or friendly relations within a group or the population as a whole. c. Of a wild animal with humans.a. 1490 Irland Mir. III 26/29.
Sene sua it is that the saule … be thir twa societeis with the corruppit natur of the body incurris originale actual and deidly syn tharfor gif it suld be deliuerit fra all this euill … it mone haue vnioun and societe that is fallouschip with the haly body and flesch of Jhesub. (1) 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 49*.
Better it is to content ourselfis with him of quhais modestie we have rycht guid experience … and not to change from that graftit and rowttit societie 1570 Sat. P. xvii 43.
Societie he socht 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. 17.
That civile societie amongis thame selffis that becummis peciable and guid subdittis 1616 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 65b (3 Jan.).
That thay abstaine from all societie & apeirance that may mak suspitioune of vncleannes 1617 Melrose P. 289.
That all the subiectis of this kingdome contene thame selffis in quietnes and in ciuile sotietie, euery one of thame with another 1618 Conv. Burghs III 64.
To leive … in anefald freindship, guid nichtburheid and societie 1631 Annandale Corr. 284.
That that sosiete and confort that we ar tayeid the on to the otheir might be … contenoweid 1659 Maxwell Mem. I 369.
Oportunities of Christian fellowship and societe 1674 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 24 Jan.
Being discharged to keep societie except in kirk and mercat 1676 Douglas Corr. 277.
Thatt kyndness of sosiety and converss which … yow honoured me with(2) 1567 Facs. Nat. MSS III lv.
That hir Maiesties persoun be sequestrat fra all societie of the said Erll Boithuile 1560 Bk. Disc. 232.
Desiring God … and his congregatioun that it will please thame to accept him in thair societie 1558-66 Knox II 424.
Thai nevir ment to devyde thame selfis from the sociatie of thair bretherin 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 213.
He said to the Dewill, that he sould perswaid als mony as he could to his societie 1622 Crim. Trials III 512.
Be … frequenting of the vnhappie socieatie … of the said witches … the said Margaret Wallace hes [etc.] 1658 Glasgow Trades House 354.
To mak them odious and detastable in the sosietie of all guid Cristians 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 13 Nov. (6 Dec.).
The brethren of the presbitry … did receive him as a brother into the society of their presbitry(3) a1538 Abell 10*b.
Sociate with evyl men is peralus a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun x.
That thow keip societe, peax and cherité wyth thy nychtbouris 1563 Davidson Answer 16.
Thare is na societe betuix God and the deuill 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 11/31.
The direct haunting and societie, with that foule and vncleane spirite 1587-99 Hume 24/233.
What societie … it pleaseth God to haue, With all the humaine kind 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 552.
Keiping companie and society with the devill 1638 Henderson Serm. 179.
And thus still keep society with him [sc. God](4) 1581 Acts III 218/2.
The saidis clannis … ar companies of wikit men coupled in fellowschippis … throw keping societie in thift(5) 1596 Dalr. I 151/25.
He gathiret a gaird … quhome he in al inteir societie acceptet and in al his secreitis admittedc. 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxix.
Thay [sc. bulls] … had sic hatrent aganis the societe and cumpany of men, that thay come nevir … quhair thay fand ony feit or haind thairof

2. (A) political association or alliance; a league.Freq. in translations from Latin. 1531 Bell. Boece II 132.
It was baith necessare and honest to thaim to have societe [L. societatem] and band with France 1533 Boece 18.
How Pichtis refusit thare sociate 1533 Boece 60.
King Achay … band ane perpetuall lige and societe with grete Charlis [L. societate] 1533 Boece 123.
Sua that I had deynȝit to bynd societe [L. fœdere] and … tak pece with Romanis 1533 Boece 132.
The king … band societe [L. fœdus] with Caranach 1533 Bell. Livy I 27/19.
Romulus … send legatis to his nychtbouris desiring to haue societe [L. societatem] & mariage of thame to his new pepill a1578 Pitsc. I 93/21.
Thair is sum confideratioun maid betuix ȝow and ane part of the nobillis of this realme I pray ȝow thairfoir to bruike sic bandis, leigis and societie that is nocht wount to be withtin ane realme wnder ane prince his autorietie a1578 Pitsc. I 104/4.
That gif he wald perseveir in his wickit societie and band that [etc.]

b. A collection of individuals making up a community or living under a common government; a group united by a common aim, set of beliefs, status, etc.Some or all examples may belong to 1 above. 1566 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 81.
The said Paul … sall declare signes of his … repentance … humblie requyreing the kirks forgivenes; whilk done, he salbe … receivit in the society of the kirk, as ane lyvelie member thereof 1570–1 Knox in Misc. Bann. C. I 48*.
Gif first your grace, and syne the rest of the nobilitie of oure societie had passit to wark with als gret magnanimitie [etc.] 1558-66 Knox II 147.
I confes myself most worthie to be ejected … frome the society of the faythfull 1558-66 Knox II 279.
Learned men in all aiges have had thair judgmentis free … frome the commoun judgment of the warld … and yit notwithstanding thei thame selves have lived in the commoun societie with otheris 1615 Highland P. III 189.
Euecting me to that honorable estat of episcopall societie 1622 Haddington Corr. 140.
Debarit frome all nobille soseattie throw my deptis 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
So long as they keep themselves so divided from the societie of Christs bodie

c. An occasion of social intercourse. 1632 Aberd. Trades 223.
Certaine nichtbouries of this craft, at lawings and other societies … offendis thair nichbours be offensive speeches

d. ? Agreeable and friendly companions, collectively; ‘company’. But perhaps merely a further instance of c. 1696 Caldwell P. I 171.
I lodged … att the 2 pigeons where I had a most desyreable societie

e. To have societie with (someone), ? to have sexual intercourse with. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 196.
Quha allegit that he haid the first promeis [sc. of marriage] of hir, and vpoun the samyn haid societie with hir persone

3. Partnership in business affairs or commercial dealings, a business arrangement or agreement; a contract of partnership.Usu. without the article.(1) 1555 Conv. Burghs I 11.
Grite hurt is … done … be fre men bindand thame selffis in societie with vnfremen 1555 Conv. Burghs I 11.
Fre men … allegeand … the guidis and geir of vnfremen to pertene to thame outher be ressoun that thai ar in sociatie and thair markis vpoun the samyn or [etc.] 1555 Conv. Burghs I 11.
That na fremen … tak vpoun hand to keip sociatie in merchandice or ressaif ony geir to trauffique thairwith fra ony vnfremen 1569 Reg. Privy C. I 681.
The said Johnne enterit in societie with the said abbot and techit the Evangell … at his chargeis, till sum provisioun wes maid for the sustentatioun of the ministerie; and than he wes appointit agane be the Kirk [etc.] 1575–6 Reg. Privy C. II 513.
Gif thay … failȝeis in the premissis, not keping societie in the furthering and furnissing of money … as the partinaris … sall appoint 1576 Reg. Privy C. II 578.
The malt men of Edinburgh hes bene and is in lyke mutuall societie with the saidis complenaris … perpetuallie hiddirtillis 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 425.
For randering to him … payment, be ressoun of contract of societie past 1585 Reg. Privy C. III 758.
Societie, credite, borrowing, and lenning 1594 Conv. Burghs I 449.
[The craftsmen] sall nocht onnawayes meyne to enter in society with thame nather skatt and lott with thame 1681 Stair Inst. ixvi § 1.
Society is … a commutative contract, whereby the contractors communicate each to other some stock, work or profit. The effect of society is that thereby something which before was proper becometh … common to the copartners(2) 1607 Melrose P. 34.
To assotiat thame in the sotietie of thair tak

b. A share or financial interest in a business. 1591 Mining Rec. 25.
He vald neuer consent to giue him aine equal societey nether of the metals nor of the marbers

4. A group of persons associated with a particular leader, (a person's) associates or followers. 1596 Dalr. II 39/18.
Makdonald … quhome followet mony lyke him selfe was sa cruel [etc.] … The king … causes hang al his societie and … him selfe [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 64/4.
Mony … gyues him the convoy, ioyneng thame selfes to his societie 1596 Dalr. II 291/7.
To quhais societie joynet him selfe shortlie

5. An association, a group of persons alike in some respect or united by a common purpose or interest, as, following the same trade, etc. Also attrib. 1604 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 2.
The Candilmes quarter of the societeis multure 1604 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI 131.
The bretherine of the Societie of Brewaris 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 509.
Ane nomber of deboscheit and laules lymmaris, calling thameselffis ‘The Societie and Companie of Boyis’ 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 442. 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII 372.
The thevishe forme of doing of that infamous societie [sc. Gipsies] 1611 Crim. Trials III 154.
[It] detectis the knaverie and complote of ane socieatie of malefactouris and dyverse 1616 Reg. Privy C. X 656.
[The gipsies] begane to … unite thame selffis in infamous companies and societies under … commanderis 1632 Acts V 243/1.
His majestie … grants to the foresaid counsell and communitie of the said societie … that they … and thair fishers [etc.] … attending the fishing bussines [etc.] 1679 Wodrow Hist. III (1829) 202.
They began to meet in societies, and had a general meeting quarterly … They term themselves ‘The societies united in correspondence’ … those names, wherewith they distinguish themselves from other presbyterians 1681 New Mills Manuf. lxxxix.
As to the … dyeing house [etc.] … I referr the consideration of the rent therof to any five of the Societie to [etc.] 1685 Wodrow Hist. IV (1830) 346.
All persons or societies, who have or shall set up any manufactories 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 245.
Oaths, even among professors in societiesattrib. 1684 Bonckle Kirk S. 77.
[The] Society People's Apologetical Declaration and Admonitory Vindication 1686 Wodrow Hist. IV (1830) 392.
The society people, now headed by Mr. Renwick

6. The Society, the land, buildings, etc. belonging to the Society of Brewers of the burgh of Edinburgh, the name given to that part of Edinburgh.Bounded to the west by Candlemaker Row and to the north by the Cowgate and incorporating the land near Greyfriars Port formerly in the possession of the Convent of Catherine of Siena and known as ‘Sciennes Acres’ (Bk. Old Edinb. C. X 146.).Also, once, the touns societie.Also attrib. with litster, mure, port, wark. 1616 Edinb. Test. XLIX 45b.
In stok in the brew hous in the societie aucht hundreth pundis 1633 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 370.
Leid cassin be him in Edinburgh at the Societie 1670 Edinb. B. Rec. X 83. 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 314.
Magnus Prince present tacksman of the touns societie … having expected to be put in possession of the housses and brewing loomes [etc.] 1690 Edinb. B. Rec. XII 43.
The … milne at the south end of the Potterrow comonly called the wind milne of the Societyattrib. 1669 Edinb. B. Rec. X 60.
To repair the slouce at the head of the burrowloch … to the end the societie litsters may not want water — 1634 Edinb. B. Rec. VII 152.
The societie mure — 1618 Reg. Great S. 684/2.
Lie Societie-port 1633 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 370.
Thomas Dodes hous at the Societie port of Edinburgh 1687 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 214. — 1598 Edinb. Town Treas. Acc. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 205.
For carrying of lx daillis fra the societie wark to the grammer skole … & for carying of xij punschonis