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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Discomfit, v. (chiefly p.t.) [f. Discomfit,p.p. (q.v. for forms) by extension of the participial form to the p.t. and inf.] tr. To overcome in battle or conflict; to defeat.

a. As past tense.(a) 1375 Barb. x. 92.
Thai ruschit apon thame hardely, And discumfit thame vtrely c1420 Wynt. v. 1012.
Wyth thame qwyte The Perseys hale he discumfyte Ib. 4355.
He … discumfyte the empryowre c1475 Wall. xi. 9.
Off set battaillis fyve he dyscumfyt haill, But jeperte and mony strang assaill 1570 Leslie 26.
Makand ane raid within Scotland, the lairds of Johnstoun and Cokpule discumfeit him(b) 1375 Barb. xiv. 87.
In playne ficht thai discomfit thar Thar fais a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 248.
A takine scho on hyre made, that thaim discomfyt but abade c1420 Wynt. ii. 1190.
In that tyme hys fays qwyte Fullyly Josue discomfyte Ib. viii. 6787.
The Franche men … Ruschit on thaim … And discomfit thaim uttraly 1456 Hay I. 42/24; etc.
Romulus discomfyte thame in fair felde with bataill c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxvi. 27.
The campioun, The quhilk … in stour, Victoriusly discomfeit the dragoun c1615 Chron. Kings 47.
Herduntus … desconfeitt the Inglismen and Saxonis in ane battall at Lochmabane Ib. 70.
This King … discomfeitt Donald of the Yllis

b. In infinitive or present forms. 1375 Barb. xii. 459.
Ȝhe sall discomfit thame lichtly c1420 Wynt. v. 1000.
The Perseys qwyt He suld in batell discumfyte Ib. viii. 3917.
Thame worthyd … on thare fays clyme wp a bra, Quhare a man mycht dyscumffyte thre ?1438 Alex. ii. 446.
At the last men sall him sla And discumfit his men alsua Ib. 1552.
We sall discumfete him and his 1456 Hay I. 87/22.
Gif ane hardy knycht … seis his inymyes … and fechtis with thame and disconfitis thame 1492 Myll Spect. 286/4.
The gret Agamenon … quham Hectour nor nane vther … knycht mycht discomfyet nor sla a1500 Doug. K. Hart 214.
I sall nocht sit … and se thame thryse Discomfit clein my men and put at vnder ?1549 Monro W. Isles 33.
Coelus king of Norroway … was so discomfitit, that ther remained not so maney of his armey as wald burey him ther