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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.

Vehemenc(i)e, -y(e, -tie, -sie, n. Also: weehimensie, veamence. [e.m.E. vehemence (1529), vehemency (1538), vehementie (1543), vehemencie (1555), OF vehemence, L. vehementia.]The final syllable of forms ending in e may or may not be pronounced.

1. Intensity, severity. a. Of an illness. b. Of cold.a. 1550 Knox III 39.
[They] wer strikin … to death, all in ane hour. The Papistis attributit this to the … vehemencie of the plague 1597 Edinb. Test. XXXI 21b.
I my self mycht nocht subscrywe throw vehemencie of the seiknesb. 1596 Dalr. I 259/12.
The podagra or gout, quhilk of the vehemencie of calde he contracted

2. (Great or overwhelming) force or violence, freq. of natural phenomena. b. Of an action, speech or behaviour. c. Applied to sound: Loudness. Some examples in b may belong here.(a) 1566–7 Reg. Privy C. I 498.
The hous … wes … blawin in the air … with sic a force and vehemency, that of the haill ludgeing … thair is na thing left unruinated 1570 Smit Bronnen II 1012.
In … storme and vehementie of wadder 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 127.
Be blawing of the lugeing … in the air be great vehemencie of powlder 1581 St. A. Kirk S. 466.
Vehemensie c1590 Fowler II 157/9.
Quhen … he [sc. the flood] beginneth … to ryse in speat … [h]is vehemencye sal not be so hurtfull 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 151.
The wind that blew leoud, the quhilk na man, for the grytnes and vehemencie therof, culd hauld his feit vpoun the ground(b) 1555 Glenartney Doc.
Be ressoun of this present greit storme and veamence thairofb. 15.. Clar. iv 2143.
Softlie at the arrow pullit he It com to him but preise or vehemence c1590 Fowler II 158/36.
Pape Jule … in all his actions proceded with vehemencye and violent hastines 1595 Misc. Bann. C. I 354.
He spake with suche ane vehemencie that the enymies caused knett his toung 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 23.
Their arguments … uer … expressed with greatt weehimensie a1650 Row 331.
The King [etc.] … relented … of their furie & vehemenciec. 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 439.
Least the vehemency of chirking frogs vexe the wish'd-for repose of his … body