A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Violat, v. Also: wiolat, wiolett. P.t. violet. P.p. also violat(e, violatt, wiolat, violet, weolait. [ME and e.m.E. violate (1432-50), violatt p.p. (c1440), vyolated p.p. (Caxton), vyolat (a1533), L. violāt-.] tr.
1. Of (the actions of) a person: To break, infringe, transgress (the law, an oath, accepted modes of behaviour, beliefs, etc.). b. Of a story: To damage (the reputation of something).pres. 1558 Knox IV 416.
If any man be affraid to violat the oth of obedience, which they have made to suche monstres, let them be most assuredly persuaded, that [etc.] 1567 Mar & Kellie MSS 20.
James Cunnynghayme … maister of houshald … to keip … this prescrywed ordour without eyk or demynutioun; and that Andro Hegy, his majesteis prowisour, attempt na wayis … to wiolett the same 1572 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 251.
That nane … violat this present licence … under all hiest pane a1578 Pitsc. I 142/9.
I salbe revengit with this iniurie quhilk is maist of all wiolating and breaking maist wnworthelie the solempt aith and faithfull promise that the saidis ambassadouris did promeis to me 1596 Dalr. I 285/17.
Analaff … besochte him to brek with the Inglismen … Bot king Induff thocht … that to his honour … war a foul bleck of defame … to violat and crak the creddence ance gyuenp.p. 1490 Irland Mir. III 126/17.
In weir the kyrkis ar left and fallis in … ruyne, And oftymes the religioun is wiolat and distroyit 1513 Doug. xii xii 205.
As I that evir has wirschipit on thir planys Ȝour honour, that be the contrar Eneadanys Hes violet [Ruddim. violate] and prophanyt be stryfe 1520 Aberd. B. Rec. I 97.
To … pay to Sanct Nicholes werk tene pundis greit Flandris money for ilk tyme the said statut beis violet be thame 1531 Bell. Boece II 161.
Becaus the Pichtis had violat thair faith to him he maid ane … aith, nevir to sever fra this town quhill the wallis thairof wer equate to the ground 1533 Boece 333a.
King Eugenye, resaving the ansuere of Egfred, pleneȝeing the trewis wrangwisly violate, besocht the God omnipotent … to turne the myscheif of the weris apoun him 1543 Acts II 431/2.
The said peice … was nocht keipit bot brokin and violet be the said king of Ingland 1557–8 Aberd. B. Rec. I 308.
The said act and ordinans neuer to be violat nor brokin, bot to stand in effect perpetualie 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 112/1.
Thair majesteis willing alwayis the manteinance and defence of the privilege and liberties of the said burgh of Jedburgh and that the same be na wayis prejugit nor violat, hes [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 248/19.
The Scotis … had violatt the forme of the Romane kirke anent the celebrateng of the Pashe 1587-99 Hume 98/46.
It repenteth me, that I haif violat the commandement of God a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 288.
Ane legacy left to ane womane upon condition she marrie with advyce of ane certaine persone is dew, albeit the condition be violat 1663 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 395.
Diverse great abuses have crept into his majesties said colledge of Old Aberdein … the fundations have bein violat, the rents and mortifications dilapidat, impropriat or misapplyed(b) 1571 Crail B. Ct. 1 June.
The bailyeis cownsall and communytie … ordanis this present ordinance to be publisit at the merkat croce … And the samin na ways to be violatit duryng the said space of thre yeiris nyxte heirefter 1663 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 205.
Finding the privileges of the burghe incroachit vpon and violatit be the said Old Toune inhabitants and ther baillies [etc.]b. 1531 Bell. Boece II 83.
And thoucht his vailyeant dedis wer worthy to have memorie, yit the vulgare fabillis quhilkis ar fenyeit of the samin hes violat thair fame, and makis thaim to have the les credence
2. To ravish (a woman). 1494 Deidis of Armorie 3.
Be fors wald haue dishonorit and violet the said madenys and aganis thar willis 1533 Boece 185a.
His dochteris … pleneȝeing thai war … violate and deforcit be vile rebaldis and lownys 1549 Compl. 136/20.
Sextus Tarquinus violet be forse the cheist Lucrecia
3. To treat (a person) violently or cruelly, to harm, dishonour. b. reflex. To abuse or harm (oneself). 1513 Doug. xi xi 127.
Quha evir with wond doys hurt or violat Hyr haly body onto me dedicat … he onon be slane 1533 Bell. Livy I 227/19.
Thare axis brokin thare servandis violate [B. weolait] and strikkin 1533 Bell. Livy I 230/3.
Thus had the tribune bene violate and slaneb. 1531 Bell. Boece I 21.
The wiffis of Pichtis … fell on kneis, with ruthfull teris, praying thair husbandis to violat nocht thaimself with schameful slauchter of thair faderis
4. To treat with dishonour, profane (an object, deity, etc.). 1513 Doug. ii iii 86.
For gif ȝour handis had violet in ȝour rage, This haly presand of the god Mynerve, Gret wraik suld follow 1533 Boece 586b.
Sanct Serf (quhais kirk latlie thai had violet) 1533 Bell. Livy II 227/9.
He gaif his laubouris, first, that the templis of the goddis, quhilkis war pollutit & violet be inemyis, suld be recounseld, renewit, & purifyt 1574 St. A. Kirk S. 406.
That nane of them presume … to violat the Sabbat day, be using of playis and gemmis … contrafating the playis of Robein Huid [etc.] 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV 419.
The Sabboth day is now commounlie violat … be halding and keiping of the saidis mercattis and fairis 1596 Dalr. I 81/11.
Quha that aith had brokne, surelie was na vthirwyse punissed than gif the name and diuinitie of God he had violat
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"Violat v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/violat>