Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Spontaneous, adj. Also: spontanean(e, spontanens. [17th c. Eng. spontaneous (1656), L. spontāne-us, f. sponte, F. spontané(e.] a. Of personal will: Voluntary, arising from natural impulse. b. Of natural processes: Having a self-contained origin, having no apparent external cause.The forms in the Selkirk B. Rec. quots. may be misreadings for spontane(a)us.a. 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 88.
[The sum of £6 Scots paid to Robert] in my grit spontaneane neyd and myster 1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 107.
The saidis Jenot nocht nede, bot hir fre spontanens wyll, oblis hir fathfully that, efter scho be mareit … sall geif our all clame, possessioun that scho hes to ony landis 1531–2 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 159b (8 March).
Jhone Achesone, of his awn fre spontanean vyll, grantit [etc.] a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 96.
The man that promiseth and voweth, and also performeth what he promised and vowed, his performing is so much the more acceptable, as it proceedeth … from a spontaneous and free-will offering of it to Godb. 1684 Insh Colonial Schemes 239.
The spontaneous growth of the weeds is done away by howing