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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Repreve, -prove, -pruve, v. Also: ra- and -prew(e, -pref(e, -preif(e, -preiff; -prive; -prow(e, -prof(f, -proif; -pruw, -pruf(e, -pruff, -prwfe, -pruif. [ME and e.m.E. repreue(n (Manning), reprieve (Spenser), also reprove(n (Rolle), repruue (a1325), AF repreov-, repruver, OF reprover (c1120 in Larousse), L. reprobāre.]

1. tr. To censure (conduct, way of thinking, etc.); to express disapproval of.(a) c1420 Ratis R. 1451.
Eild can nocht se to rapref wyce c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 394.
Na man may rapref the werk of God a1500 K. Hart 128.
For wes thair nocht … That no man micht the poynting of ane prene Repreve c1515 Asl. MS I 202/2.
Becaus he reprevit his wikkit deidis he exild him 1513 Doug. Comm. i Prol. 425.
Quhilk falt reprefit nocht the goddes diuinite a1538 Abell 11b. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 491.
Jeremy reprefand the ydolatre of his pepill … thai stanit him to deid c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2469.
Dauid planely did repreue ydolatrye a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 134/13.
Vritand aganis Luther he reprevis the jugement and doctrin of hyme that apprevis the real presence 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 402.
Quhat oppressioun or vice hes he not repreuit?(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 6.
To repreif [Bann. repreife] thé of thi misleuing, O man 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1275.
I considder prudent folk will … sic jangling repreif Id. Æn. i Prol. 106.
My wark or ȝhe repreif Consider it warly reid oftar than anys a1538 Abell 71b.
Hir wikkit malice is to repreif principalie in 3 thingis 1549 Compl. 12/15.
Prompt to repreif ane smal ignorant falt Ib. 156/25.
Bot I repreif the ouer prodig expensis that sum gentil men makkis on horse and doggis 1567 Sat. P. vii 82.
Quhat preachour this repreif, I pray ȝow, durst? a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 325/34.
All vertew loue and all vyces repreif(c) a1400 Leg. S. v 106.
Ȝet God of hewine sic lare vald reprof 1456 Hay I 256/24.
It is a thing reprovit of God and of his lawis 1490 Irland Mir. II 107/3.
The philosophouris … reprehendis and reprovis ane of thame vthir thar sawis and opinioun as fals 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 970.
Thow rauis vnrockit, … So to reproue ryches or propertie a1578 Pitsc. I 40/8.
Persawing … they could nocht reprowe his tyrannie be strength or might Ib. II 65/13.
I reproved no maner of confessioun 1584 Misc. Bann. C. I 122.
Som ministers did reprove the enormities that reigned 1700 Rothesay Par. Rec. 134.
[They are to] reprove any breach of Sabbath or smaller indecencies they can find(d) ?1438 Alex. i 563.
Men suld nocht repruf pouerte c1460 Thewis Wysmen 29.
We find … That men suld prech, … Raprufand erour, foly and wyce 1490 Irland Mir. II 119/26.
I speik nocht of the woidnes corporale at Arestotill reprufis in the ferd buk of phesik a1500 Bk. Chess 747.
So hie [= he] repruiffis in a judge to be A vrechednes alyk and verray pouirtie 1513 Doug. i Prol. 496.
Gyf I haue falȝeit, baldly reprufe my ryme a1538 Abell 123a.
And thow be prelait or prechour thow suld reprwfe herice and conferme the faith a1568 Scott i 45.
The pulling doun of policie reprufe

2. To rebuke, blame or chide (a person); to find fault with.Also const. of or for (the action reproved, etc.), and with clause or other compl.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 120.
Than fyfe of his maste prewe men Reprewit Nero 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 1951.
May nane repreif me quhan I de ane king c1460 Thewis Wysmen 44.
Fore wysdome … fleis fra thaim that it raprevis a1500 Rauf C. 843.
‘Now, be the rude,’ said Schir Rauf, ‘I repreif thé!’ a1500 Lanc. 3227. c1475 Wall. vii 612.
At Bothwell ȝeit he was, Repreiffit Wallang or he wald forthir pas c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 126/78.
I say not, Sir, ȝow to repreiff 1533 Bell. Livy I 145/10.
He reprevit euery ane of thame be thare name a1538 Abell 83b.
Quhilkis first bringand a wnconsecrat wst he reprevit 1549 Compl. 159/25. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 243.
Judith … repreffit [pr. repressit] thame scharply sayand quhat maner of men ar ye? 1587-99 Hume 210/2.
Gif thow be euill, thow will be wors repreuit(b) 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 245.
The vther wald na mair reprive him, But all men he forbade beleive him(c) 1375 Barb. ii 116.
Bot, at I nocht reprowyt war, On this maner weile wyrk thou may Ib. xvi 605.
For he had thaim reprowyt [C. repreuit] sua That … nane fled him fra ?1438 Alex. ii 4728.
Ȝe … ay reproues me quhen ȝe may! c1450-2 Howlat 809 (A).
The dene rurale, the ravyn, reprovit him than 1456 Hay II 90/17.
Than sall he be reprovit … and put to perpetuale defame c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 85.
My freyindis thow reprovit with thy pen 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 148.
Quhair ane unfreman … efter that he be reproffit, dyngis our giltine burges one the faice …, ve put sic ane man in to ane gret vrang 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 14.
To wryt to the lord of Kilmawaris … in sum part reprowan hym 1575 Reg. Soltre 229.
Thair brethering being … reprovit be the maister hospitale(d) a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 32.
Thay wald ws bayth reproif(e) c1420 Ratis R. 966.
That nane reprufe thé eftirwart c1420 Wynt. ii 731 (C).
Repruffand [R. Repruwand] thaim as sottis wille … For to lieff it fayntly c1460 Consail Vys Man 101.
Thow may nocht ples hyme to rapruf a1500 Henr. Fab. 2281.
Ane lord … That … doutis to be repruuit Id. Test. Cress. 280.
Cresseid … Me and my mother starklie can reprufe 1554–5 Corr. M. Lorraine 396.
Ye sall nocht be repruffit nodyr with the keyngis majestye nor the quenis grace 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8935.
Gif I sa did I war greit to reprufe 1567 G. Ball. 188. a1568 Scott xxxiv 59.
Ȝit thair is lesum lufe … He is nocht to reprufe That is with ane possest 1575 St. A. Kirk S. 415.
And his dochtir repruffit and accusit Mariory(f) a1578 Pitsc. I 44/21.
The Earle of Douglas … repruiffit thame heightlie 1580 Reg. Privy S. VII 414/2.
The … officiaris to repruif, correct and … to deprive and displace according to his majesteis commandment(2) 1375 Barb. v 84 (C) (see 6 (c) below).
Repreif c1475 Wall. viii 723.
He … Rapreiffyt Eduuard rycht gretlye off this thing 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece II 76.
Colgern … come … to the Pichtis, reprevand thaim of thair unfaithfull mind 1533 Gau 17/27.
Thay that … raprewis thayme notht of thairbakbitine 1546–7 Corr. M. Lorraine 179.
And trow weill your grace sall nevir be reprevit therof 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 399.
To repreif the generationis present of thair vnrichteousnes(b) c1420 Wynt. viii 6099.
Reprowyd scho suld noucht be for-thi … off trychery 1456 Hay I 247/22.
Na that ony mycht reprove thame of disobeysaunce 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 51.
Of the quhilk Chamaeleon reprovit vehemently the Hamiltonis — 1456 Hay I 11/2.
He reprovit Herodes of his brothir wyf(c) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8185.
Quhill I reprufe hir of the cruell crime Scho laid on me 1595 Rec. Earld. Orkney 171.
That … nane within the paroschin … repruf the said Georg … theroff(3) a1568 Pedder C. 46.
Thay ar reprevit for that regratour a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 40.
Sum … micht haue reprevit me for … foryetting sic thingis 1570 Leslie 114.
And reprevit thame scharplie for thair behaviour(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 4422.
For this day tuis I haue bene reprouit for cowardis 1608 Crim. Trials II 542.
The Deuill … reprovet … Beigis Tod verrie scherplie, for hir lang tayreing 1675 S. Leith Rec. 131/2.
Cited for abusing some of elders … when they reproved him for the ill-making of a grave(c) 1595 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 221.
To ilk persone quha repruiffes him thairfoir 1603 Dundonald Par. Rec. 30.
He hard … Johne Neill … reprufe Johne Maxvell, yungar, for stryking of James Fullartoun(4) a1500 Seven S. 1448.
The lord … angrely has hir reprevit That scho had done sa gret offens 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece I 36.
Repreving him quhy he yeid fra the counsall of the wise nobillis Ib. II 40.
Hengist … reprevit him quhy he maid sa hevy cheir 1535 Stewart 31666.
Reprevand him quhy that he suld do so 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 168/4.
Augustyne … reprevit Aerius as ane heretyk(b) c1420 Wynt. v 5798.
And sayd he dowtyd for to be Reprowyd [C. Reprewit] wnkynd [W. repruffit of vnkyndnes] — 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece II 211.
Quhen Culine was reprovit that thir … enormiteis com only throw his misgovernance

3. To prove (an idea, statement, etc.) wrong; to rebut. 1490 Irland Mir. II 23/20.
This fals and subtil opynioun of Arestotill I haue … reprevit in the secund buk of the sentens 1533 Bell. Livy II 176/19.
In quhatsumeuir way sic thingis ar, I wil nowthir afferme nor ȝit repreif thame Ib. I 9/2.

b. To refute, confute, disagree with (a person). 1490 Irland Mir. II 107/4.
And Arestotil reprevit almaist all the philosophouris that was befor him 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4136.
Or ane gay knicht, nor a priest to thy lufe Scho said mother thairin I ȝow reprufe 1562-3 Winȝet I 101/18.
Men in this vocatioun … suld … be … potent to repreue [MS repreviffe] and conuict the gainsayaris of the samin

4. To set aside (a document) as invalid. b. Only in Nisbet, after Purvey: To reject. 1479 Acta Conc. I 41/2.
Ay & quhill the said letter vnder the said Thomas Forbas sele be repreifit and decernit of na valeb. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxi 42.
The staan quhilk biggaris repreuet [P. repreueden]

5. Of God: To reject (a person) from (fra) heaven; to reprobate.Also in this sense in ME (Rolle, etc.) and in e.m.E. till 1604. 1490 Irland Mir. II 149/7.
God … reprovit thaim fra his hevinly realme ioy and blis

6. absol. or intr. To rebuke, give a rebuke.(a) a1500 Lanc. 1959.
As beith not to schamful nore to nyce … But dissemblyng reprewith as afferis 1513 Doug. i vi 174.
Thus he reprevys [Sm. repruifis], bot sche is went adew 1549 Compl. 130/5.
The prudent Seneque gyuis cummand to repreif vitht out iniure 1551 Hamilton Cat. 61.
Preche thow the word, be fervent, … ympreif, repreif, exhort [etc.](b) c1420 Wynt. vii Prol. 12.
Off inwyows brynnand men That offtare will reprove [C. repruff] than ken(c) 1375 Barb. v 84.
Thocht we slepand slew thaim all, Repruff [C. Repreif vs] thar off na man sall c1420 Ratis R. 1446.
And eild, that suld repruf & plenȝe And pres al wycis to refrenȝe 1573–4 Cal. Sc. P. I 639.
That thairupoun ȝour majestie micht repruif or declaire ȝoure displeasure