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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Suffice, Suffis(e, v. Also: -yce, -yice, -ys(s, -yis, -ais, -es. P.t. sufficit, -sit, suffysyt, suffycyde. [ME and e.m.E. suffise (a1325), suffyse (Chaucer), suffice (Wyclif), F. suffis-, pres. p. stem of suffire (OF soufire, c1112 in Larousse), L. sufficere.]

1. intr. To be enough, to be adequate for (to) a stated purpose. Also to do (something).(1) 1456 Hay I 210/23.
Sen be the ordynaunce of God thare is bot the twa suerdis, the quhilkis oure lord said in the tyme of his passioun sufficit 1461 Liber Plusc. 383.
Nocht withstandyng thaire is mare of this lamentacioun … this ma suffyce a1500 Lanc. 2343.
Wtheris with me to have desir I nocht, For I of otheris have that may suffice 1513 Doug. iii ix 28.
I beseik tak me with ȝou … And leid me in quhat land at euer ȝe ples That may suffys 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 192.
Eftir ane my tung is and my pen Quhilk may suffys as for our wlgar men 1690 Shields Grievances and Sufferings 34.
A short hint of those that have been murdered since the year 1682, may suffice(2) a1538 Abell 91a.
At nane may hald tua benefice & ane of thame may suffice to his sustentatioun(3) c1460 Regim. Princ. 51 (Fairf.).
Sen a mannis wyt may nocht suffis For to maynteyme sa hee a gouernance a1500 Henr. Fab. 526.
Sister ȝe wait off sic as him ane scoir Wald not suffice to slaik our appetyte a1500 Bk. Chess 1770.
And all the erd and se … Suffice nocht to feid a man a nicht c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxiii heading.
Be mirry and glaid, honest and vertewous, For that suffisis to anger the invyous 1562-3 Winȝet II 54/15.
As it war nocht the heuinlie doctrine that sufficeis anis to be reuelit, bot manlie doctrine(b) 15.. Clar. i 1492.
Naught may my wits all inewgh suffais Ȝour Ladyschipe to thanke

b. Const. for, to (a person): To satisfy the requirements of. a1500 Henr. Fab. 244 (Bann.).
Sistir, this wittell and ȝour ryell feist May weill suffyis for sic a rurall beist 1490 Irland Mir. III 6/35.
The persoune … gettis perfit quantite be augmentacioun and syn nutricioun And gif the man war eternale and incurrit na seknes … thir sufficit to him bot becaus he fallis oftymes in seknes he mysteris medycyn

c. Const. for (a thing): To be of sufficient quantity, quality or value for. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1545.
Lo, heir the box, now lat ws ga; Thus may suffyice for our rewardis

d. Const. to (till): To be equal to; to meet a required standard. 1375 Barb. i 12.
Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill c1420 Wynt. i 598.
Quhen he saw all that thai wrought Tyll his intent yhit suffycyde it noucht a1500 Lanc. 1937.
But who that farest schewith hym I-wys Most suffisith and best to his plesans

2. impers., with it: It is (may be, etc.) enough. Also variously const., and with indirect object.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1830.
Pallamydes was … slane … As ȝe haue herd before all how So that it may suffice rycht as now c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark xiv 41.
Slepe ye now, and rest ye: it sufficis, the hour is cummin(2) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 93 (A).
Gif ony sesing be gevin in burgh befor the nychtburis thocht it be vtouth court it suffice that sesing & is gud inuch 1490 Irland Mir. III 153/15.
It suffisis that he [sc. the prince] be weill instrukkit in … thingis pertenand to the gouernaunce of the pepil and realme 1513 Doug. ix iii 154.
It war enewch, and mycht suffys … That thai haue faltit anys lang tyme befor 1513 Doug. ix iii 137.
It may weill suffys, and eneuch, I wys, Baith to thar fatis and Venus grantit is That [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 141/14.
It sufficis that Christes vord techis vs, quhilk all Christiane man auch to beleue 1585 James VI Ess. 29.
Suffisis it noght ye feele into your hairt The Ciprian torche — a1400 Leg. S. v 521.
It sall suffice wel ȝou to, In this gyf ȝe his biddynge do 1490 Irland Mir. III 32/15.
It is nocht necessar that the seik man knaw quhow the medycyn is maid … it suffice to him that he be … helit throu it c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. x 25.
It sufficis to the discipile that he be as his maister(3) 1456 Hay I 144/19.
It suld suffice to pay a man for his service maid 1456 Hay I 266/5.
Bot it may suffice to say [etc.] 1602 Colville Paraenese 88.
It suffesis to follou the gross opinion of sens and flesch — 1513 Doug. x Prol. 95.
It sufficis thé beleif thy crede perfyte c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 554.
It sufficit lufe thyself to lichtleit thus(4) 1513 Doug. v Prol. 58.
It suffysyt of ȝou ful smal memorie

3. tr. To be enough for, meet the needs of (someone); to satisfy; to be as much as one can cope with. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2305.
The king … Gart gif him two schippes in hy, And gold and siluere … To suffice him in his wayag c1475 Wall. vi 357.
He sall haiff wage that may him weill suffice 1513 Doug. i Prol. 356.
A sentens to follow may suffice me c1530-40 Stewart in Maitl. F. 371/37.
Sum gettis that mycht suffice sevin 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. x.
Let it suffice thee, lyke a doore-keeping Dauid, … to ligge in the court without 1634 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 140.
Na persone … take away … any of the lairds fyrewode … untill the laird be first staiket and sufficit 1681 Kingarth Par. Rec. 127.
Alledging that he cannot help it [sc. his drunkenness] because a litle drink suffices him

4. intr. To allow or admit of something being done. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 140.
Wald [? erron. for Nold] I be he that suld of hir gude fame Be blamischere … quhill my lyf may suffise

5. a. To have the ability, strength or resources to do (something). b. To be capable of representing, or serving as (for) (something).a. c1450-2 Howlat 96 (A).
I may nocht suffys to se ȝour sanctitud sad a1500 Bk. Chess 100.
For to speik of his famosite I suffys nocht the matere is so hieb. c1590 Fowler II 39/30.
Let in lykewaise the woord of God suffice for an compasse quhairby the Kirk may be reulit that sho erre not