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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.

Rewine, Ruyne, v. Also: rewyn(e, -en; reuine, reuyne; rwyn, ruen, rwiyne; rowyn, -en, rouin; rown; (rivin). [e.m.E. ruine (1581), F. ruiner (c1260 in Larousse), med. L. ruinare, f. L. ruīna Rewine n.]

1. tr. To break down or destroy (a structure); to reduce (a place) to ruins.(1) 1572 Acts III 76/2.
That all housis, landis & tenementis rewinit, cassin doun, distroyit, or deteriorat, within … the said burghe … salbe reparit 1578 Ib. 113/2.
The vtheris touris castellis and fortalices … maist barbarouslie rewinn thair … kattell spulȝeit [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II 108/1.
Mony of these religius places wes rewyned and alluterlie distroyed out of memorie etc. 1661 Bk. Arran II 105.
[They] rivined the houses and cottages(2) 1605 Conv. Burghs II 208.
Thair brugh [sc. Dumbarton] … is altogidder rwiyneit be the violent inwasioun of the Watter of Lewin 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 335.
The … eislair work thairof [sc. the pier] brocht sindrie and schaikin louse sua that the samyn almaist appeiris to be utherlie rowynit and subvertit

2. To bring (a person or community) to poor, abject, hopeless or otherwise unfavourable circumstances; to ruin. 1570 Leslie 58.
He and his frindes had sufferit so greyt domage and skaith that thay wer utterlie reuyned Ib. 300.
The ane baneist … the uther put in perpetuall preason and the most part of thair kinn rewined 1558-66 Knox I 407.
Your commun-welth, quhilk ye see manifestlie … rewyneit befoir your eyis 1645 Lag Chart. 57.
It is intendit to rowen and sake all those that ver actors & leaders in it 1656 Laing MSS I 305.
To tak a calling wherby your family may not be utterly rewened 1660 Honours Scotl. 113.
Least the English should have tacken him and so rouined him by there severity

b. To bring (a person) to disaster; to defeat utterly. 1650 Laing MSS I 251.
Give ther be not some cours teaken to discepat thes forces … thay will daylie incres and ruen the king

3. To damage irreparably, destroy (a person's reputation, an enterprise, etc.). 1567 Reg. Morton I 18.
The Erll Bothvell … intendis to utterlie rwyn and decay the guid fame and brute of our derrast soveran 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 210.
And ther guid and commendabill workis … for making of … stuffes sall lykwayes be amost rownet and gevin up

4. intr. Of a building, etc.: To collapse, fall down in ruins; to deteriorate beyond hope of recovery. 1605 Glasgow Merchants House 94.
Hendrie Wilsoune and John Baba hes suffirit the said estmest hedg to ruyne and decay narrest the said Andro and Georg yeard 1616 Guide to St. Andrews (1953) 85.
The castle … without it be helpit, is liklie altogidder to ruyne

b. Of a person: To come to ruin or disaster. a1578 Pitsc. I 163/9.
He delyttit mair in singing and playing wpoun instrumentis nor he did in … the ministratioun of iustice, the quhilk at length caussit him to reuine