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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Trance, Trans(e, n. Also: traunce, trauns(e. [ME and e.m.E. traunce (Chaucer), trance (1412-20), trans (1434), transe (a1533), OF transe passage from life to death, a state of dread. Cf. Trans(e n.]

1. An abnormal state of mind; a state of excitement, abstractedness, rapture, ecstasy or terror, a stunned or dazed state. a1500 Peblis to Play 96.
Than thai to the taverne hous with meikle oly-prance Ane spak … Braid vp the burde … We ar all in ane trance [: mischance, daunce] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 193 (B).
I haif been in ane feryfary Or ellis in till ane trans 1549 Compl. 123/26.
Allace quhon can I tak paciens considerand that ther can na thing be eikkyt to my parsecutione bot cruel dede. I dee daly in ane transe t[h]rocht the necessite that I hef of the gudis that I van vitht my laubyrs 15.. Christis Kirk 40 (B).
He playit so schill and sang so sweit Quhill towsy tuke a trans c1552 Lynd. Mon. 198.
Contempling this melodious armonye … I stude gasing, halflingis in ane trance c1590 Fowler I 129/100.
Which variant vew makis oftentymes impudent men to pans And vanelie in thair vanetie to tak a foolish trance c1590 J. Stewart 17/77.
Ane knycht scho spyde … Than dreid of dainger varps hir in ane trans, As tender faune … Quhan it persaifs the leopard 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 27/179.
If that ye would imploy your holy traunce [F. fureurs] To make a holy … worke [etc.] 1632 Lithgow Trav. i 32.
This imaginary heavenly trance

2. A state of semi-consciousness, between sleeping and waking. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 150/3.
Full lang befoir the dayis lycht, I lay in till a trance [M. traunce] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 157/223.
For lawchtir neir I brist, Quhairthrow I walknit of my trance [A. trauns]

3. A state of unconsciousness, a swoon or episode of fainting, a fit, esp. as brought on by or as a symptom of an injury or disease.There is some overlap with senses 1 and 2 above. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 866 (B).
Sumtyme I will tak a trance. My spreit was reft fra my body 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 248.
My lord regent … wes schote … quhairthrow he fell doun in ane trance dead to the ground 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 210.
To ly seik in the said … chalmer, quhair he wes strukin in grit extasies and transis, lyand be the space of twa or thre houris deid, his spreit tane 1603 Philotus 896.
Maistris quhat now? Me think ȝe dreme … Scho lyis als deid … Sa larbair-lyke lo as scho lyis As raueist in a trance 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 315.
Her looks … Reviv'd him frome his traunse, recal'd his breath, And to his sleeping senses life empartes 1622 Crim. Trials III 510.
The said Margaret, as sone as scho luikit vpone the said bairne, declairit that it was the suddane transe or diseis that scho had tane the day befoir 1663–9 Sel. Biog. I 138.
A little before his death, having lyen some while as in an kind of trance, he awaked 1678 Dalyell Darker Superst. 590.
John Feane was strukin in sic extaseis and transis, lyand be the space of twa or thrie hours deid