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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.

Command, v. Also: com(m)awnd, commaund(e. [ME. com(m)ande, com(m)aunde, etc. (c 1300), OF. comander, late L. commandāre. The p.t. and p.p. are occasionally without ending.]

1. tr. To give orders for, to enjoin or prescribe. 1375 Barb. i. 258.
Quhethir he … suld … do Thai thingis that commaundyt is him to 1456 Hay I. 106/8.
Under payne of forfeture command tharein Ib. 108/25.
Othir lordis may nocht command bataill na weris c1475 Wall. viii. 860.
The ost … Comaundyt wachis, and no mayr noyis maid 1490 Irland Mir. I. 78/19.
It was commaundit to thame, Crescite [etc.] 1513 Doug. i. ix. 95.
Sche … commandis halyday 1533 Gau 22/17.
Al thing quhilk is commandit to ws of guid warkis 1533 Bell. Livy I. 247/19.
The vacance of lawis was commandit 1562-3 Winȝet II. 30/15.
Bot peraduentuir thir thingis ar onlie commandit to the Galathianis

b. With infinitive or subordinate clause as object. Also absol. after as. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 611.
Egeas commawndyt that he Thar in a frame suld sted be 1389 Liber Melros 449.
To yow ioyntly & seuerailly … we bid & commandes [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2171.
He commandit he suld be tone c1420 Wynt. ii. 560.
The kyng gert commawnd … The knawe barnys sulde be put to dede c1450-2 Howlat 131.
The Pape commandit … to wryte in all landis a1500 Bernardus 85.
He comawndis betwene gluttony And thi purs be striffe c1475 Wall. iv. 256.
Wallace commaundede thai suld na wermen saiff Ib. ix. 1717.
Wallace commaund, quha wald cum to his pes [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 66.
I trow … in the Kirk, to do as it commandis 1513 Doug. ii. iii. 80.
Of sa huge quantite Calcas commandis beld this statw 1533 Gau 4/33.
Ve suld … pray to na oder bot to hime, as hime selff commandit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4339.
Scho … commandit that hir bed With purpour clais and silk suld be ouir spred 1596 Dalr. I. 287/13.
The King … commandes and chairges, that thay … cearse out this kynd of peple Ib. II. 380/5.
Scho commandet to kendle fyres … throuch al tounes

2. To give a command or order to (a person). Usually const. with infin. or clause.For charge and command see Charge v. 4 d. a1400 Leg. S. iv. 212.
I commawnd thé That … thou ryse and blyse thi creatoure 1472 Edinb. Chart. 135.
Quharefor straitle we commande and chargis our schireff … that [etc.] c1475 Wall. vii. 408.
Wallace commaunde a burges for to get Fyne cawk eneuch Ib. viii. 1264.
Commaund your men … thai wyrk nocht on sic wys a1500 Rauf C. 585.
Hes thow my bidding done, as I thé command? c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 80.
The restles suallow commandit scho also To feche all fowll 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 52.
Our feris command I than Tak thar wapynnys 1528 Misc. Spald. C. II. 80.
The Kingis lettres, commandan the Erle of Murray … to pas vpoun the Clanhattan a1540 Freiris Berw. 539.
In this place se that thow cum no moir Bot I command thé 1555 Glenartney Doc.
That … ȝe … command and charge … the inhabitantis thairof … to desist and ceis fra … slaying of the foirsaid deir a1578 Pitsc. I. 81/19.
The kingis maiestie commandit ane companie of men of weir to bring him agains his will 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 91.
Jonet Wischert … commandit … Katherine Ewyn to rys airlie befoir the sone 1615 Highland P. III. 228.
That the principall gentilmen, and vtheris of the Ilandis, be comandit to attend … with tua gallayis

3. To commend or commit. 1444 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 10.
We commaunde ws on to yhou with al our hartes 1468 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 24.
We commaunde ws hartily to yow a1500 Lanc. 2801.
The knycht … Sche had commandit to hir cussynece 1570 Reg. Morton I. 50.
Command me to ȝour mother and to ȝour bedfellow