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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Allow, Alow, v.¹ Also: allowe, allou. [ME. alowe (14th c.), allowe, OF. alouer (allouer), L. allaudāre: cf. Laud(e v.]

1. tr. To praise, commend, speak or think highly of. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 528.
It is notht elles to be alowit c1420 Wynt. v. 2216.
He … sayd, he suld be welle alowyde And commendyt wyth thaim c1450-2 Howlat 447.
As worthy … in worschipe allowit, To James lord Dowglas thow the gre gaif c1460 Consail Vys Man 69.
Thar lyf suld lytill be alowyt Quhen thai ar nothir louit na trowyt c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 240.
Quhen this amyable had endit hir speche, … the laif allowit hir mekle 1535 Stewart 248.
For the honour and victorie he wan, He wes allouit than with euerilk man 1560 Rolland Seven S. 111/22.
Ȝe sall allow my Taill ane vther day a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxvi. 221.
Thair is anew bayth traist and trew, quhome onlie I allow

b. In the phrase to allow, to be commended. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2427.
Ȝe are to trow, And als ȝour skill is to allow c1450-2 Howlat 917.
With vnloveable latis nocht till allow Ib. 994.
That nocht till allow is c1420 Ratis R. 426.
The ferd is temperans, I trow, A wertew gretly till alow a1500 Henr. Fab. 236.
Ane modicum is mair for till allow … Than thrawin wult and mony spycit mais a1500 Doug. K. Hart. 943.
A, ȝon is he wes quhylum till allow … Quhair is he now?

2. To approve, sanction. Also intr. with of. 1461 Liber Plusc. I. 387.
His deed alowyt is at the parliament 1535 Stewart 60389.
All allowit that [reward] 1558-66 Knox II. 53.
We … do ratifie, allow, confirme, and approve the same 1573 Sat. P. xlii. 39.
I pray ȝow tell me … gif this ordour ȝe allow 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 212.
Least of al did my father seeme to allou of that vnlauful mariage 1618 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 17.
Who aymes at fame, all hazards must allowe [: too] 1625 Ib. 68.
Tymes allow That people for their prince are punished too 1622-6 Bisset II. 35/17.
Quhilkis giftis … ar allowed, ratiffied, and approvin thaireftir