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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Avise, Awise, v. Also: avis, avys, avyse, avisz, avyis, avice, auise, auyse, awis, awys(e, awyis. [ME. avise (c 1300), avyse, etc., OF. aviser: cf. Advise v.]

1. refl. To bethink (oneself) carefully. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 556.
Haf I nocht geffyne thé The space of a nycht to avice thé Ib. xx. 242.
Awysis ȝow Quhilk of thyre twa ȝe wil tak now c1420 Wynt. viii. 5296.
Scottis men Awysit thaim alsamyn then a1500 Henr. III. 140/5.
Than sowld ane lord awyse him weill c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc. 43.
Awys thé weill … Of all thi synnes 15.. Christis Kirk 57.
He him avysit as man discreit a1570-86 Maitl. F. cliii. 9.
Avyse the wele quhill thow hes tyme and space

2. In passive to be avisit: To take counsel with oneself or others; to come to a decision or conclusion after consideration or reflection; to attain to a clear understanding. Freq. const. with (a matter), how, that, etc. 1375 Barb. i. 620.
Ic ask ȝow respyt for to se This lettir and tharwith awysit be a1400 Leg. S. ii. 172.
Nero … bad that nane suld noy Cristine mare, Till he forthyre awisit ware Ib. xxviii. 209, etc. 1410–1 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 31.
[The court] respitit till ane othir court for to be bettir awisit 1456 Hay I. 194/25.
The tyme is sa schort he may nocht be avisit to sett remede Ib. 302/5.
He suld be wele and ryply avisit or that he write to the pape 1460 Peebles B. Rec. 138.
The sys … ȝid fwrtht and was awyssit 1479 Acta Conc. 24/1.
In the mene tyme the king wil be avisit Ib. 42/2.
To … bring with him the evidentis … that our souuerain lord may be avisit therwith 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. 8 b.
The inqueist delais this mater quhil thai be ferder avyssit & speir the maner 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 239.
[The council] ordanis the thesaurer to intromet with the doksiluer quhil thai be forther avisit a1578 Pitsc. I. 119/9.
The said James tuk to be avyssit in this matter Ib. 236/4.
He callit his counsall, and was awysed with thame quhat he suld do herein

b. In the p.p. used appositively, as we, etc. (beand) avisit. Freq. with adverbs as fullely, ripely, sadly, wele avisit. 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. 410.
Than the Curt fullely awisit … decretit that [etc.] 1410–1 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 31.
The court awisit and the partys callit in, it was said [etc.] 1443 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 268.
We riply avisit with men of law gert chese up an assise 1462 Peebles B. Rec. 148.
The court saydly avysyt and fenssyt about … decretyt [etc.] 1495 Acta Conc. 382/1.
The lordis of Consale beand awisit apon the said excepcioun decrettit [etc.] 1510 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 390.
The quhilk inquest avisit with the act … fand the said Alane in the wrang 1539 Reg. Cupar A. II. 5.
We … cheptourly gadderit, rypelie avisit … have set [etc.] 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 201.
The saidis provost … reiplie auisit thairwith refuisit the samyn

3. To plan, devise, arrange. 1375 Barb. ii. 298.
As he awisyt, now have thai done 1442 Reg. Great S. 64/1.
Als sikker as the said lord … can be avisit to be made be us 1456 Hay I. 115/22.
It mon be wele avisit that it be nere wod and gude water

b. To consider quhat, how, gif, that, etc. 1456 Hay I. 302/13.
[He] suld wele avis for quham be wrytis Ib. II. 162/6.
To kepe wele and avis quhat messangeris thou traistis in 1490 Irland Mir. I. 13/28.
Awis hou it suld be gouernit Ib. 26/28.
Awys gif thou be obedient 1531 Bell. Boece I. 13.
To avise gif proces of time micht gif ony better occasioun 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 220.
To avis gif he suld … mend the samyn 1639 Aberd. Univ. Rec. 410.
Avisand quither or no it suld be a platt or a upstanding ruiff

c. intr. To take counsel (with a person); to reflect (upon a thing); to become cognizant with. 1468 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 21.
That we wald pas togidder … and avise tharapon 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 44.
To mak him cum … to Edinburgh to avis for the diete of Anwic a1500 Henr. Fab. 2266.
Ane man may say … And syne ganesay, fra he auise and se a1570-86 Schaw Maitl. F. cxlvi. 9.
Giff ȝe be wys, avyse heiron 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 174.
Vnderstandand that thair assissouris … hes bene in vs to avis and voit with the counsale 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol.
She bad me with hir mater auyse 1570 Sat. P. xxiii. 143.
Auise heiron, sen now is tyme of neid a1578 Pitsc. I. 238/2.
The counsall … awysit of all matteris concernyng the common weill 1596 Dalr. II. 250/7.
Sum of his secreit counsel … quha suld auise … tueching the mater

4. tr. To take into consideration. 1456 Hay II. 121/27.
Syne suld thou avis prouffitable blude lattingis c1450-2 Howlat 264.
Thir fowlis … weraly awysit … the maner, the mater a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1386; Ib. 1482.
Quha wald take cure … Thai hevinlie joyis degestlie till awys 1489 Acta Conc. 99/2.
Chargeing thaim to avise the said contract 1513 Doug. v. viii. 46.
Avysand weil the place maist oportone 1516 Edinb. B. Rec. 160.
Till avys and considder the said mater 1531 Bell. Boece I. 16.
Yit ane thing bene necessar to avise 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 289.
The compt foirsaid … hard, sene, and reiplie avisit and consederat 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 57.
To do, awys, treitt, resone, and conclude the placing [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II. 264/30.
He avised sum way to bring this mater about

5. To advise, give advice to (a person). Brus xvi. 134 (C).
Othir lordis . . Avisit [E. ameyssyt] the king in sum party c1490 Porteous Noblenes 1/13.
The mischeif and fall awise [v.r. awys] and consulis a man