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

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

Writ(t)in, Wryttin, -yn, Wret(t)in, ppl. adj. Also: written, vritten, vrytin, wretyn, wreitten, wraittin, wirtyn. [ME and e.m.E. writen (Cursor M.), wreton (Caxton), wryttin (1485), written (1565).]

1. Recorded in writing. a. Of the law: Established or codified in written form, committed to writing. b. Of a book, paper, etc.: Bearing writing, exemplifying written matter. c. In religion, of the word (of God): Established from written sources, specif. the Bible, scripture. Also written vengeance, vengeance as set down (in Scripture). d. Of a letter or character: Formed with a writing implement, traced or marked in ink or the like.a. c1420 Wynt. iii Prol. 2.
Moyses … Broucht tyll the Jowys thare wryttyn [W. writtin] lawys 1456 Hay I 128/26 (see Unwrittin ppl. adj.). 1456 Hay I 203/21.
The wryttin law sais that quhen twa evillis concurris togeder, than suld wis men tak the leste evill of the twa 1573–4 Acts III 89/2.
[That] thair may be ane certain writtin law to all oure souerane lordis iugeis and ministeris of law to iuge and decyde be 1684 Mackenzie Inst. (1694) 4.
Our written law comprehends, first, our statutory law, … secundo, the Acts of Sederunt, … tertio, the books of Regiam Majestatem(b) 1456 Hay I 145/18.
Here speris the doctour in quhat tyme the wagis suld be payit to the souldiouris quhilk as I traist be nocht declarit be na writin law(c) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 173.
Tha sal do thar det … to our myl efter wirtyn law bath in fre multur and thyrlb. c1420 Wynt. viii 107.
The Norwayis has a wryttyn buk Off thaire lawys 1562-3 Winȝet I 118/8.
My copie heir wantis ane quæstioun in this place anentis the signe of the croce quhilk the reidar may haif in the writtin copiis at hem 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 233.
The written piece of the bishops and archbishops of this see speaks most honourablie of him thus(b) a1649 Inventory of Pictures in Hamilton Mun. MS 42.
The picture of a man in blacke with a wreitten paper in his (hand)c. (1) 1562-3 Winȝet I 100/21.
To reduce the ordour in religioun according to the puritie of the writtin [MS wrettin] word 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 122/22.
I can not vnderstand be quhat testimonie of the vritten vord thou may proue the auricular confession 1573-1600 Burne Disput in Cath. Tr. 147 heading.
The iugement of the vord vrytin(b) 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. 37/17.
Seing … that na thing sould be belewed, bot that thing quhilk is in the wretin word, I demand … quhether the fayth of the Apostles was grounded on the wretin wourd or nocht(c) 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 130.
The wraittin word of God(2) 1631 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 62.
Wherefore doth the word say that our Christ … hath feet … as if they burned in a furnace (Rev. i. 15)? … where our Lord setteth down His brazen feet, He will forward … He hath now given the world a proof of His … power when He is doing such great things … by the sword of the Swedish king … pray … for this king and every one that Zion's King armeth to execute the written vengeance on Babylon c1680 McWard Serm. 187.
All the rejoicers at his people's calamities … shall … so perish eternally: there is no law-borrows against the written vengeance for the persons of these practicesd. c1616 Hume Orthog. 7.
The symbol, then, I cal the written letter, quhilk representes to the eie the sound that the mouth sould utter

2. = Handwrytting n., Handwrit(t n. 2, something written by hand. 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 365.
[I sent you a packet … in which there were two books of] wretyn hand