Show Search Results Show Browse

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Umbeset, Ombeset, v. Also: umbesett, unbesett, -seat, wnbeseit, om-, onbesett. P.t. and p.p. also umbeschet, -sete, wmbeset, (wndirset), ombyset, onbesset, -besat. [ME vmbisett p.t. (Cursor M.), vmbeset p.p. (c1400), vnbesette p.p. (c1440); Beset v. 2.]

1. To beset, surround, block the path of (a person) with hostile intent; to ambush, assail, attack, set upon.pres. 1533 Boece 570a.
Inglismen … mycht nocht follow nor persew thame fleand, fering buschmentis be the way to vmbesett thame
1587 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 718.
Williams Douglas … hes caused vnbesett [Calderwood IV 660, onbesett] at sundrie tymes … Mrs. George Glaidstanes and Andro Mylne … with armed men at thair house
1600-1610 Melvill 273.
Hendrie Hamiltone ushes out of a hous … and unbeseatting Mr. Wilyeam … mutilats him
(b) 1513 Doug. v viii 38.
Darhes walkis about rycht craftely … to espy Sum avantage, with diuers assaltis algait Hym ombesetting [Sm. wmbeset, Ruddim. vmbesetand] sair
p.t. 1460 Hay Alex. 11416.
And vmbeistis dalie thame vmbesete
1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 189.
James Gray … cruellie umbeset the said officiar in his passage to the saidis fischeingis
1574–5 Reg. Privy C. II 429.
And schortlie thaireftir umbeset him … and invadit him with ane drawin swerd
1588 Burntisland B. Ct. 31 May.
Wmbesett
1632 Broxmouth & Pincarton Baron Ct. 9 May.
The said Johne Walker vmbeset and violentlie did strike the said Johne Andersone
(b) a1578 Pitsc. I 314/11.
Ballcleuch and theiffis of Annerdaill witht him wnbesett ȝour grace frome the gaitt
1598 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 107b/1.
Unbesett
(c) 1607 Dalyell Darker Superst. 560.
[A person alleged to a woman that she was among] the cattis that onbesett him
1610 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 344.
Yea onbeset, persewit, and burdit at the leist … ane puir fischar man and his bot
p.p. 1375 Barb. vi 537.
The king … wes on ather sid wmbeset [C. vmbeset] With fayis
c1420 Wynt. vi 1444.
As he wes syttand at the mete, Wyth myis he wes swa wmbesete
c1475 Wall. ix 796 (McD.).
With Sotheroun sone we sall be wmbeset [MS wndirset, L. unbeset]
1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI 429.
Umbesett
(b) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 168.
The said ambassadour feared diuerse personis … was werry bent to haue vnbesett him in the waij
(c) 1513 Doug. iv i 85.
On that other part, ombyset … We ar with bustuus onfrendly Syrtis
a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 82.
Ombeset
(d) 1580 Oliphants xlvi.
The Lord Ruthven … upon ane sudden chatmel, wes onbesat be the Maister of Oliphant
1590 Crail B. Ct. 8 Dec.
He and the remanent off his equippage wer onbesett be pirattis in the sey quha spulȝeit and bereft the said … William
c1590 Fowler II 25/1.
I … suddenly was onbeset & at vnwaris inuadit be him & 13 debauchit scollers

b. transf. Of the action of natural forces. 1513 Doug. i ii 53.
[The] wyndis … ombeset the seys bustuusly
1513 Doug. v i 36.
And al with bubbys ombesett is the ayr

c. fig. To act detrimentally towards, infringe against (something). ?1438 Alex. ii 7854.
Thay salbe venged, gif I dar say, That he disherist mony ane day. All this warld him hates, I hecht, Als fer as he vmbesettis richt [F. Tous li mondes le het si con solaus tornoie]

d. fig. To beset, overwhelm with an emotion, vice, etc. c1420 Ratis R. 288.
Sa standis al sevyne [virtues], Ilkan betuex wicis twa Ar wmbeset, and standand swa
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 518 (Asl.).
Quhen furious fendis … Throw syn the saull dippis in dispaire Than sittis that saule fra solace singular On euery syde with sorowe vmbeschet
1513 Doug. xi xiv 22.
Quhou huge dolfnes, and schaymful cowardice Hes ombeset [Ruddim. vmbeset] ȝour myndis
1513 Doug. iv viii 83.
The sammyn wys was this gentil baroun Now heir now thar with wordis ombeset [Sm. wmbesett, Ruddim. vmbeset]
1567 G. Ball. 60.
Quhome suld I lufe but him that hes my hart? How suld we twin that na man can depart? This vmbeset I am on eurie syde, And quhat to do I can not weill deuise

2. To surround (a place) with hostile forces; to besiege. 1375 Barb. ix 332.
The king … Till Perth is went with all his rout And wmbeset the toun about And till it a sege has set
1375 Barb. ix 711.
He to the hows went hastily And wmbeset it all about
c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 114/53.
Quhen carpand wer thir two most crows, The wolf he ombesett the hous
1513 Doug. ix iii 183.
We determyt haue … With fyre and swerd ȝon wallys ombeset [L. circumdare]

3. To obstruct, block (another's path, a thoroughfare) so as to prevent passage along or through it. c1475 Wall. v 168.
At syndry furdis the gait thai wmbeset
1559 Cal. Sc. P. I 261.
It is … the deid of an voleur to ombesett ane gentlemannis gayt, and rub him of his guddis
1560–1 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 68.
And thaireftyr onbesset the way quhairbe I was to cum haime … with gret nomber off commonis … to haiff alder slaine me, or taiken me
1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 53.
With thaire adherentis and partakaris ombesett his passage
1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 3.
For the invading of Begis Dryff … cumand upon hir in his greit furie and malice in hervest … umbesettand hir gait scho being cumand hame
a1578 Pitsc. I 96/30.
Command fordward witht ane great airmie for the kingis suport his gait was wnbesett be Alexander Earle of Crafurd
1578 Reg. Privy C. III 44.
Unbeset
1605 Stewart Mem. 114.
Jhone Stewart … wnbeseittis the he wayis and passage
absol. 1563 Boyd Fam. P. No. 48 (15 Feb.).
The said lard of Bargany with his sonis and servandis and pertakers hes umbesett and lyne at wait for the saidis Adamis slauchter at townis furdis and passages

4. p.p. Set about, covered all over with (something). Also fig. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 113.
With iacinth fine and topaȝion sa fair … Was vmbeset his body
fig. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 898.
[I] tak on me that Preter Jhoms queir [Is] not so riche vmbeset with plesance [For] all that place with burnist gold did glance

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Umbeset v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/umbeset_v>

45435

dost

Hide Advanced Search

Browse DOST:

    Loading...

Share: