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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DESCRIVE, v. Also descryve, di-, -scrieve. To describe (Sc. 1808 Jam.); vbl.n. descrivin(g), describing, description. Obs. exc. in arch. use. [də′skrɑɪv, də′skriv]Sc. 1724–27 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) II. 196:
An house their [sic] stands on Leader side, Surmounting my descriving.
Bnff. 1823 W. Robertson Baron of Gartley in G. Greig Folk-Song N.-E. (1914) xv.:
And up there rose a fearful sight Which nae man can discryve.
Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
An' gin it war lawfu' to be vyokie owre sairious maitters o' that kin', it's a rael true wye o' descryvin' the thing.
Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 63:
“Lard Jock,” quoth Tam, “whan ye're discrievin' Ye gang ayont a focks believin'.”
Edb. 1821 W. Liddle Poems 75:
Whare folks live in't o' a' descrivin.
Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie Poems 23:
Her tae descrive I widnae ettle.
Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) I. 119:
Such butch'ry's horrid to descrive.
Ayr. 1786 Burns To W. Simpson xvi.:
Let me fair Nature's face descrive.

Hence descriver, one who describes.ne.Sc. 1714 R. Smith Poems 90:
Let this be written on thy Tomb, Here Dirts descriver lyes.

[Descrive, -scryve is found in O.Sc. from 1513 and discrive from 1375; Mid.Eng. descrive, di-, from O.Fr. descrivre, ultimately from Lat. describere. In the 16th cent. the latinised form describe gradually gained currency in Eng., but the old form was retained in Sc.]

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"Descrive v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/descrive>

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