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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.

Visioun, Vesioun, n. Also: visioune, -ion(e, -yown, wisioun(e, -ion, vysione, -yown, wysyown(e, viss-, wission, visoun, vesyown. Pl. also vesynes. [ME and e.m.E. visioun (c1290), vision (Manning), visiowne (14th c.), AF visi(o)un, OF vision, L. vīsion-.]

1. A (supernatural) experience chiefly of a mystical or prophetical nature presented to the mind in a dream or similar event, a revelation experienced in this fashion. b. In visioun, by way of such an event, in a dream.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 471.
Vysione c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2826.
As he to slepe was lyand downe, He saw ane ferlyfull visioun: He thocht that he one figure sawe [etc.] c1420 Wynt. ii 319.
Mystyk wysyownys [C. wisionys] c1420 Wynt. iv 2619.
Wysyowne c1420 Wynt. vii 1523 (see b below).
Visyown c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 175.
Is this of my forethoght impressioun Or is it from the hevin a visioun? 1456 Hay I 14/27, 15/5.
A visioun the quhilk Sanct Johne the Ewangelist sawe in the Ile of Pathmos … sa befell … he saw vij angelis [etc.] … and than apperit a mervaillous visioun till him for he thocht that thare was a grete frost in the ayre all mellit with blude [etc.] 1460 Hay Alex. 3045.
Sa in the nycht thair com ane voce him till And [etc.] … in the morning quhan he was walkand He callit his counsell and schew thame the visioun a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 344.
This doolie dreame, this vglye visioun Brocht to ane end, Cresseid fra it awoik c1475 Wall. vii 117.
Wisioun 14.. Adv. MS 25. 4. 14 100.
[King David] mad mony … abbays … and began throu a visioun he met in his slep at Dunfermlyn 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 60.
For till behald that heuinly place … Sa reioycit … was my spreit I not was it a vision or fantone 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii 2.
In my visioun I saw, Mountain and muris orecled with snaw 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 238.
Quha ewir sence hes bene heavele vexit with terrible visiounes and apparitiounes c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 113.
In her sleepe she saw [etc.] … Som of the wyser sort divining wpon this vission [etc.] 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 16.
[He] was warned in a vision … to goe [etc.](b) c1420 Wynt. ii 346.
The kyng gat [a] vesyown [C. wisioune], Slepand sawe in tyll hys bede, That nane cowth than bot Joseph rede c1520-c1535 Nisbet II 22 marg.
For the scripture is the instrument of Gode ordanit tharto. As for other vesynes or apperyng dreames, thay ar deceatfulb. a1400 Leg. S. iii 1126.
In visione wes warning mad c1420 Wynt. v 2571.
Saynct Petyr … Apperyd till hym apon a nycht, In wysyowne c1420 Wynt. vii 1519.
In till vysyown [C. wission] … He apperyd till a man … This man in that visyown [etc.] a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 298 (M).
Of new tressoun, I can tell thé tailis, It cummis on nicht in vesioun in my sleip

2. Perception gained by revelation, insight, understanding. 1490 Irland Mir. II 37/13.
Thai saw cleirlie His diuinite and than in that place of hell was cleir sicht & visioun of the diuinite and paradice … and thar was the hevinly paradice and the visioun of the diuinite that Jhesus promittit to the thef c1490 Irland Asl. MS 53/29.
Cherite techis the way to paradys and euermar cherite causis clerare and mare visoun of God

3. A person seen as a dream figure or apparition; an incorporeal or ghostly being. 1535 Stewart 19005.
Vpoun the nycht ane visioun did appeir To Regulus sittand at his prayer Commanding him [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 123/31.
Gif he hade sene our saluiour be ane spirituall visione and nocht corporally … it vas nocht sufficient preiffe of his resurreccione 1588 Crim. Trials I ii 162.
The said Alesoune … wes conuict … of the vsing of sorcerie … with the inuocatioun of the spreitis of the Dewill; speciallie, in the visioune and forme of ane Mr. William Sympsoune 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 13.
That woman brocht with hir the tym that I fetchit hir ane thing under hir plaid, quhilk was visioun facit lyk ane aip or ane schitt