Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Contract, Contrak, v. Also: contractt, -trac(k, -trake. [e.m.E. contracte (1530), F. contracter, L. contract-, ppl. stem of contrahere.]

1. tr. To bring together; to collect. 1513 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 143.
It is statute … that all merchandis … contract na maner of merchandice byand or selland 1533 Boece ii. viii. 72.
To thir twa princis … ane copios armye … was contractit Ib.
Suddanly contracting stark power he occurrit in thare meting

2. To establish or bind by formal agreement. Also const. with to or obj. clause. 1532 Breadalbane Coll. (Reg. H.) Doc. 43.
It is contrackit and finalie aggreit betuix [etc.] 1549 Compl. 181/3.
The lordis of Scotland that hes brokyn ther promit & band, the quhilk vas honestly contrakkit 1550 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone 100.
The said Thomas Dauidsone hes contrackit [that] Thome … his sone … sall compleit the band of mareage with Katrine Myll a1578 Pitsc. II. 6 n.
The governour and his consall … assentit baith to peace and marieage, and contracit the samin 1586 Wemyss Chart. MS.
It is appunctit, aggreit and finalie contractit [etc.] 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 413.
Ane … with whome he contractit … to ryse to lyf at his prayers

b. To bring about by agreement or union. 1529 Conv. Burghs II. 508.
To pas in Flanderis … for renouatioun of the peax contrakit betuix the realme of Scotland and the realmis pertening to the Empirour 1531 Bell. Boece I. 14.
The Pichtis … contrackit affinite with the Scottis mair of necessite than ony hartly frendschip 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 70.
That Prince thocht be humilitie His peple wyn, and concord to contrake [: make]

3. To enter into (marriage) by formal contract. 1531 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 47.
I, Andro Murray … , requiris yow … till contract, fulfill and complete mariage with my said sister 1549 Compl. 107/29.
That there suld be na familiarite betuix Scottis men and Inglis men, nor mariage to be contrakit betuix then

b. To affiance or engage (a person) for marriage. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4891.
Tuke nocht Christ Jesu his humanitie, Off ane virgene in mariage contractit? 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 21.
Vpoun the xxvj day of November the kingis grace was contractit on the eldest dochter of the king of France a1578 Pitsc. I. 239/1.
King Harie … contractit the king of Scotland and Margret his eldest dochter 1597 in Moysie p. xxiv.
Mr Thomas Hamiltone is contractit and proclamit with Colintons dochter 1636 Sutherland Corr. 168.
Our nephew, … is contractit on our antt

c. intr. To enter into marriage. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1201.
That those quhilkis come of Sethis blude … Suld nocht contract [v.r. contrack] with Cainnis kyn

4. tr. To bring upon oneself or incur, to catch or acquire (something detrimental or troublesome). 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 727/2.
He hes contractit sic infirmite and indebilite of his persoun 1551 Hamilton Cat. 286.
It purgis thai thingis quhilk a man hes contrackit … , that is to say, his eirdlie or warldly affectiouns 1585 Acts III. 402/1.
Diuers debtis that he contractit for his graceis effaires a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 983.
He knawis … Quhair thou thy cares contrakis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 132.
Thow contractit ane haitrent … againes Alexander May 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 136.
That same night … he contractit seiknes

5. To reduce, diminish. c 1600 Soc. Ant. XVIII. 296.
Northmavin … had thrie kirkis of old and now contracit to twa