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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sinful(l, Synful(l, adj. Also: sinffull, sinthful. [ME and e.m.E. sinnfull (Orm), sinful (Cursor M.), synful (Rolle), OE syn(n)full; Sin n.]

1. Of persons: Guilty of committing sin; wicked, corrupt. Also (once), of a person's heart.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 22.
We fynd … ful mony that synful were a1400 Leg. S. xviii 731.
Sinthful a1400 Leg. S. xviii 940.
Synful 1456 Hay I 257/4.
To inquere … quhat God will do till a synfull man 1461 Liber Plusc. I 388.
Quhare synful man mycht na thyng stand in steid a1500 Henr. III 129/36.
[God] is ane iuge to nane suspect To puneis synfull man and saif c1490 Irland Asl. MS 66/10.
I synfull persone humilie confessis and schryvis me to God almychti a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 481. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xc 1. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xc 7.
We synfull folk sulde be more deligent 1513 Doug. x Prol. 142. 1533 Gau 5/4.
That thay may … onderstand first quhou thay sal ken thair sine and ar sinful creaturs a1578 Pitsc. I 224/28.
For His saik that suffeirit patiently for ȝow and all wther sinfull persouns 1683 Cloud of Witnesses 183.
That ever He looked on the like of me, a poor sinful thing(2) 1533 Gau 75/18.
The sinful hart … hes notht faith in it selff

b. absol. Sinful persons, sinners. Also (once), an individual sinner.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii 422.
Ded of richtwyse that ar slane Is preciowse to God … And contrar of synfull ewine a1400 Leg. S. xviii 786. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2445.
For mammon may be callit the deuillis net, Quhilk Sathanas for all sinfull hes set 1567 G. Ball. 95.
Thow sall not … murne that sinfull haif gude dayis a1568 Bann. MS I p. 18/5.
Chryst … Saif ws sinfull of Adamis seid(2) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 14.
The ded of synful I na wil Bot that he leife his syn & lif

2. Of deeds, behaviour, etc.: Involving sin; of a wicked or immoral nature. c1420 Wynt. i 630 (W).
Giffand ws … To wilfull werkis and sinfull play a1500 Henr. Orph. 513.
Our synfull deidis fallis doun on sleip a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1124 (Asl.).
Exile my saull fra synfull confusioun a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1328 (Asl.).
A synfull lyf is lykest messingeire 1490 Irland Mir. I 169/19.
Beethe leichis of oure synfull malady! c1500 Rowll Cursing 86 (B).
In thair … sinfull wayis Levand and dryvand our thair dayis a1568 Dunb. Bann. MS 18b/84.
Of ressait sinffull of thé my saluiour … I cry thé mercy [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 41.
Sic vant of wostouris with hairtis in sinfull staturis 1660 S. Ronaldshay 32.
Johne Budge … evidenced his publict repentence for his superstitiones and sinfull going to St. Collumbes Chappell 1696 Sc. Ant. IV 84.
[To] admonish the said heritors of their sinfull & scandalous carriadge