Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Conduce, v. Also: conduse. [ME. conduce (c 1475), L. condūcere.]

1. tr. To conduct, lead, guide. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 17/4.
Sene twa thingis are necessare to leid and conduce ws to … Paradice c1515 Asl. MS. I. 180/11.
Scho it is that gydis, reulis, & conducis all his werkis and doyngis

2. intr. To contribute to something. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 55/15.
Preserue ws … fra the aduersite of the waurld, that conducis nocht nor helpis nocht to oure saluacioun

3. tr. To engage (a person) for service; to hire.In common use from 1530 to 1600. 1493 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 338.
Johnne Rossale, masone, was conducit and hirit … for ane ȝer to remane in thar seruice 1494 Dunferm. B. Rec. 54.
[The] alderman and balyeis … conducit him yeirly [as chaplain] als lang as he seruit the morne seruice 1531 Bell. Boece I. 147.
Thay conducit certane fischaris … to gide thame throw the said dangeir 1535 Stewart 18925.
Tua fair ȝoung men … He hes conducit with gold, riches and fe, To feinȝe thame as tha Scottis sould be 1539 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 164.
That thair be ane cassay makar feyit and conducit for daly wagis 1547 Treas. Acc. IX. 115.
To other tua men conducit be Robert Wyderspone siclike to remane in the castell 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5910.
Ȝe haue aneuch of gude money and gold, For to conduce the fairest on the mold 1574 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 21.
The haill communitie … conducit Johnne Cowpar to pas euerie day … throw all the rewis of the toune playand upon the almany quhissil 1596 Highland P. I. 153.
He hyrit, intyzit, perswadiet and condusit umquhill Gillipatrick Oc Mackellar to execute the said wickid … enterprise 1613–4 Misc. Spald. C. V. 139.
The … meassonis and barrowmen that wer conducit … for weiklie wages 1645 Peebles Gleanings 310.
Johnne Ker … conduceit to be thair schooldoctour … fra Witsonday 1645 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II. 13.
Richart Porteous conduceit herd to keepe the tounes schep upon Venlaw 1688 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 145.
[Each tenant … to pay four pounds] for conduceing and outreiking the four militia souldiours of foote to his majesties service 1689 Buchanan De Jure 37.
Who for greater gain may be conduced to fightrefl. 1541 Elgin Rec. II. 62.
James Falconer sall conduce him with ane master and nocht to pas bagane within this bruchg 1621 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 96.
He hes conducit himselff to gang to Bohemia to play the sogeor

b. To hire the use of (a vessel, etc.). 1531 Bell. Boece I. 256.
He conducit ane gret nowmer of schippis … to cum in Albioun 1533 Boece xiii. vi. 509 b.
Quhen he was arrivit in Flandris … he conducit ane schip to Scotland 1558 Treas. Acc. X. 353.
For twa hors wagis conducit to the said Niniane to turs his claithis of Edinburgh to the said castell 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 121.
The said Johne … conducit ane fischeing boit of Pittinweme to transport thame to Lowthiane 1600-1610 Melvill 168.
My cusing … conducit a bott to carie a town of his portage wyn about to Carell a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) 330.
Gowry … conducing a ship gave out that he would forthwith depart 1662 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 139.
She was immediatlie caried and taken away in [a] coach conduced of purpose be William Hamiltoun

c. To let out on contract. 1569 Peebles B. Rec. 316.
The … communite hes conducit and feyit the walling of the said tovne … of Peblis

4. intr. To make a bargain with one. c 1550 Corr. M. Lorraine 442.
I have conducit with ane honest … sklaitar that sall beit the hail louging 1620 Stirling B. Rec. I. 152.
The saidis provest [etc.] … hes conducet & apointet with him … that he sall have in stipend [etc.] 1630 Stirling's Royal Lett. II. 488.
We think it expedient that yow conduce with artificers … for putting them in such good ordour as is requisit