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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.

Sonȝe, Sunȝe, n. Also: sonȝhe, son-, sounȝie, sunȝie, -ye, swnȝe, soigne. [North. ME soigne, soyne, soyny (all Cursor M.), OF soign, soin (1080 and 13th c. in Larousse), or aphetic form of Assonȝe n., Essonȝe n.]

1. (An) excuse, plea or justification of one's behaviour. Also const. infin.(1) ?1438 Alex. i 748.
Na man wald ga In the message, bot sonȝe ma 1460 Hay Alex. 8917.
Bot he had sonȝe racionabill Quhilk before all men suld be excusabill(2) c1420 Wynt. vi 2186 (W).
Makduf … said his sonȝe wes in vane c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxix 3.
I sall it mak ȝow cleir, But ony circumstance or sonȝie 1535 Stewart 45512. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 406 (B).
Solace, that salbe na sunȝie, Beir thow that bag vpoun thy lunȝie c1680 McWard Contendings 93.
But I knew your last sonȝie and shift will be that they admitted … non-indulged to preach in the pulpits(3) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 136 (Ch.).
Quhen that ȝe shrink I haue ane sunȝie sone 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 78.
The said Robert nocht comperand, na sonȝe for hym 1535 Stewart 3701.
The lords … fand ane sunȝie for to be absent(4) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1995.
All thy sonȝeis sall not auaill theé 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 236.
He … hard and saw Joanna mak mony sunyeis and say sche wald nocht consent 1576 Orkney Oppress. 58.
Thair lawfull sonȝeis oft tymes repellit a1570-86 Maitl. F. 286/54.
Gif ȝe be seik sum slychtis ar suspectit And all ȝour sairris callit secreit swnȝeis a1585 Polwart Flyt. 829 (T).
Deid dring, dryd sting, thow will hing but a sunȝie(b) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 20 (B).
Als mony soignes & als mony delais the appelar has as the defendour

2. (A) delay, hesitation.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 318.
[They] Ordaned all withouttin sonȝe For the passage of Pharone ?1438 Alex. ii 7356.
The mychty King of Massidonȝe Is cumming heir without sonȝe c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxvi 72.
Mony slute daw and slepy duddroun Him serwit ay with sounȝie [: grunȝie] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2257 (Ch.).
My marchandryse schaw me, withouttin sunȝie(2) 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 36.
Ather party aw at the forsaide day till aper for outyn ony sonȝe 1535 Stewart 2946.
Than craftismen withoutin ony sunȝe On force behuvit for thair craft to tak For thair merchandice as vse wes than to mak

3. To mak sonȝe for (something), ? to pay heed to, be concerned about. c1475 Wall. ii 97.
Bot for his tre litill sonȝhe he maid