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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Multiply, -pli(e, -plé, v. Also: multyply, multuply, multeply. [ME. multiplie(n (13th c.), OF. multiplier, moltepleier.]

1. tr. To cause to increase in number, quantity, amount, etc.; to augment, advance, make abundant.a. 1456 Hay II. 68/18.
Quhat lord or prince that encresis the honoure of a wise knycht … or multiplyis it encressis and multiplyis his awin honour Ib. 115/6.
And syne the philosophouris that come eftir that multiplyit the said science of philosophy in Ynde, Perse and Grece Ib. 106/15. a1500 Colk. Sow iii. 35.
Manly resoun … Fyndis menis the money to vplift And multeply c1515 Asl. MS. I. 188/21.
Thai [sc. the Irish] deliuerit to thaim [the Picts] ane certane of wedowis and madinnis to mak generacioun with and multiplie the cuntre 1561 Conf. Faith in Knox II. 98.
That God preservit, instructit, multipleit, honourit, decoirit and frome death callit to lyfe His Kirk 1562-3 Winȝet I. 14/9.
Thay haif resauit ryches and glore and multipliit the wedowis in the middis of it 1596 Dalr. I. 75/1.
Gathel his people sa multiplied 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 293.
Christ be His blissing multipliet the fyue leaues 1657 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 165.
And by process of tyme by multipleing burialls abuve others they will be so hie that the samen will surmount the walls

b. In passive, = sense 2. 1533 Gau 40/35.
His [sc. Christ's] impir sall be multipleit 1533 Bell. Livy II. 157/17.
Thare gudis war multiplyit be excrescence of the proffit 1593 Acts IV. 43/1.
Testifeing … that insafer as thevis, lymmaris and sornaris are sa multipleit [etc.]

c. To dispense copiously. 1513 Doug. xiii. ii. 21.
And furth thai ȝet the wyne in cowpis glaid God Bachus giftis fast thai multiply 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 36.
He will multiply his benefites to ȝow 1675 Red Bk. Grandtully I. clxiv.
The good deeds and gratuities that your father and you are pleased to multiply on me

d. To multiply, in the arithmetical use. a1500 Bk. Chess 2018.
The quhilk poyntis be aucht to multiply Thre scor and iiij it makis verely

2. intr. To become of greater number, frequency, amount, etc.; to be increased or augmented; to become abundant. ?1438 Alex. ii. 4798.
Quhare God gart all gude multuply c1475 Wall. i. 188.
He saw the sothroun multipliand mayr Ib. viii. 1002. Ib. xi. 698.
I thank God that we thus multiple [: supple] a1500 Colk. Sow ii. 171.
Set in nummer thay rys and multeply Thay may nevir moir fruct in felicity Ib. 244. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 348.
It was the gud langage of thisland And Scota it causit to multiply and sprede 1513 Doug. vii. xiii. 120.
And wyde quhar our al partis of Italy Hys name begouth to spreid and multiply 1531 Bell. Boece I. 86.
Sic fouth of virtew and letteris multiplyit in thay dayis a1538 Abell 30 a. Ib. 119 b.
The Christin faith multipliet in Scotland be prechin of dewote religioun men 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. (Jam.).
To habound & multiply 1549 Compl. 56/35.
Quhen ther multipleis ane grit numir of sternis in the equinoctial of Libra a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiv. 56.
Caussis ilk day so fast dois multiplie

b. To be dispensed lavishly. 15.. Clar. iv. 2444.
I may not tary … To tell ȝow … of the coursis that did multiplie Nor among coursis the intermeisis glaid

c. To increase in number by procreation. a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 329.
Beis sammyne & grew & multyply & … fillis the erde 1456 Hay I. 68/5.
The lignee of Adam multiplyit in grete peple 1494 Loutfut MS. 17 b.
The connyn is a simple best … and in schort tym multiplyis mekle be gret generacioun c1515 Asl. MS. I. 303/17.
Thar Noe & all come out of the arke incressit & multiplijt 1535 Stewart 535.
Thai multipliet so in the tyme of peice That thair landis mycht nocht thame all sustene c1552 Lynd. Mon. 778. Ib. 1286. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 462.

d. To increase or advance in some attribute. a1538 Abell 119 b.
This dewot pepill multipleis in fastin disciplin & orison with teris & sichin c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 94 a/13.
Ȝit he in riches multeplis That he levis thowsandis to his air

3. a. intr. To utter many words, to speak lengthily. a1500 Colk. Sow ii. 231.
I neid no moir of thame to multeply

b. tr. To multiply, utter many (words). a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 123.
Ȝit sumtyme man I wourdis multiplie

4. absol. In alchemy: To increase the precious metals, as by transmutation of the baser metals. 1501–2 Treas. Acc. II. 138.
To the leich for to multiply … ix li. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 56.
In quintiscence eik ingynouris joly That far can multiplie in folie