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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.

Solist, Solicit, v. Also: soliste, -yst, sollist, sollice, solisit, sollicit(e. P.t. sol(l)ist, soliscit. P.p. also solicit(e, sollicit, solessit, soleist. [Late ME and e.m.E. solicit(e (15th c.), sollicit (1548), F. solliciter (1332 in Larousse), L. sōl-, sollicitare to disturb, distress, solicit, induce, etc.] tr.

1. To entreat, petition (a person); to urge, importune; to ask repeatedly or earnestly. Also const. anent, for, in, to (the favour, etc., sought).(1) pres. 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 356.
Baith the sadis partiis sal do thair afald deligence to sollist the sade lard odman 1522 Douglas Corr. 83.
I traist he has lytill credence as for to sollist ȝour graice in my contrare 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 174.
Ilke man … did solyst his maiestie 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 2321.
So they resolved straight For to solist the Englishe king 1622-6 Bisset I 147/9. 1637 Baillie I 19.
Many noblemen by letters … did solist the Counsellors, one by one, and gave them all these informations(b) 1492 Reg. Episc. Morav. 249.
And that thai sall not be price prayer nor terrour solisit ony of the saidis assisouris wthirwais than sal serf tham to deliver on thar athis and conscience [etc.]p.t. 1624 Aberd. Council Lett. I 223.
I wryte over your signators of new agane and solistit the thesaurer all that I could(b) 1693 Conv. Burghs IV 186.
I importuned ther highnesses and mightyness and in privat informed and solicited all the great men in particularp.p. c1575 Balfour Pract. 183.
Gif ony man is preissit and solistit be the King [etc.](b) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1585.
How may he knaw the thing maist profitabil … Without he be instructit and solist?(c) 1594 Cal. Sc. P. XI 396.
[He has been marvellously] sollicit [by these Papist lords](d) 1607 Inverurie B. Ct. 11 Nov.
Scho oncoactit compellit & solessit bot of hir awin motewe will … resignit twa ruidis of land(e) a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 26.
[Candidates to be admitted lords of session] shall sweir at their reception that they have not solicite his majestie nor the lords(2) 1657 Cramond Kirk S. I 18 Oct.
The session … considderring thare loss throw want of thair bell appoints Sir Jon Smith [etc.] … to sollicite the governour of Leith thairanent(3) pres. 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 314.
To solist the erles … for thir moneyes 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 8 Nov.
And also to soliste the Lord Chanceller for the supper plus of the excyse 1688 Nat. Reg. Archives (Ewart Lib., Dumfries) 34.
If any gentleman in this place solist yow for any favourp.p. 1690 Peebles B. Rec. II 135.
The magistrats, being solicit … for a raik of the toun horsses(4) 1533 Bell. Livy II 59/22.
To fortify this debait, thay tuke the maist sedicious and scharpe tribunis to solist for thame in this mater 1627 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 94.
Myself sall sollice the chancellor and haill lordis thairin(5) pres. 1522 Douglas Corr. 86.
To sollist the kingis … hyechnes to that effecte 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 326.
To urge and solist his Majestie to the subscriving thairofp.t. 1513 Doug. ii x 132.
My fader … quham I schupe to haue nummyn … And hym tharto solist with al my mycht

b. Const. direct object, with to (till) and infinitive or noun clause object.pres. 1515 Douglas Corr. 69.
Kouth the kyng solyst hyr brothyre of Frans to haf that byschep randyrryt to hymm 1530 Grant Chart. 267.
The said James fader … elykvys sal solist the kingis grace at my power to gif the said James al rycht [etc.] 1545 Douglas Corr. 155.
Soliste 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 197.
Solyst a1568 Scott i 158.
Solist thame softlie nocht to perseveir 1656 Dingwall Presb. 287.
To sollist Culcowie to giue his assistance in the premiss(b) 1567-8 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lvii.
Commend mi to your wiff and solisit her bruder to bi constant 1584 Gowrie P. 26.
He was a prisonner, & therfore not able to sollicite anie other to deale for himp.t. c1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. cx.
[He] sollistit certaine lordis and vtheris his seruandis to geif hir daylie counsale 1531 Bell. Boece I 84.
Thay solistit the nobillis to revoik the said law 1592 St. A. Kirk S. 736.
He … solistit hir to conpeir — 1533 Boece 16.
How King Loth solistit Vter and his counsall that his sonnys … suld noch[t] be defraudit(b) 1525 Crim. Trials I i 131.
Thai sollist and tistit me to be souerte for him(c) 1622-6 Bisset I 60/29.
He soliscit his oy or nepot Robert Stewart … to slay King Jamesp.p. (a) 1531 Bell. Boece I 218.
[He] wes solistit be thaim to rebel aganis the Romanis 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 61.
The said Schir James may be solistit to cum heyr to this effect 1551 Digest Justiciary Proc. B 49.
The laird of Pennycuik declairit … that he wes not caussit nor solistit to cum heir 1637 Baillie I 22.
My Lord Duke was carefully sollisted to agent this weighty business(b) ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 55.
That the parliament should be sollicited for to impose a pecunialle fyne upon all who went to England to marrye(c) 1689 Conv. Burghs IV 102.
He wes solicet by severall of his cuntriemen … to make application … for the conservatorship of the Scots priviledges in the Netherlands

2. To induce, persuade (a person) to (an opinion, action); to incite (him) to do (something). Chiefly with regard to lawlessness or disloyalty.(1) 1533 Boece 143.
Thai solistit Pichtis … to rebellion 1533 Bell. Livy II 118/21.
Ilk man suld lauboure to solist the said tribunis to the opinioun and mynde of the senate 1533 Bell. Livy II 142/21.
Thai callit the pepill to ane concioun, solistand the myndis of small pepill to new seditioun c1541–2 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 29.
James Dog … wes solistit be brokin men of the bordour to the byrning of Caroun(2) 1533 Boece 10.
How fra Briton oratouris war directit to solist the inhabitantis of Gallia to conspire 1549 Compl. 110/12.
Kyng Genthius coniurit, persuadit, solistit and … manneist nobil Pompeus to reueil the secret counsel of the senat 1562 Edinb. Hammermen 252b.
Soleist be the said William to invaid the said James

b. ? absol. ? To urge the contravening of (? others to contravene) (a rule, regulation). 1682 St. A. Baxter Bks. 142.
And the brother of traid solicitant and contravening this presentt act to pay the soume of fourtie schillingis

3. specif. To attempt to seduce, seek to obtain sexual favours from (a woman). 1531 Bell. Boece II 66.
Uter, ravist with bewte of this lady, send his cubicularis, with riche jowellis, to solist hir to his plesour 1684 Kingarth Par. Rec. 144.
Shee was often inticed by Lubas to committ adultry … and … he was solisting her for two years past befor Yuil last

4. With non-personal subject: To tempt, incite, provoke (a person) to do (something). 1513 Doug. xiii i 66.
And oft remembrans of the wikkit wraik Solistis the goddis tharof vengeans to take

5. To expedite, carry out (an errand or transaction); to advance, further, promote (a desired aim). 1515 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxxvii.
Ye wyll solyst my materis als trewly as your awyn 1515 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xl.
Brother, forȝet nocht to solyst and convoy weyll my promotyon to Dunkeldene 1515–16 Crim. Trials I i 232.
To remane and commune with the Lord Governour, … and solist and do his leiffull eirrandis he hes ado 1529–30 Reg. Privy S. II 67/2.
To solist and expeid with his hienes and his thesaurer thare lefull erandis and besynes 1539 Liber Melros II 627.
The said Maister Matheu sall faythfully procure and solist in the consistory of Glasgw all materis concerneyng to the said venerabill fader 1622-6 Bisset II 255/8.
The actioun of doing of uthir mennis erandis … can nocht be persewed, aganist the guidis, or besynes solisted

b. To conduct, manage, transact (a lawsuit, etc.) as a solicitor or other legal agent. Also, in fig. context, of Christ.(1) 1680 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 233.
Oft tymes when wee had the effair weill solisted and borne in upon the Lords who were leading men of the court, then wee could never gett a court 1680 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 233.
And readilie wee may gett a court either this day or some other day when our cause is not thorowlie solisted(2) a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 408.
This title Advocate, importeth His undertaking of their cause, and that not only to solist it, but to plead it; yea, and by office to do so 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 36.
He will not only, as an agent, request and sollist … but also in a legal and judicial way, as our advocat, He will plead our cause

6. To attend to, care for; to nurse. 1700–7 Hay Scotia Sacra in Sciennes Conv. App. 67.
There was likewise some women appointed to sollicit the sick in the hospitall of Bell's Wynd of Edinburgh, which was called L'Hotel Dieu

7. To petition, sue for or seek (a favour, etc.).Also const. fra (a person), and infinitive.(1) 1495 Halyb. 12.
To sollyst a dispensacion of mariag 10 ducatis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 195/27.
Wit ȝe weill Thay haif grit feill Ane mater to solist 1515 Douglas Corr. 68.
And be nocht hyr lettyris obeyt in the curt of Roume, ȝe solyst evyll ȝour memoryall 1521–2 Doug. in Ellis Orig. Lett. 3 Ser. I 295.
Gif I pass to France or ony vther part quhair he mon sollist ony thing 1549 Lamb Resonyng 39/3.
Ȝour kyng desirit, solistit and menit prevalie ane meting with his nephew 1591–2 James VI in Warrender P. (SHS) II 166.
Your aide … which I neid not to sollist since I have at all tymes had suche proof [etc.] 1607 Inverurie B. Ct. 16 June.
It salbe nocht … lesum to ony persone … to solist or crawe metigation for ony onlay sett done be the bailȝeis 1622 Galloway P. 6 March.
[He] sall help and solist at the factors hands … sick ressonabill eis as may be purchest a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 245.
Nae advocatts writters nor uthers should travell, solist, nor give counsall to the reduction of forfaltors, without speciall warrand fra the king(b) 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I 2.
Componit for the warde and mariage of the air of Ja. Sandilandis, sollicit be Master Alexander of Murray 1633 Lennoxlove MS (The Duke of Hamilton) C1/250.
I hauvye obtainid all what his maiestie comanded me to sollicit(2) 1515 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxxvii.
To solyst syk lyke wrytingis fra the kingis grace hyr brother(3) 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 272.
The said Patrik … hes solyst our lettres to be direct to thaim self

8. intr. To petition, request, entreat.Also const. for, and noun clause obj.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 169/82.
Me thocht the devillis als blak as pik Solistand wer as beis thik 1513 Doug. xi vi 125.
‘Solist na mar,’ quod he, ‘persuaid me nocht’ 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 53.
Had I solistit, lyke the laif, My rewarde had nocht bene to craif 1566 Sc. Ch. Hist. Soc. Rec. I 42.
Bot I being cum to the toune to remain, I was ever requesting and solisting till they were all set 1596–7 Edinb. Surgeons p. 24.
Na maner of persone … salbe admitit in maister of chirurgie for na solistaunsy … and oblisse thame … not to solist in the contrair hereof 1640 Baillie I 245.
If your towne solist not diligentlie, they will tyne Mr. Robert Ramsay 1641 Baillie I 302.
All that night our partie solisted as hard as they could(2) 1514 Wigtown B. Ct. 32b.
Na nechbour … to bespeyk or solist for him wndir pane of tynsale of his fredom 1533 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 409.
He hes sen syne solistit for the wele of the said lordis and master 1554 Grant Chart. 113.
That the said Christaine … procwir, solist, and labor at hir power, for the ingetting of the dettis 1564 Perth B. Ct. 95 (31 May).
To travell solist & labour at the handis of Alisoun Auchlek and vtheris frendis … for the releif of his lif 1578 Conv. Burghs I 63.
Schaw … that we ar besy solistand for the exemption of the sam [sc. payment of convoy gilt] 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI 827.
Lykewyse that nane of us … sal … travell or procure for ony theif … nor … solist for thair impunitie 1650 Inverurie 315.
Elders, ether solysting or pleading in a partiall way for any delinquent because of kin(3) c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 128.
Solisteing that they would bring there enemies to battell, otherwayes they could not be keepe longer togither

b. To petition, entreat; to attempt by means of entreaty to do something or cause something to happen. 1557 Aberd. B. Rec. I 303.
To lawbour and solist to gett remytt 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 45.
We are informed that friendis of the said Margaret solistes to differ our actioun 1565 Crim. Trials I i 463.
[Bothwell] solistit, tyistit, and did that wes in him to have maid our said cousing assister … thairintill a1568 Scott iii 41.
Meikly solist to meit in secreit place 1596 St. A. Baxter Bks. 60.
That na brother sall solist or procure to tak ony … thing doun