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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Observance, n. Also: -vaunce, -vans, -wance, -waunce, -wans, obscherwance. [ME. (Ancr. R.) and e.m.E. observance, -vaunce, OF. observance, L. observāntia regard, respect, keeping of law etc., also in late L. religious worship.]

1. Due regard to the keeping of a rule or principle. c1420 Ratis R. 430.
A qualyte of temperans Is ay weill reulyt with obseruans Of met and drink in gud mesour

2. The keeping or following of a religious rule, practice or ceremony. b. The rule of a religious order, esp. that of the Observant Friars. c1420 Wynt. v. 4679.
Obserwaunce [is] kepyt ay Thare off relygyowne to this day a1538 Abell 82 b.
He maid a collegion of the obseruance of regulair of channonis in a buke quhilk … is callit the ordur buke Ib. 87 a.
Gife he be inperfit resist ay to his inordinat will and it be aganis obseruance or the gude of the communite Ib. 123 b.
This tirand … send agane to Ingland our forsaid bredir at fled his persecutioun to keip thare obserwans amang ws 1533 Boece ix. x. 311 b.
[He] institute thame [monks] in … ordorit life of excellent reule and obseruans 1533 Gau 25/25.
As dois the mwnkis and freris in the obseruance of thair tradicions

c. Brethir of observance, the Observant Friars. a1538 Abell 6* a.
Hary Kyng herittik expellit owr brethir of observans Ib. 120 b.
Heir endis the … quheill of tyme be ane pure brothir of the brethir minoris of obseruance

3. The prescribed performance of customary ceremony; esp. the due or regular performance of religious worship or ritual, religious observance.Perh. in some instances with admixture of sense 4.(1) 1456 Hay I. 188/13.
Na do thai till oure soverane Lorde, honour service na observaunce to the Haly Trinitee na to the blessit Virgyn Marye Ib. II. 84/33.
To seke the secretis of God and of his observaunce hevynly c1460 Thewis Wysmen 270.
Thar obseruans to God thai kep Ib. 272. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 111 (Harl.).
Thus mycht ane king … caus the clergye to kepe gude obseruaunce c1500-c1512 Dunb. x. 27. 1535 Stewart 30077. Ib. 60493.
Thair [priests'] obseruance thairfoir to say and sing a1568 Bann. MS. 281 a/2.
Leif luve, my luve, … Alter ȝour amouris into obserwans 1567 G. Ball. 62. 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. B iv.
With the obseruance and fidelitie of the Gentiles to thair fals godis(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 9.
Mahoun gart cry ane dance Off schrewis … Aganis the feist of Fasternis evin, To mak thair observance(3) 1513 Doug. xiii. viii. 103.
Than athir dyd thar dewly obseruans With breistis blyth and plesand dalyans, To festyng … Thar ferys abowt

4. Due respect or deference to another, dutiful service, respectful obedience. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 898.
Than sett he for to mak his ordinance Off officieris to keip his obseruance Ib. 3680.
Ȝitt ma tua fais ilkane favoure vthir thus And kepe thare honour and thare observance And to thare lord thare lawtie and allyance 1533 Bell. Livy I. 83/3.
To obey the said prince with faith, amyte and observance a1568 Scott iii. 22.
Bot offir thame ȝour daly observance Be tung thocht nathir hairt nor mynd consentis 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 123.
I … will not be ouercum be hir in loyall observance 1588 King Cat. 38.
The first sort aught to thair parents … certane inwart and outwart rewerence and obserwance 1596 Dalr. I. 250/31.
Adamanus quhome honourit and did gret obseruans to haile Britannie Ib. II. 13/15.
James Douglas … for his deuotioune and his obseruance to King R. putis the King his command dulie … till executioune

b. Esteem, respect, approbation (of another). 1596 Dalr. I. 153/12.
Sa gret obseruance of our kingis was in the hartes of our people quhen he was deid

5. a. In various above senses in the language of courtly love.As: due regard to love's ordinances, rites in honour of love, worship of the goddess of love, the service or obedience due from a lover. c1475 Wall. v. 645.
Rycht hard it is amendis for to get At anys off thaim [foes] and wyrk the obserwance Quhilk langis luff a1500 K. Hart 296.
Dame Plesance … commandit tymes seir Thame [MS. Tyme] to await vpone thair observance a1500 Quare Jel. 13.
The sonne … makith euery lusty hert … vnto Maij to done thair obseruaunce 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 6.
In May I rais to do my obseruance Ib. 87. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 132.
Thair obseruance rycht hevynly was to here Id. xlv. 14. 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 210.
Vndyr the cloik of luffis obseruans The vennom of the serpent 1540 Lynd. Sat. 503. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 313. a1568 Scott viii. 9.
And serue ȝow, hairt, with hairtis observance Id. x. 6.
The grit delyte Of lustie lufis obscherwance Id. xxiv. 11. a1570-86 Clapperton Maitl. F. lxxix. 7.
Madinis ȝe may haue grit plesance For to do Venus obseruance 1570 Sat. P. xxiv. 2.
In Mayis moneth … Quhen luiffaris dois thair daylie obseruance To Venus Quene

b. Applied to the singing of birds regarded as worship of Nature. 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 248.
The larkis … to dame Natur and … Venus Rendryng hie lawdis in thar obseruance c1552 Lynd. Mon. 199.
To heir thame [birds] mak thare naturall obseruance [etc.]