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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.

Specify, Specifie, v. Also: specef-, specyf-, speciff-, speciaf- and -ye, -é. P.p also specifit, -yt. [ME and e.m.E. specifie (Cursor M.), specefie (1300), specify (c1340), specifye (Lydgate), specyfy (1487), OF specefier (13th c.), specifier (14th c., both in Larousse), med. L. specifico (c790 in Latham.] tr.The inflected forms are often abbreviated to speĩt, speit, speciit.

1. To set down or state (something) explicitly, relate in detail, name or mention particularly (in a document, council, etc.); also, once, be one's own name. Also, once, with double object. Also with clause object.(1) pres. 1437–8 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 5.
Gif ony frauchtis … ony schip and specifieis nocht thir conditiouns in the chairtour pairtie [he] sall [etc.] 1571 Bann. Memor. 155.
I sall bring with me sic armore as thow specifies [Trans. 207, specifes] in thy last cartell to the place of our melliep.p. c1420 Wynt. ix 946 (C).
A tretis of vnyte Betuix the Franche and Inglismen … Quharein the Scottismen and the king wes specifyit 1515 Reg. Privy S. I 407/1.
Gefand to thame xl merkis worth of land specifiyt in the said lettre 1528 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 94.
We ordand Woll of Caidzou and his assignais to brouk the Lady land his lyftyme … payand yeirlie the maill specifiet in the leter c1545 St. A. Univ. Rec. xxi.
Contributionis, & vtheris chargis specifeit at lentht in his lettres 1549 Lamb Resonyng 69/7.
This ȝour first homage is generale, quharin nothir Scottis kyngis name nor place nor day of homage-making is specifeit 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 194.
The handscenye and canves specifiit in the said tikkit to be kepit 1556 Stirling B. Rec. I 69.
It is statut … that all the personis off the said counsall heill and conseill the articulis or punctis specifyt in the counsall 1559–60 Reg. Privy S. V i 174/2.
For divers sowmes of money specifeit and contenit in the saidis lettiris 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 86.
Specified a1578 Pitsc. I 219/29.
Speciffieit 1585 Acts III 402/1. 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I 288.
To delate our grevances to the burrowes specifiet in the said informatioun 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
The Confession of faith professed in parlament … in 1560, specified also in the first parlament of K. Ja. 6. and ratified in this present parlament — a1578 Pitsc. I 260/12.
Ewerie man specifieit be his awin name to compeir withtin the space of xl dayis(2) a1500 Lanc. 2050.
Ful many a natur the lyone haith, quhar fore That he to God resemblyt is, bot I Lyk not mo at this tyme specify 1476 Acta Aud. 41/2.
Alexander wes summonde be him selfe, nocht specifyand him balȝe to Johne Forbas [etc.] 1492 Treas. Acc. I 201.
The hayl exspencis of the justis ayre of Stirling … the justis clerkis nocht beand specifiit 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 18.
Ȝour sport for schame ȝe dar not specify 1513 Doug. ii Prol. 19. 1515 Reg. Privy S. I 408/2.
Landis [etc.] … to be specifiyt and boundit eftyr informatioun 1549 Lamb Resonyng 43/9.
At this slauchtir tym specifeit be ȝow, the Scottis kyng come nocht neir the Inglis bordouris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3029.
Cthesias, he dois specifie The noumber of this gret armie Sayand [etc.] ?1559 Balcarres P. 316.
Ȝour grace writing … nocht specified [Anal. Scot. I 344, ? erron. specifiage] quhat day, quhilk, God willing, I sall keip the tyme … sone as ȝour grace will adverteiz a1568 Wedderburn in Bann. MS 240a/36.
Off Cassandra quhat sall I specifie Off fair ladeis scho was the flour of Troy(3) c1420 Wynt. viii 2737 (W).
He specifyis and makis knawin He cuvatis na mare na his avne 1437–8 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 5.
The frauchtismen sall specifie in the frauchting of the schip and in the chartour pairtie that [etc.] ?c1600 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 95b.
It salbe specifeit & prouidit in the reuertione foirsaid that [etc.]

b. With the document, etc. as the subject. 1454–5 Edinb. Chart. 79.
A table of bras with a writ specifiand the bringing of that rillyk be him in Scotland 1489–90 Acta Aud. 141/1.
The said summondis wes incertane becaus it specifyit nocht quham fra the gudis … wes takin 1534 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 113.
The … regrester … specefeis na thyng concerneyng the wmquhill James Giffert a1568 Bann. MS 70b/32.
Gif that thy synnis war … So grit … That nowthir toung nor pen cowld specifie … ask and haif thow mercy

c. In p.p. with preceding adverbial; cf. (1) above.Freq. const. in (the) manner … aboue, etc. specified, rarely without adverb in forme and manner specifeit.(1) 1469 Aberd. B. Rec. I 406.
The ferde day ante specifeit 1544 Dunbar Moray Doc. 67.
The lands after specefied … lyand in the Earledome of Murray 1554 Montgomery Mem. 151.
The partiis … abone specifit, apprevand the thre eikis on the margane 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI 522.
We befoir the tyme efter specifiit causit hyd the said chenye 1562-3 Winȝet I 8/27. 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 182.
[They] comprisit the geris vndir vrittin to the prissis vndir speciafeit 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 309.
Certane gudis and merchandices, at lenth specifiit and contenit in the saidis lettres 1566 Fraser P. 225. 1589 Crim. Trials I ii 173.
Besydis dyvers conventicle aithis [etc.] … haif bene maid be ȝow … to the tressonabill effect aboue specifeit 1593 St. A. Kirk S. 762.
Specifiit 1599 Conv. Burghs II 55.
For the space of fyve ȝeiris nixt following the dait thairoff, off the impost efter specyfeit 1606 Conv. Burghs II 214.
Specyfeit 1614 Highland P. III 150.
For the same yeirlie dewties alreddie specifeit [pr. speĩt] in thair takis 1626 Black Bk. Taymouth 383.
Specifeitt 1641 Peebles Chart. 106.
According to the infeftmentis abonespecifeit [pr. abonespeciit] 1652 Dumfries Kirk S. 27 April.
According to the seuerall divisiones efterspeciafeit 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X 289.
The terme of payment therin specifiet(2) 1596 Kennedy Aberd. Ann. II 218.
In maner abone specefeit 1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II 322.
The said deane of gild maid interruptioun in maner aboue specifiet 1629 Hossack Kirkwall 256.
For practeising of the wicked and devilish poyntis of witchraft … done by you in the maner at the tymes and in the places efter specifeit [pr. speit] 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 152.
For presenting and prosecuting the samen in maner therin specifeit 1661 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 198.
Each company to haue their owne capitane and other officers in maner efter specifeit, viz. [etc.] 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X 200.
That the saids wholl buildings be built in maner and in the forme and method efterspecifiet(3) 1624 Justiciary Cases I 17.
In forme and maner specifeit and at lenth set doun in our vtheris lettres 1632 Justiciary Cases I 202.
The slauchter of … Harie Hammiltoun … committit … in forme and maner specifeit in his dittay

d. In clauses introduced by as (or that). 1389 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 16.
Al portenans commoditeis [etc.] … to tha fornemmyt landys all & syndry pertenand as it ys contenyt & specyfyit in all poyntis in to the chartrys 1422 (1666) Fraser Polichron. 98.
The whilk marriage lellely and truly to be kept in form and manner as is befor specifeit 1509 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 13.
Ane … sovme … awing to me … like as at mare lenth is specifiit and contenit in the contract … made betuix me and the said William 1521 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 63. 1547 Treas. Acc. IX 90.
Cairttaris being in noumer x cairttis and laidint as is abone specifyit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3215.
As myne author doith specifye, He slew his mother creuellye c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4072.
The Jowis … gat thare desyre … As bene in Scripture, specifyit, The day quhen Christe wes crucifyit a1578 Pitsc. I 185/14.
This matter that is above specifyit

2. To invest with a specific character.1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith (1743) 33 (see Specificatio(u)n n.).