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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Purchas(e, Purches, v. Also: -chace, -chass, -chaise; -ches(s)e, -cheis, -cheas; -ces; purchest; pirches. P.p. also purchist, porschit, purchet. [ME and e.m.E. purchacen (c1290), -chasen (c1330), purches (Cursor M.), pourchace (Gower), also porchace (1340), purchasyen, porchassien (both 1297); AF purchacer, OF por-, pur-, pourchacier, -chassier, -chasser (11th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), to seek for, seek to obtain, procure or bring about, f. por-, pur-, pour- for, and -chacier, -chassier, -chasser Chas(e v.]

1. tr. To bring about by exerting oneself in some way, to contrive, arrange, manage, procure (an outcome or effect). Variously const.(1) 1375 Barb. x 515 (C).
With wit and besynes, I hicht, He set to purches sum [H. him some] slicht a1400 Leg. S. iii 1000.
Quhen he Mycht purches oportunite Ib. xviii 323.
Lowyt mot our lorde be That purchesis thus saule-hele ?1438 Alex. ii 5007.
For we sall wele, efter the meit, Send to purches [F. pourchachier] this empryse 14.. Edinb. Univ. MS La. ii 318.
The prayer that cummys of hert cleyne … purchesis forgifnes of al syn 1490 Irland Mir. II 6/17.
The transgressioun of the tene commandementis of God that the innemy … purchessis in all that he can or may 1549 Compl. 5/21.
For ane verteous captain can nocht exsecut ane mair vailȝeant act as quhen he purchessis pace ande concord vytht out diminutione of his rycht ande vitht out [etc.] Ib. 73/8.
Quhilkis … enforsis them nocht … to purches & til auance the public veil of there natiue cuntre Ib. 74/3.
Ȝe vndir the cullour of frendschip purchessis my final exterminatione c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 99.
That wemennis tendernes In hart can not thoill … thair [sc. men's] deith for to purches 1551–2 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 127 (14 Jan.).
The quhilk Jhone sworne deponit the gryt aithe to do dew administracioun of … curatrie to the said Patrik … & to purches his weill & proffeit 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 20.
To oppin the mater to your wisedomes, he wald that I suld justlie purches that thing quhilk he wranguiselie procures c1590 Fowler I 28/54.
For all this pompe … is purchessed by lowe Ib. II 24/33.
Sum gentil men … socht the way to stay his enterprise … & purchessit ten dayis abstinence Ib. 79/1.
And be bent alwayes to purches the weakening and decay of the mightier Ib. I 31/142.(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 513.
Than scho sal be to purches il Til hyme that denyit hir wil 1558-66 Knox I 463.
Godis mercy, purchassed to him by the bloode of Christ Jesus 1594 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 826.
Jesuitis … haue … purchest to thame selffis fauour and credite to be keipit, huirdit [etc.](3) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 508.
With gret dyficulte To do that thane purchast he Ib. xxv 186.
& consel thane tane haf thai … ane for to lay In-to the kart, dede as he ware, & sa purches by fre to fare c1420 Wynt. viii 6615.
Qwhill at the last syne purchesyd he For till cum hame … On hostage a1500 Henr. Fab. 2754.
That scantlie may he purches be his maill To leif vpon … watter caill 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 654.
They have purchasit surreptitiouslie … to mak lawes … they being bot subjectis(4) 14.. Statut. Sc. Ch. 6.
We curs … Al thaim that poisonis mann or woman or purchesis it to be done 1531 Bell. Boece I 132.
He could nocht purches the remanent cursit lawis of King Ewin to be revocat Id. Livy I 286/15.
The small pepill purchest [L. Plebes vicit] in the begynnyng of this ȝere the sam tribunis that war afore to be continewit to the fifte ȝere 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 707.
[The same persons] first purchest the said Adame to be stollin to the horne(5) 1375 Barb. x 355.
James of Douglas Set all his vit for till purchas How Roxburgh throu subtilite … mycht wonnyn be ?1438 Alex. ii 154.
Quha will be gude, he man purchace How he may best auansit be c1420 Wynt. viii 6723.
He maide purches sa sutelly, That gif scho madyn ware his lady … than purchest he That scho sulde at the feichting be

2. To procure by exertion or in consequence of one's actions, for oneself or for another (a thing, material or non-material); to acquire, get possession of, gain, win, earn.(1) 1375 Barb. x 321 (C).
Bot I trow thai sall lettit be To purchas mair [provisions] in the cuntre Ib. ii 572. c1450-2 Howlat 644 (A).
For thai couth chewis chikinnis and purches pultre … as kingis caytouris a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 539.
And prik in your presence, to purchese his pray 1491 Kennedy Aberd. Ann. II 5.
That nay chaplane … purches singulary ony service that may redounde to the profit of the haill college a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 89.
Adam … Wanderand in wa … his neidis to purches c1500-c1512 Dunb. xix 36.
In court rewaird than purches I 1528 Douglas Corr. 131.
And purches artailȝerie and munitioun furtht of Dunbar 1532 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS I 104.
The saidis soum togidder with ane uthir … ar purchest be him in fraud of the king 1575–6 Inverness Rec. I 247.
All maner of leddir that the said Kennocht can purchas 1585 James VI in Laing MSS I 54.
Bring with you the … best … bludhounde that ye can be any meanes purchaise 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 53.
That thai [lepers] distribute equallie … quhatsoever money thai purches be thair said begging(b) c1590 Fowler II 99/30.
In a batell they lossed that which in 800 yeres … they had purcessed(2) 1375 Barb. ii 188.
[Bruce] syne went our all the land Frendis and frendschip purchesand ?1438 Alex. ii 6249.
How that worship … puttis thame to purches pris c1420 Wynt. viii 5330.
And yhwng men … Thaire prys ware all tyme purchesand a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1074.
Than war I woundir vnwis To purchese proffit for pris c1475 Wall. v 601.
Scho … Hummylly hyr led, and purchest a gud name a1500 Lanc. 3089. 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 302. a1568 Bann. MS 79a/11.
A man at anis for to serue lordis tuane … , To pleis thame bath and purches nocht disdane 1560 Rolland Seven S. 489.
[The seven sages] Ilk ane vther to prouene And purches dignitie Ib. 1570.
And purches not the maledictioun Of the pure folk c1590 Fowler II 142/18.
Him quha confyding in the same & purcessing the pepills hatred will [etc.] Ib. I 196/4, II 143/21. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 151.
He had great respect to his freynds and kynisfolks, whareby he purchest thair favor in the heighest forme(b) a1400 Leg. S. i 480.
Than Petir thar sa sted wase, That narowly cuth he purchase Audience Ib. xviii 183.
For quha … nocht for God dred hyme nocht He purchacis hyme-self skathe Ib. xlvi 47.
Sic remed ȝet purchaste scho, That [etc.] c1409-1436 Kingis Q. lix.
Gyf thou suld sing … Sum bird may … stryve In song with thé, the maistry to purchace c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi 82.
Luve makis cowardis manheid to purchas [: lergenes, bissines, nobilnes] ? c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxi 22.
Approch in tyme our freindschip to purchace [: allace] a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 469 (Wr.).
What pleasure purchast is but paine(c) 1535 St. P. Henry VIII V 20.
He has purchet hieth laud and pryse of all men(3) 1375 Barb. ii 584.
To get And purches thaim that thai mycht ete Ib. vii 496 (C).
And went … to hunt & play For to purchase thame venysoun Ib. vi 29. 1425 Milne-Home MSS 19.
That the sayd Davy sal do his besines … to purches the balyhery of the hous of Coldyngham to hym selfe a1500 Lanc. 3286.
And in til armys purches thé sum nam 1533 Gau 45/12.
The quhilk spreit Christ purchest to wsz in his victorious … resurrectione a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxvi 50.
Man thow se for thy self And purches thé sum pelf 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1428.
To ȝour self purches honour, and wynnis gude word of all Ib. 3654. 1567 G. Ball. 63.
To purches mankynde peace 1569 Cal. Sc. P. III 10.
[Remember what … immortal fame many kings and princes have] purcheassed [to themselves] c1590 Fowler II 15.
His horrible cruelty … hes purchest me no small commendatioun Ib. 153/24.
And so thairby he acqueres double glorye … as the other by the contrair purchesses him double shame that [etc.] Ib. 103/32. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron App. 307.
The adwantages which being weill vsed to your best ends may … purchase yowe a diuturnitie of regne a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxiii 2.
It patience suld purches pitie place(4) 1513 Doug. i Prol. 59.
That … All [sc. other poets] mon purches drynk at thy [sc. Virgil's] sugurit tun 15.. Clar. ii 62.
Up thay put thair visouris from thair face The air to take, and braith for to purchas

b. With personal obj.Cf. also 5 below. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2216.
This scheiphyrd did purches The fair madin

c. To strive after or hunt out; fig. 1513 Doug. ii Prol. 6.
Bot sen I follow the poete principall Quhat nedis purches fenȝeit termys new?

d. To gain possession of, acquire, ‘conquer’ (land, territory, also, princely rule), otherwise than by inheritance. 1375 Barb. i 433.
Ga purches land quhar-euer he may For tharoff haffys he nane a1400 Leg. S. x 504.
& the tothir … Purchaste a mychtty duchery 1531 Bell. Boece II 387.
Thay that had bot small insicht at hame, traisting to purches be his … victorie landis and riches a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. c 60.
And syne he said and ȝe wald heir thir tuay Ȝe wald not purches mekle land this ȝeir 1580 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 174.
The landis of Polgony, … maist wranguslie purchest … be his moder broder c1590 Fowler I 81/122.
To purches land be los of bloode that dois yow not belong Ib. II 71/19.
Yet sic governments so purchessed [and obtened] wer wount [etc.] 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 231.
The Marquis of Huntlie hath bought the lands of Strathdoun … which he hath provyded for his eldest sone … together with all that he can purchesse dureing the rest of his dayes

3. spec. To obtain or gain by request, petition, entreaty, intercession or solicitation. = Impetrat v. 1.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 825.
Thane hyr husband purchasit hir cel, & his lyftyme thar can duel c1475 Wall. vi 864.
A saiff condyt thai purchest off Wallace 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 51.
And to the effect of the haill mony writtingis purchessit of boith wyse men and greit men of Ingland 1572 Cal. Sc. P. IV 379.
[It is also convenient that you] purches [a letter from the Queen herself to the Earl of Mar] 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. V 246.
The new gift of the … schoir sylver purchest to the guid toun be my lord provest 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 392.
Then did the Earle of Murray purches afterward, from King Charles, the inlargeing of his commission(2) 1398 Liber Melros 490.
I hafe purchacide with speciale request the seales of the … Dryburgh abbotis 1489 Wemyss Chart. 115.
To the … indenture the seil of … Robert of Douglas, be the said lady purchest is to hungyne … and bayth thir parteis has purchest the seil of [etc.] 1493 Acta Aud. 181/1. 1526 Red Bk. Grandtully I 64.(3) a1400 Leg. S. ii 897.
That na man suld … Fal in wanhope for to purches Eftir syne of God the grace Ib. viii 106.
Thar-for to thame I pray al thre That thai sic grace purches me … that [etc.] c1420 Wynt. viii 4973.
Qwhill Mwntagw wes thare [at the siege of Dunbar] lyand, The Kyng Edward off Ingland Purchast hym help and alyawns, For he walde amowe were in Frawns Ib. ix Prol. 48.
Purchace 1424 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. ii 2.
That nane sall forstall na by within vthiris schyris … withoutyn leve purchest of thaim that powar has 14.. Edinb. Univ. MS La. ii 318.
War gude … To purches the prayer of gude men c1450-2 Howlat 76 (A).
For happin that his halynace Throw prayer may purchace To reforme my foule face 1456 Hay II 113/2.
We may sa faire grace and merci purchas at his almychti immesurit powere c1475 Wall. i 332.
So yrk of wer scho couth no forthir fle, To purches pes Ib. v 439.
Ane agyt knycht, had made nane othir band Bot purchest pes in rest he mycht bide still, Tribute payit full sore agayne his will Ib. viii 1308. ?a1500 Obsecro 83. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii 35.
Thay can percaice Purches sum grace At the compositouris 1513 Doug. iii vi 33.
Helenus … The ȝong bestis slew in sacryfys, Purchesyng favour of goddis to stanch thar fed Ib. vii v 68.
Quhy suld I dreid or spar To purches help 1533 Bell. Livy I 252/10.
Owther becaus the peace of goddis was than purchest, or ellis becaus [the] venemus are & wikkit seson war ourepast 1535 Stewart 32300.
Beleif ȝe w[e]ill but leis At weir agane neuir moir to purches peis 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 37.
Sa at thir four, quhen I had leif purchest, To thame said I [etc.] Ib. 8950.
Hir greit fauour to ȝow I haue purchest 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 94.
Gif he mycht be humill sute purches oure gude will 1600-1610 Melvill 42.
Mr. Andro Melvill … with grait difficultie purchassit leave of the kirk and magistrates of Genev(4) a1400 Leg. S. vii 776.
At Pylat I purcheste licence sone, To louse his body fra the tre c1475 Wall. ii 318.
Scho … thaim besocht To purches leiff scho mycht thine with him fayr a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 372 (M).
To erde thé vnder it I sall purches grace 1513 Doug. ix v heading.
Quhou at the consal the fornamyt two Ontill Eneas purchest leif to go(b) 1573–4 Cal. Sc. P. IV 661.
[I have] porschit [licence of my Lord Treasurer to send a servant into Scotland to my friends]

4. To obtain by formal application to an authority, a. a writ conferring a privilege, authorization, licence or mandate, a testimonial, etc. = Impetrat v. 2 b.pres. (a) 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 35.
This breff dois thre thingis til him that it purchasis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3891.
Se na prelats pretend … At prince or paip to purchase ane command 1619 Brechin Kirk S. 20 July.
The session … suspecting it to be bot forged ordeins him to purchase and produce ane other testification against the next session day 1623 Bk. Carlaverock II 65.(b) a1578 Pitsc. I 392/15.
Bot he wald purchese ane [ed. and] decrie frome his maister the king to put all the forsaid … servantis of God to deid 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 40.
To purches commissioun to serch and seik the throt cutters 1598 Conv. Burghs II. 34 (see Impetrat v. 2 b). 1613 Glasgow Merchants House 112.
[I] sall not purches nor vse exemptionis to be frie of the samyn [oath](c) 1563 Stirling Chart. 213.
To send eist Robert Forester … to purcheis suspensioun of hornyng purchest be the vicair(d) 1601 Conv. Burghs II 105.
The brughis … to purchest lettres requeistis [etc.]p.t., p.p.(a) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 154.
Gif he agaynis quham the perambulacone is purchasit be within elde [etc.] 1535 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 298a.
The lard of Torrus … desyrit ane acht to be maid that Tamys Mvre purchasyt the kyngis keis 1630 Conv. Burghs III 316.
[The commissioners] remittis … the mater of leveteinendrie and patents purchased theranent 1664 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 109.
He had purchased a remmission and had assythed the parties 1683 Dunferm. Hammermen MS 114.
Purchassed(b) 1665 Stirling B. Rec. I 249.
The laird of Clakmannan, who purchast an act of parliament for repareing the same [bridge](c) 1464–5 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 60.
A breffe of mortantecessory purchesit be the said William 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I 212.
Neuirtheles the said provest [etc.] … has purchesit letteres chargand the said induellaris in Leith to [etc.] 1580 Old Ross-shire I 19. 1581 Cal. Sc. P. VI 120.
He comperit nocht, bot purchesit the kingis letteris to put us all to the horn in case [etc.] 1582–3 Burntisland B. Ct. 27 Feb.
Purcheseit c1650 Spalding I 244.
Aluaies, he relaxt him self fra the horne, purchessit his remission orderlie, and went home(d) 1471 Acta Aud. 14/2.
Breif of inquest purchest be Johne of Levinstone anent the landis of Warenhil 1494 Acta Conc. I 344/2.
Ony lettrez senisterly purchest aganis him anerdande to the actis of parliament 1497 Ib. II 81. 1498 Ib. 215.
Because he purchest and impetrat the sade grace expectative of the sade chantory 1527 Douglas Corr. 344.
And thoucht I purchest the requeiste of … the kingis grace of Ingland [etc.] 1533 Inchcolm Chart. 66.
The said commissioun is purchest be sinister and wrang informatioun … and is inordourlie procedit 1555 Peebles B. Rec. I 206.
His gift that he had purchest of the quenis grace a1568 Scott i 67.
Thai purchest pithles pardonis fra the Paip 1564 Perth B. Ct. 160 (22 Sept.).
Conforme to ane breif of lynyng purchest be Robert Gibsoun 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 235.
The brevis of inqueist of my lord commendatar … purchest and rasit be James Kirkcaldie 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 374. 1580 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 174. 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 660. 1585 Ib. IV 28.
[The said Lord Hume has] purchest ane blank commissioun … quhairin [etc.] 1626 Justiciary Cases I 35.(e) 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 41.
Purcheast(f) 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I 286.
Letters of captioun purcheist … aganes certane unfrie treddaris 1629 Ib. 306.(g) 1596 Crim. Trials I ii 362.
Bot within sex dayis thairafter, the said ladie purchist ane letter of paice, subscryuit be his awin maiesties hand(h) 1578 Crim. Trials I ii 80.
And in respect the samin was pirchest be ane sinister informatioune

b. an ecclesiastical benefice, by application to the papal court or other ecclesiastical authority; = Impetrat v. 2 a. c1420 Wynt. vii 3247.
Nest hym Byschape, the swth to tell, Off Sayntandrewis wes Abell That he purchast at the Pape 1424 Acts II 6/2.
That he purchest in the court of Rome ane pensione out of the denry of Abirdene in dismembring of his benifice … forthi the parliament thinkis that sik purchessing of pensionys ande dismembring of benificis [etc.] 1456 Hay I 147/29.
Gif … a clerk had purchast a benefice hafand cure of saulis 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 145.
For the purchesing of the chapellanry of [etc.] … purchest be him in the kirk of Rome as is allegit 1510 Reg. Privy S. I 326/1.
A licence … to impetrate grace expectativis and purches beneficis in Rome 1511 Ib. 346/1.
And als licence to Elizabeth Swintoun, nun professit in the said place, to purches the said abbay [= abbacy] at the said haly fader or archbishop 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 68.
I purcheist, for my proffect singulare … The Byschopreik of Merapose

5. To enlist in one's support. a. To raise or levy (an army, troops, etc.). b. To procure the backing of (backers, allies, disciples etc.). c. Freq., to purches lordschip(is: cf. Lordschip n. 6 and Outlordschip n., q.v. also for further examples.a., b. 1375 Barb. ix 543 (C).
Schir Amery … Raid till Yngland, and purchast ther Of armyt men gret cumpany Ib. xvii 62. a1400 Leg. S. iv 22.
James … purchasit discipulis nyne Ib. xxx 17.
He [the fiend] wil oft purches wikit men To ger hyme sped c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2215.
Diomeid … with all the helpe he mycht Purches on all syd besely, Come vnto Troy c1420 Wynt. iv 736.
That nane off bak the flycht mycht ta Na nane mycht pas to purches ma Ib. viii 3715.
[They] Purchasyd thame a cumpany, A thowsand wycht men Ib. 4613, 5171. 1477 Misc. Spald. C. II 252.
Be ws oure freindis men and seruandis with al that we may purches c1475 Wall. xi 920. c1515 Asl. MS I 223/1.
The quhilk … gadderit all hale the Clanlathane and all vtheris that thai mycht purches and [etc.] 1514–15 G. Douglas in Doug. (Sm.) I xli.
Quhilk man nedwayes redund to our profyt and sall purches vs ma frendis 1549 Compl. 100/28.
It sal be ane lang tyme or the Romans can purches sa grit ane armye contrar ȝou 1600-1610 Melvill 527.
For now the politicians and freindis of the excommunicat and forfaulted earles had purchessit and dressit to tham selves a gryt number … of the ministriec. 1473–4 Edinb. B. Rec. I 28.
That nane … purches ony lordschipe incontrair ony pointtis of the said craft 1510 Crim. Trials I i 67.
Purchesse 1561 Inverness Rec. I 66.
[He] maisterfullie came on the said Jasper Waus prowest … and purchest William McAne Dow as lordschip wyth him, quha crewellie drew ane nakit sourd to the said Jasper 1673 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 169.
[Burgess oath: I shall] no lordship purchass in contrair the liberties of this brugh

d. To induce, prevail upon (a person, to do something). 14.. Acts I 338/2.
Gif ony purches a lord duelland to landwart to cum to the court of the burgh [etc.] 1455–6 Perth Guildry 14.
That nane gild brother purches ony vther man to pley for him … than ane of his brether of the gild 1525 (1527) Reg. Great S. 97/2.
Gif ony persone … purchessis ony outman or maisterfull man to be advocat agane … the craft

6. Latterly, ? spec. to obtain by bribery or by payment more generally. 1650 Glasgow Wrights Acts 6.
It is statut and ordained … that no man purchese or buy voitis for procuring his owne preferment, wnder the paine of fyve merkis money