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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.

Specialté, Specialité, n. Also: specyal(l)té, speciailtie, specialitee, -etie, -itie, -ity(e, -tee. [ME and e.m.E. specialte (Manning), specyaltee (c1400), specialtee (1450), specyalte (c1460), specyalltee (1483), specialtie (1561), also specialite (1432-50), speciality (1513), specialitie (1576), OF especialité (c1265), specialité (14th c., both in Larousse), especialté, speciaulté (both in Godefroy), late L. speciālitās, f. speciālis; Special adj.]

1. Special favour or affection, friendship; (a) special relationship. Also but specialitie, without favour.(1) 1375 Barb. vii 248.
Quhat is he That gerris ȝow haiff sik specialte To men that trawaillis? c1420 Wynt. vii 1521.
In till vysyown … He apperyd till a man That he had in gret specyallte [W. specialite] Quhill lyvand in this warld c1420 Wynt. viii 1920.
Efftyr that the Scottis ware, … wencust at Dunbare, Till the lang schankis this Edwart In specyalte [C., W. specialte] come the Brows Robert c1420 Wynt. viii 7050.
Thare wes rycht gret specialte Betwen hym and the King Edward(b) 1456 Hay II 65/30.
Hamelynes and gude specialitee of acquyntaunce with gude folk … is wele accordant to knychthede 1460 Hay Alex. 6555.
I can nocht witt quho that this thing sould be Bot with goddis he had sum specialetie: Sum sayis he is the goddis son … For all oure estir goddis halely Ar turnit to him and grantit him victory(2) 1493 Acts II 233/1.
A competent juge quhilk sall minister justice to all parteis but specialitie

b. (An) agreed peace, (a) truce. 1384–5 Acts I 349/2.
Gif thai certifie that this specialtee stand 1456 Acts II 45/2.
The bordouraris … may this ȝer … defende thame self better than fernȝer … thai haif specialte and peax at the lest at twa bordouris quhill Candilmes 1456 Acts II 45/2.
The clergy presumys thar may be specialte gottin to thame and it be desiryt. And thai trow the Inglismen will alsueill consent till a specialte fra Candilmes till wedder dais

2. In specialte. a. In particular, specifically. b. In detail.a. 1384–5 Acts I 349/1.
The forsayd lordes are acordit in specialte as efter folowes … the Erle of Northumberland for hym and for the Lord Nevill and the lord of the Galleway for the Erle of Douglas and for hym self that speciall trew and assurance salbe twix thaim [etc.]b. 1456 Hay I 1/15.
The third [part of the book] salbe of bataillis in generale. The ferde of bataillis in specialitee 1456 Hay I 99/4.
Here he spekis of armes and baneris in specialitee

3. A particular point or detail; also, a point or detail seen as a reason for something.(a) 1584 Gowrie P. 27.
You should oppen uppe the speciailties of the matter unto him(b) 1560 Inchaffray Chart. 167.
Providing that the specialite heirin expremit mak nocht dirogatioun to the generalitie nort ȝit the generalitie to the specialite but that ather of thame supplie vthairis 1611 Misc. Maitl. C. III 25.
We send yow now hame the Erll of Argyle to mak ane end according to his promeis of that service which he hath already begun the specialityes quhairof we haif causit be sett down in articles 1672 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 154.
It was answered, That there were specialities in Glencorss his case, not quadrating with this; and that the onerosity of the son's contract could only be in quantum it were onerous 1675 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 192.
All who elect may be elected, unless, by some speciality, they be rendered incapable … So that all the question is here, Whether there be any speciality to exclude these trades to be deacons appointed for oversight of the workmanship of the whole in corporation