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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.

Rigor(o)us, adj. Also: rig(o)ur-, riger-, rego(u)r-, regr- and -ouse, -os. [ME and e.m.E. rigorous (Wyclif), riger-, rigurous (Lydgate), OF rigoreux, -euse (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), med. L. rigorosus.]1. Of a person or body of persons: Inflexible in administering the law; strict; stern; severe or harsh (to a person). Also in fig. context.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 2000.
For he is courtes attour all thing, Rigorus, hardy but affraying, And of fare hauing [etc.] 1456 Hay I 243/27.
For gif a king be a rigorous man and wele sett to kepe law and justice [etc.] Ib. 299/29. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 58/18.
Appele fra the court of justice rigorus to the court of mercy and thow wilbe seker a1538 Abell 28a.
He wes mair equaill na rigoros in iustice 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 109.
Nocht onelie to putt the actis to executioun according to the tennour thairof, but als to be rigourus in sic maner nocht to tak the personis … gudis … bot als thair liffis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 681.
Quhair he befoir was melancholious, [Wod, ire]full, angrie, crabit and rigerous a1561 Norvell Meroure 5b.
There sat the Lawe, both bolde and rigorous 1565–6 Knox VI 508.
That he shew him self more rigerous against the Empreour then it became a pasture to have done a1568 Bann. MS 38a/23.
[God] Sa potent to puneis, sa littill rigorus(2) 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 525.
She … begouth to be rigorous and extreme to his freindis and kinsmen 1570 Leslie 19.
This maister of Craufurd, … quha was a verrey awfull and rigorus man to all the barronis and gentlemen of the cuntrey and keist doun mony of thair houses

b. Zealous. c. Strict; scrupulous.b. a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 25.
Becaus of the kingis presence [the advocates] war the mair hait and rigorus in the materc. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 137/30.
Quhow sal it be possible that ane Christiane man sal dispone … hyme self efter this rigorouse maner quhilk thinkis … that he is to receaue bot bair breade

2. Of a non-material thing, esp. a judgment, punishment, etc.: Strictly in accordance with the letter of the law; severe. 1456 Hay II 33/36.
And thus is thare … knychtis of the justice rigorous c1490 Irland Asl. MS 58/11.
Thocht he [sc. God] vs ws [? erron. for as] rigorus justice efter that the saull part fra the body 1533 Bell. Livy II 88/17.
He was ane man of maist rigorus and severe empire 1549 Compl. 23/20.
Or gyf it be ane rigorus mercyles decreit of ane iuge [etc.] 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 152.
The seveir and rigorus sentence off the Apostole 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV i 126.
They … has uset … proces of fourfaltour against … syndrie barons of hir fryndis … in thair maist rigorus forme 1590 Reg. Morton I 166.
For eschewing of sume rigurus forme dewysit aganis me 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 226.
For feare of regorous puneishment c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. fol. 62.
The rigorouse tryall ad aperturam libri was made chuse of 1689 Acts XII 65/1.
That all … rigorouse execuciones be considered and the parties lessed be redressed

b. Harsh; fierce; cruel. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 241.
Quhare that … lordis temporall War cruciate with panis regorous 1533 Bell. Livy I 189/10.
This opinioun of Marcius was found oure rigorus [v.r. regorus] be the faderis, for it was ane provocacioun to arme the pepill with maist ire aganis thame c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 701.
Thus and siclike with rank voice rigorous He did proclame 1562-3 Winȝet I 64/18.
Ȝour seueir punisment also, and rigorus indignatioun aganis thame quha ressaues nocht the samin 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 548.
Rigorous minassing c1582 Misc. Spald. C. II 335.
Inrespect of my regrous and evill handling notoriouslie knawin, the lyk neuir being practesit on na vther of my rank 1642 Banff Ann. I 86.
To caus scurge them in most rigorous maner bot any peitie 1651 Comm. Gen. Assembly III 377.
His rigorous handling of … some whom he caused … loupe the gateloupe at Carrickfergus

c. Of language: Harsh; ? reflecting inflexibility; ? legalistic. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2655.
Thy language rigorus Cummis thé off kynd 1494 Loutfut MS 47a.
Quhat euery rigorus message thai haue maid pertenand to thair office, this suld thai say till all princis and lordis 1533 Bell. Livy I 233/10.
Seand finalie his rigorus [v.r. regourus] and feirs wourdis nocht availl [etc.]

3. Strict in observance of detail; rigidly accurate; precise; detailed.(1) 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 153/25.
Ȝour acquittance is sua rigorous that I … douteis nocht bot ȝe will declayr the treuth according to ȝour vnderstanding 1586 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 657.
The brether … vottit not to entir in the rigorous discussing of the appellatioun and proces forsaid, but to be a mids therin(2) 1573–4 Reg. Privy C. II 329.
Obtenit … pament thairof in his tyme of the maist rigorous maner, that is to say the croun of the sone for fyftie thre soublz deliverit within this realme 1627 Rep. Parishes 107.
The teind quhairof being estimat at the highest and most rigorous rate viz. the fourt pairt of the dewitie