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

Excus(e, Excuis(e, v. Also: excuys, excwis, exscuis, excoose. [ME. excuse (1303), OF. excuser, L. excūsāre.]

1. tr. To offer an excuse or defence for (a person, action, default or defect). a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 160.
Quhene Symon hire accusyt, Debonerly he hyre excusyte 1471 Acta Aud. 12/1.
[He] comperit nocht … to persew and folow thaim, bot send his seruitoure without powere to excus him a1500 Seven S. 643.
He excusit his awne passing, And send his newo to the king 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 406.
I say nocht this of Chauser for offeins, But till excus my lewyt insufficiens Ib. 446.
Me behufis Excus Chauser fra all maner repruffis c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 353.
He thankis Gode … , ande excuyssis his absence 1562-3 Winȝet I. 82/29.
Quhou can ȝe excuis ȝour crueltie thairin? a1578 Pitsc. II. 316/21.
Thair come fra the king of Swadden … ane ambassadour to excuise his pairt of the murthure of the Scottismen

b. refl. To defend, or seek to clear, (oneself) from a charge, task or fault. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1087.
Pollycena … hyr excused Of hys ded when scho was accused c1420 Wynt. iii. 199.
Sampsone … Hym excusyde be that skylle That [etc.] c1420 Ratis R. 341.
Thar was neuer nan, fore na honour, That may excus hyme fra lawbor a1500 Doug. K. Hart 622.
Mak answer now, … Ȝour self excuse and mak ȝow foule or clene 1535 Stewart 3045.
Be his greit ald he did him self excuis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 114/1.
Quhou can ȝe excuse ȝou nocht to be punissit with Saul? 1615 Highland P. III. 227.
Lundy excoosed himself as haueing no charge … in these affaires

2. tr. To exempt (a person or action) from blame or punishment.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 362.
So shall we Of cryme of it excusaede be c1420 Wynt. ii. 902.
I sulde excusyde be, Gyff I mak noucht thare entre [etc.] Ib. v. 4323.
Men off gud dyscretyowne Suld excuse and love Huchowne 1456 Hay I. 182/27.
He was the mare till excus that he did it nocht maliciously a1500 Lanc. 2342.
I pray ȝow me excus For quhy to pas nedis me behus c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 144.
I thame excuse to hyde thare facis 1615 Highland P. III. 224.
I hop your Lo. will exscuis me(2) 1398 Acts I. 210/2.
Gife it lykeis oure lorde the kynge til excuse his defautes c1420 Wynt. i. 51.
Lordys, gywe youre curtasy Forbere me … , Hawande excusyde my sympylnes 1456 Hay I. 88/6.
For the grete utilitee of the dede … it may be excusit a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1393.
Quha can excus it fra spirituale drunkynnes? c1552 Lynd. Mon. 969.
Quhow mycht thy forfalt be excusit? a1585 Maitl. Q. xcv. 41.
Ȝe gentil men, excuise my ruid indyit

3. To furnish with an excuse; to serve (one) as an excuse. c1420 Wynt. ii. 114.
Tha ware excusyd lauchfully All thai cuchowris for to ta And but mercy pyne and sla 1456 Hay I. 264/9.
Thare is sum tyme certane resoun, … that excusis the parties to nocht do the bataillis 1492 Myll Spect. 297/24.
Besekand heirfor all ladyes … to haif me excusit c1500 Crying of Playe 126.
Irland for evir I haue refusit All wichtis suld hald me excusit 1533 Bell. Livy I. 60/22.
His recent and honorabil meritis sum parte excusit the offence c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 186.
To tell quho ar electit or refusit, I can nocht saye; thairin hald me excusit