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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.

Imaginatioun, Ymaginatio(u)n, n. Also: ymaginacioun, ymagynatio(u)n, -atyown, -acione, emagination. [ME. ymagination, -acio(u)n, ymagynacioun (a 1340), e.m.E. imagination, L. imāginātio.]

1. a. The process or the faculty of imagination. b. A mental image; a conception, thought, idea; a supposition. c. An imaginary or fanciful notion, a fantasy. ?1438 Alex. ii. 6894.
He … tuke with him … Thocht and imaginatioun Of Fesonas fare fassoun c1450 Cr. Deyng 146.
Quhen the ymagynacione of a manis gud dedis cumis by the temptacione of the deuill 1456 Hay I. 77/35.
As to Goddis jugement, na man can ansuere … , bot gif it be be ymaginacioun or figuris 1490 Irland Mir. I. 64/15.
The sycht, heryne, memore, fantasy, ymaginacioune, estymacioune and the laif 1492 Myll Spect. 272/2.
For to devoyd me of sic ymagynationis I tuk a lytill buk … to pas mye tyme 1533 Bell. Livy I. 111/1.
Gif thyre ymaginaciouns be vane, it may be sone knawin c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6062.
Passyng imaginatioun Off man to mak narratioun 1574 Acts III. 87/2.
Quhairby thay perswade the people that thay can tell thair weardis, … and sic vther fantasticall ymaginationis

2. Devising, planning; a plan, design, scheme, or plot. c1420 Wynt. viii. 32.
The kynryk off Scotland how toward He mycht apply nere til his crown, Wes his ymagynatyown 1456 Hay I. 4/10.
Tharefore is thare cumyn to me sik ane ymaginacioun that I will ger mak a tree c1460 Wisd. Sol. 836.
The parabolys ar [to be taken] … be the documentis of wys clerkis that knawis the subtill ymaginacione of the sayar 1478 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 339.
For the resistens … of the wikkit emagination and fals suggestion of the said William Cummyn 1542 Acts II. 420/1.
The conspiratioun and imaginatioun in the distructioun of vmquhile our souirane lordis … persoun … be pvsoun 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 24.
Sche knawis nathing of imaginatioun of his death