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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.

Superscriptio(u)n, n. Also: -scripcioun, -scription(e, -cione. [ME and e.m.E. superscripcioun (Wyclif), super scrypcyon (1518), superscripcion (Coverdale), OF superscription (1339 in Greimas), late L. superscriptiōn-.]

1. A piece of writing or an inscription upon or above something. c1420 Ratis R. 1520.
This was the superscripcione One Mortymar was wrytin doune, quhen he was ded, vpone his graif c1420 Wynt. vii 3444 (W).
To Sanctandrois, he Grantit the stryking of the money … Sauffand the declaratioun Off the superscriptioun [R. inquisityown] And the feftment of that thing To remane ay with the king 1466 Acts II 86/1.
Coppir money … with superscripcione of Edinburgh on the taparte & ane R with James on the tother parte a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 604.
Sum said he maid ane tomb of merbell gray, And wrait hir name and superscriptioun And laid it on hir graue ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 467.
O Lord Jesu, that tholit the superscripcioun tobe put abone thi heid for scorne c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xxiii 38.
And the superscriptioun was writin abone him with Greke letteris, and of Latyne, and of Hebrow, this is king of Jewis 1531 Bell. Boece I lix.
Thair epithafis, and superscriptioun abone thair sepulturis 1531 Bell. Boece II 322.
Superscription 1606 Inverness Rec. II 40.
The judges … ordanis them to be joigit and ane myter with ane superscriptioun 1659 Dumfries Kirk S. 9 June.
The session … have … ordained that she be set wpon the cross with ane paper bearing this superscription for drunkenness, slander and suspitioun of adultry

2. specif. The title or heading of a document. c1590 Fowler II 20/9.
The iniurious superscription quhairof [sc. a treatise] … gaue me not samekil the occasioun of lauchter … then the contents thairof ministred vnto me the mater of meruel