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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Separat(e, Seperat(e, p.p. and ppl. adj. Also: seperatt, -ait, -et, seprat, siperat, syphareit. [Late ME and e.m.E. separate (a1451); Separat(e v.]

A. p.p. 1. Kept or set apart; removed, separated (fra, from a person or thing).(a) a1500 Henr. Orph. 430.
The part intellectiue Of mannis saule and vnder-standing, free And separate fra sensualitee c1515 Asl. MS I 308/19.
Ylandis in the occeane seperat fra the ferme erth as Thanathos, Tyly [etc.] 1513 Doug. x Prol. 67.
Lyke as the sawle of man is ane, we wait, Havand thre poweris distinct and separate [Bann. seperait] 1533 Boece 294.
Occa … seperate fra his armye [L. procul a suis] barnely ran amang inemyis 1533 Boece 311.
Gif ony persoun war be the authorite of the preistis separate [L. prohibitus] fra dyvine service 1549 Compl. 69/27.
Siklyik the pleisand verkmenschips that vas in the middis of hyr [sc. Dame Scotia's] mantil vas seperat fra vthirs, ande altrit fra the fyrst fassone 1549 Compl. 173/1.
Gif that ȝe remane to giddir, & beis nocht separat nor deuidit fra vthirs, it sal be … onpossibil to Inglis men to venqueis ȝou a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 120/1, 2.
The diuinite and humanite of our saluiour beand anis ionit to gidder var neuer separate nor ȝit of ony maner of vay cane be separat 1562 Mill Mediæv. Plays 153.
To tyn thair fredome … and privelege of this guid toun and to be seperat and exulat fra the societie thairof 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 21.
Suspecte personis maist be far separat fra uthir 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 45.
The Erl of Murray expresslie ludgeit in ane hous separate fra all uther habitatioun 1571 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 211.
Personages and vicarages … quhair they ar separat and disiunct, sa to continew 1573 Cath. Tr. 18/5. c1575 Balfour Pract. 457. a1578 Pitsc. II 156/29.
They wald nocht thoill hir to enter in ȝone tone withtout hir men of weir seperat fre hir 1578 Acts III 103/2.
That the cornes ar not separat than from the ground 1596 Dalr. I 230/12.
Thrie judgement saites to be seperate ane frome another in solemne places 1596 Dalr. I 346/22.
The fortitude of body and mynd war nevir seperat, bot the ane iunet with the vther 1596 Dalr. I 1483. 1608 Crim. Trials II 545.
Acknawleging my long captiuitie and that I haif bene seperat fra my husband 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 71.
In stocke separate from the teynde thrie barrell frie butter and sax leispoundes of louse butter 1672 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 98.
To have their heads seperate from their bodies(b) a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 253. (B) (cf. Sever v. 1 p.p.)
Sodomyt, syphareit fra sanctis celestiall 1554 Mill Mediæv. Plays 129.
Cowperis and sklaitteris to proceid … vnder ane baner … siperat fra the saidis smythtis

b. Divided up, arranged separately. 1533 Boece 98b.
Cesare in expediciouns vsit this hous for his consell, and causit with him the stanys separate in pecis [L. particulatim] be caryit

2. Singled out, reserved (as different from other things in the same category). 1531 Bell. Boece I cviii.
Schaw breifly how, be my gret deligence, Ilk story be the self is seperat 1707 St. A. Baxter Bks. 34 n.
Appoynting the samen day to be separate and sett apart for his worship and service

3. Divorced or estranged from (fra) a spouse. 1569 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lix.
[That we] may be seperatt fra him [sc. Bothwell] be the lawis 1681 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 16 Nov.
Shoe being formerlie seperet from hir husband for hir vnsuiteable behaviour

4. Existing as a single unit; detached from others. 1615 Highland P. III 185.
Nyne or tenn … wther clannis … ar seprat and the fowre Ma^cdonaldis ar be them selfis

B. ppl. adj. Divorced; estranged. 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 432.
Thir pretendit ministers … teachis … that separat personnes for fornication may contract mariage with vthers 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 438.
[They] suffers the separat personne wha has not committit adulterie to contract new mariage