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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RESILE, v. Also †resill. Sc. usages. [rə′səil, †rə′sil]

1. To withdraw from an agreement or undertaking (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 212). Also absol. to retract, withdraw. Vbl.n. resiling. Gen.Sc.Ags. 1712 Dundee Kirk Session Rec. MS. (16 Oct.):
He wickedlie resills from and denys he is guiltie.
Edb. 1721 South Leith Records (Robertson 1925) II. 39:
Pawns forefaulted by the mans resiling from the intended marriage.
Sc. 1743 Trans. Gael. Soc. Inv. (1886) 378:
After he first consented to it, he then resiled and carried her of.
Sc. 1826 H. Duncan William Douglas I. x.:
We see resilings, and backslidings among us.
Sc. 1830 Scott Demonology 293:
Much pains was taken on her that she might resile from that confession.
Sc. 1845 Campbell Chancellors III. 565:
But he thought it was too late to resile.
m.Lth. 1884 J. Plenderleith Kittlegairy Vacancy vi.:
Resile from the testimony of the Secession Fathers at this time of day!
Gall. 1896 Crockett Grey Man xxiv.:
He resiled from all his promises.
Sc. 1938 St. Andrews Cit. (12 Nov.) 4:
The Trust will be able to resile from the agreement to purchase the property.

2. To start away in distaste or repulsion, to recoil (from something) (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rnf. a.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) R. 23; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.).Sc. 1776 D. Hume Essays I. 6:
The more I resiled from their excessive civilities.
Lnk. 1882 A. Nimmo Songs 199:
Come and make cauld care resile.
Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 151:
Nay! I weary to gang; frae a' sin to resile.
Sc. 1986 Scotsman 15 May 4:
Mr Biffen did not resile from the strong comments which earned the deep displeasure of the Prime Minister.

3. To deceive, beguile (Ayr. 1825 Jam.). An erroneous and prob. spurious usage.

[O.Sc. resile, to draw back from, 1595, absol., a.1633, to recoil from, a.1689, O.Fr. resiler, resilir, Lat. resilire, to jump back, recoil. The word is rare in Eng. before the 18th c. and is still infrequently used, exc. in deriv. forms like resilient.]

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"Resile v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/resile>

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