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

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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.

Qualify, Qualefé, v. Also: qualifie, -fé, qualyfie, qualiefey, qualefie, qwallefi-. [e.m.E. qualify, qualyfy, (1533) to modify, qualify (1549) to characterise, describe, (1581) to make fit or competent, F. qualifier (15th c.), med. L. qualificare.]

1. tr. To set out in specific terms (a claim or accusation), to particularise. 1549–50 Cupar B. Rec. 28 Jan.
The said master Ihone … askit … ane day to qualifie all his peremptoris in wryting 1551 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 79 (24 July).
Hes assignit the samyn day to the said Edward to qualifie his peremptouris & produce the samyn … without ony forther day … to produce ony may peremptouris 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 112.
To produce hyr causis qualefeit in wryt quhy sche suld nocht adheyr to … hyr spows 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 171. 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 388.
Qualefie 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 27 May.
Defensis qualefeit in writt

b. To make out a case for or enlarge upon (a claim or accusation, also a line of argument) by giving particulars or adding substantiating arguments and evidence; to make good, substantiate, establish, in this way. 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 37.
Or tuiching the ground richt of the samyn as thai sall libell and qualify 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II 167.
That thair wes na falt done be him qualyfiit in the said clame 1554 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 307b (12 June).
The said Duncan allegit payment & desyrit terme [to] qualifie the samyn 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 97.
In respect thair is na caus qualefeit nather for the said Alexander persoun nor for the dett quhairby the said baillie awcht to be judge 1575 Carrick Baillie Ct. 28 July.
Producit to qualifie his libell ane instrument of sasing of the saidis landis 1583 Perth B. Ct. 16 July.
Seing thair is na caus qualefeit in the said desyre to gif the said Johne place to haue enteres to obiect 1587–8 Aberd. Council Lett. I 25. 1598 James VI Minor Prose 75/10.
If there were no more but the example of brute beasts … it may serue well inough to qualifie and proue this my argument 1599 Aberd. Council Lett. I 81.
Quhilk gif ye can schaw and qualifie be guid reasoune I sall maist willinglie yeild 1620 Reg. Great S. 784/1.
To ly idle and ceis without a lawfull caus qualifieit be them 1622 Falkirk Par. Rec. I 34.
Sche conceavit sic ane great seikness … that sche was licklie to have lost her lyfe, quhilk sche is able to qualifie 1623 Conv. Burghs III 141. 1626 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 28 June.
The said Jenet … was ordenit to try and qualifie the cutting doun of the said seat and scho sould be harde Ib. 29 June. a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 213.
Any man being infeft in his land adjacent to the watter … and qualifiand possession of salmond fischeing 1642 Falkirk Baron Ct. 11 Nov.
The quhilk was sufficientlie qualiefeyit and provine be Alexander Airthour Ȝunger [etc.] c1650 Spalding I 358.
The vther half to be givin to him who dilates the recepteris, and qualefeis the samen

c. Const. object and infin. or noun clause: To substantiate, establish (that something is or was the case).(1) 1598 Crim. Trials II 57.
In respect that thair is nathing qualefeit, bot ane naikit invasioun be allegit presenting, quhairvpoun na deid is qualifeit to haif followit 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. (ed.) 51.
That in cais Robert Sinclair … sall qualifie him to have promeissed ane kow to the said Robert Sinclair, in that cais he sall … delyver the same to him Ib. 81. 1647 Falkirk Baron Ct. 24 Dec.
The quhilk hors … sufficientlie qualiefeyit be famous witnesis to perteine to the said George(2) 1625 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 1 June.
The said day compeirit Wm. Paxstoun bot qualefeit not that it was his sister that was with him 1629 Justiciary Cases I 102.
And it is nocht qualifeit that scho knew thame to be witches 1630 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 2 June.
It was qualefeit aganis hir, nayther could scho refuis bot scho hade a begining of drunkinnes 1631 Justiciary Cases I 193. 1632 Dumbarton B. Rec. 38.
It is qualified he struck her yestrien

2. To specify, particularise, define. 1622 Crim. Trials III 524.
Non relevat ‘vncouth seiknes’, except it war in lyk maner qualifeit quhat is vncouthe 1622-6 Bisset I 203/16.
Incase the summe qualyfied in the exceptioun, duply or suspensioun extend to the summe of ane hundreth pundis … or abone

3. To modify (a statement) by limitations or reservations. 1586 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 81.
Ane lettir that we did send to have moved the lord thesaurare to have qualifeit this answer gevin be him directed be hir majestie and counsall

4. To impart a specific quality to, to modify the nature of in a specific direction. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 194.
That the lords might cognosce civilie upon ane deid of contraventione, quhilk wes qualified criminaliter, be takeing of men furth of their houses under silence of night, and be strikeing and wounding of them

5. To endow (a person) with the necessary qualifications or accomplishments to do something, to make fit or competent (for some function). 1695 Douglas Corr. 286.
Nether my peartts nor edwcation qwallefiys me to understand how accounts may be mad up