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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.

Supplicant, n. Also: suplicant, -caint. [e.m.E. supplicant (1597), suplicant (1605), L. supplicant-, pres. p. stem of supplicāre.] One who supplicates or petitions on his own behalf. Also, specif., one who presents a formal petition for a university degree. Cf. Suppliand n.(1) 1637 Rothes Affairs Kirk 50.
Seing we, your lordships humble supplicants, … hath received no answer at all to these our humble desyres 1638 Baillie I 26.
The Commissioners … were assayed … If they were come as The Three Estates, or as supplicants of all ranks 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 124.
Efter consideratione thairof, [the committee] ordaines the supplicant to meane herselfe to the committie of estaites 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 57.
[James Reid] humblie supplicating thair honours of the counsell … to dispence with the said vnlaw and dischairge the supplicant thairof a1650 Row 491.
The supplicants gave in a supplication to his Majestie's Commissioner for a free Generall Assemblie and parliaments 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 155.
The Counsell haveing … takin sufficient tryall and informatioun of the supplicant, his bygane cariage [etc.] … gave libertie and licence to the supplicant to tack vp ane scooll within this burgh a1676 Guthry Mem. 26.
The earls of Rothes, Cassils [etc.] … divers burgesses and ministers … presented their supplication against the book. The oracle whom the supplicants consulted … was Sir Thomas Hope 1675 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV 660.
Nothing is left the supplicant for releiffe of his creditours … , except what he may obtean by prosecution of ane action of improbation 1682 Rec. of Old Tolbooth in Bk. Old Edinb. C. VIII 122.
Suplicant 1686 Inverness Rec. II 342.
Finlay Fraser … have [sic] several years bygone encroatched upon the saids supplicants lands by tilling the mearings betwixt their lands and by raising of march stones 1687 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 194.
Anent the petition given in be James Campbell … the councell … have declared … the supplicant and his successors as mace bearer to have … power [etc.] 1579, 1617 Despauter (1696) 22.
Supplex, a supplicant in a humble manner(2) 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 174.
May it thairfor pleis your lordships to taike the premises to your serioues consedaratione and I repeired of my lois and they punished … which is humblie desired by your pouir suplicaint 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 192.
Anton McMillen … wes lying in waitt and besett the way for your suplicant upon the accoumpt of some hatched malice(3) 1649 Lamont Diary 6.
Mr. George Weyms … did laureat the scholars … this yeare. Ther was 12 in every colledge, and two supplicants laureat