Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1700-1730, 1792-1845, 1897-1927
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ASSOILZIE, ASSOILȜIE, Assolzie, Assolie, v. This is the Sc. form for St.Eng. assoil. [ə′sɔɪlji, ə′sɔɪli]
1. Absolve from sin, grant absolution to, forgive; as in St.Eng. assoil. Arch.Sc. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth xxi.:
He will be freed from purgatory the sooner that good people pray to assoilzie him.
2. Used in Sc. law = to decide in favour of the defender in an action, or to find an accused not guilty.Sc. 1700 Records Conv. Burghs 1677–1711 (1880) 309:
The saids magistrats . . . of the said burgh of Glasgow are fully assoilzied.Sc. 1792 Edin. Even. Courant (May):
The sentence of the Sheriff of Roxburghshire, finding Betty Weens, spouse to Robert Crawfurd, Hawick, guilty of stealing a shirt, was reversed, upon an appeal, and she was assoilzied simpliciter, and dismissed from the bar.Sc. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 I. 376:
The Lords repelled the reasons of reduction and assoilzied the defenders.Mearns 1730 Baron Court Bk. Urie (S.H.S. 1892) 139:
Therfor creaves that the said two tacks may be assolzied from payment of any multure for the saids quantity of bear.Ags. 1708 Dundee Kirk Sessn. Records 10 Oct.:
And therfor assolies the said Samuell Little of being guiltie.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witchwood xiv.:
The veriest cateran that ever reived in the Hielands would be assoilzied on such a plea.Ayr. 1821 Galt Annals of the Par. xvi.:
The complaint was dismissed, by which the Session and me were assoilzied.
3. refl. To absolve oneself, to clear oneself by oath of untruthful testimony. See Purge, v., 2. Fif. 1897 S. Tytler Lady Jean's Son v.:
I assoilzied myself in the Parliament House; I took my Bible aith on what was God's truth.
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"Assoilzie v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/assoilzie>
