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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hardi-, Hardyment, n. Also: hardement, hardiement. [ME. hardement (c 1430), hardiment (Chaucer), OF. harde-, hardiment, f. hardi Hardy a.Before the 16th c. found only in verse, where it is very much commoner than the synonymous Hardines.]

1. Boldness, daring, courage, valour; hardihood, temerity. To take the hardiment, to make bold. (See also Fulehardiment.)(1) 1375 Barb. vi. 355.
For hardyment vith foly is vis; Bot hardyment, that mellit is Vith vit, is vorschip ay Ib. xi. 490.
Throu a word … Confort may ris and hardiment a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 235.
With hardyment than cane scho teche The cristyne treutht c1420 Wynt. viii. 3453.
Dispare gyvys hardyment ?1438 Alex. i. 646.
In fele places hane we bene, Our hardiment with worship sene c1475 Wall. ix. 115.
The rede betakynnys blud and hardyment c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 20.
Allais! he tynt all hardyment, For feir he chaingit hew 1513 Doug. x. xii. 68.
Nane … Hym to engreif has strenth or hardyment Ib. xi. Prol. 33.
Strang fortitud, quhilk hardyment cleip we 1531 Bell. Boece I. 170.
Movand thaim to battall be fuliche hardiment 1533 Boece x. xiii. 381.
Thai changeit … all thare femynite in hardyment & manlynes 1558-66 Knox I. 51.
Thairfoir lett thy Grace tack hardiment c1590 J. Stewart 61/168.
No hasard mycht his hardiment exspyre(b) ?1438 Alex. ii. 549.
Strenth, will and hardement For to vincus the turnament Ib. 1795.
His hardement suld doubled be c1420 Wynt. iv. 2186 (C).
Pompeyus than the Oryent Warrayide throw fors and hardement a1500 Lanc. 3346.
Thai tuk sich hardement aȝan 1533 Boece i. vii. 49 b.
Victory was nocht conquest be multitude onelie, bot als weill be hardement & manhede(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii. 151.
His hardiment Requeris payne & hard torment ?1438 Alex. ii. 4059.
Thay … sall by deir thare hardiment(3) a1578 Pitsc. I. 106/10.
For [thy] clemencie … hes gewin [me] ane hardiment to ask pardone to my offences 1579 Acts III. 176/1.
I haue tane the hardyment to gif in this bill 1609 Crim. Trials III. 65.
I hawe … presumit to tak the hardiment huimblye to pray your hienes [etc.]

b. With hardiment. = Hardely adv. 1. 1535 Stewart 54776.
Tha … With hardiment on helmis syne did hew

2. Deeds, or a deed, of valour. 1375 Barb. xii. 509.
Mony ane hardyment douchtely Wes thair eschewit full hardely Ib. xiii. 179.
Ther men mycht se … Hardyment [E. hardimentis] eschewit douchtely ?1438 Alex. ii. 1699.
Apparaled to do hardement