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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.

Spacious, Spatious, adj. Also: spacius, spatiows. [ME and e.m.E. spacious (Wyclif), spacyous (Caxton).]

1. Of an area of land: Large, extensive. Also transf. of persons: Widely scattered, far-flung. 1633 Acts V 37/2.
Power … to divide ample and spatious parochines quhair … necessarie 1633 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 382.
The parochine of Aberdour … is soe great and spatious that the haill parichioners thairof can not convenientlie resort to the paroche kirk 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 29.
Much of it [sc. the town of Poitiers] is filled up with spatious gardens 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 2. c1680 W. Row Blair 168.
Getting a part of the spacious and numerous landward parish … erected in a new parish 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway App. 112.
This countrey and shyre being so spatious and large, that [etc.]transf. 1600 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 950.
Quher congregatiouns are so spatious, that a great part therof may not … resort to thair … paroch kirk, be reason of the great distance of thair habitatioun therfra

b. Distant (from). 1628 Coll. Rebus Alban. 191.
Mony witnessis dois nocht haunt nor travell throw the saidis forestis be ressone the same is far distant and spatious frome thame

2. Of a building, etc.: Large, roomy. 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xvii.
That … place … is competentlie spatious & speciose in outward forme 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 462.
Many a million Of lamps, which light this spatiows pavillion 1627 Rep. Parishes 198.
Our kirk of Ednem is nathar spacious nor specious, for it is not able to conteine the halfe of our peopill [etc.] 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II 367.
To setle … with [the mason] … anent the building of the iyle at the Laigh Kirk, … and for macking the entrie to the said kirk alse spacius as can be 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 64.
[In the house] I saw … a very pretty spatious hall