Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Alteratioun, n. Also: alteracione. [Late ME. alteracyon, e.m.E. alteracion, -ation, OF. alteracion, L. alterātio.]

1. Alteration, change.1490 Irland Mir. I. 32/3 (all vthir thingis hes alteracioun and permutacioun). 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. 217 (to mak alteratioun of the extent of borrowis). 1558-66 Knox II. 272 (any suddane alteratioun or novatioun). a1570-86 Maitland M. Fol. xxii. 39 (off polecey plane alteratioun). 1609 Peebles B. Rec. 76 (to mak change or alteratioun).

2. Change to a worse condition; a distempered state. 1558 Corr. M. Lorraine 415.
I have bene … evill at eis throcht alteratioun of my leg 1611 Bamff Chart. 166.
Considdering that I am ane mortall man subject to death and alteratioun 1622-6 Bisset I. 26/22.
Iustice gif it be subpressit procuris alteratioun of unrichtious iudges

3. Erroneously for altercatioun. 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 38.
Throw alteratioun of wordis fallin betuix him and Maister Thomas Keir a1578 Pitsc. II. 48/16.
The quene discontentit of this allteratioun desyrit the cardinall hame to his awin cietie Ib. 83/7.
They fell schortlie to alteratioun of wordis, that everie ane of thame rebakit ane wther