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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Devoid(e, Devod(e, v. Also: devoyd(e, -voyid, -vyid, dewoid, -woyd, divoyd, divyde; dewod(e. [ME. devoyde, devoide (14th c.), devyde, OF. devoyder.]

1. tr. To cast out, eject, discharge. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2532.
The watter throw goddis will I devoded a1500 Henr. Fab. 2802.
I may not droun, for quhy my oppin gill Deuoidis ay the watter I resaif c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 166.
I sall the venome devoid with a vent large 1513 Doug. xiii. i. 10.
The Latyn pepill … gan devoid and hostit owt full cleir Deip from thar breistis the hard sorow smart

b. To cast aside, get rid of. c1475 Wall. iii. 148.
The shafft to schonkit off the fruschand tre; Dewoydyde sone, sen na bettir mycht be 1533 Boece xii. vii. 467.
Skantlie war the branchis devodit, and the armyis recounterit, quhen Makbeth … fled

c. To remove, do away with, cast off. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1732.
Quhair danger is … appeirand, It is greit wisedome to prouyde befoir, It to deuoid a1500 Lanc. 1031.
Deuoydit was his spritis and his gost, He wist not of hyme self nor of his ost 1531 Bell. Boece I. 228.
Angusiane … desirit thaim to devoid all injuris, and concur togidder in amite 1533 Boece viii. i. 247 b.
Devode all sleuth & cowardice, and cleid ȝow with glaid corage a1568 Bann. MS. 238 b/16.
Dewoyd langour and leif in lustines c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 197.
This we desyre for to deuoyid deseis In time cumming

2. To remove (persons, animals, or things) from a place or from association with others. 1465 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 60.
Than we gert deuoyde baith the said partis oute of court 1501 Acta Conc. MS. X. 128.
That letteris be direct til devod the saidis personis of the sadis lands thairapone a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 485.
Fra honest folk deuoide this lathly lown In sum desert 1513 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 144.
That na swyne within this towne be haldin bot into band, or ellis devoyde thame furth of the towne 1514 Ib. 150.
That … ony pik or tar barrellis … lyand apon the hiegait … be devoydit and tane away on Setterday at evin 1546 Corr. M. Lorraine 160.
Thair haill purpos is to devoyd us of this toun and to put in our nychtbouris 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8482.
His gude rewaird he sall not neid to craif, … Sa he deuoyd the rauins fra me all clene

b. refl. To remove (oneself); to depart, withdraw. 1491 Dunferm. B. Rec. 36.
Margret deponit the grete aith that schow suld … dewod hir self and hir gudis owt of the hous 1535 Stewart 23830.
Or tha culd diuyde thame of that land, Tha war baith tane and fast bund fit and hand 1536 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 73.
That all vagabunds that hes na maisteris pas, remoue, and devoyde thame furth of this towne 1560 Digest Iusticiary Proc. C. 12.
All persones quhilkis had defylit them selfis in adulterye … [to] dewoyde and red themselfis furth of the bruche 1561 Crim. Trials I. 409.
Thai wer … chargit … to pas abak, and devyid thame of the said burghe, for eschewing of trouble … in the samyn 1622-6 Bisset I. 299/18.
I have be my serjand warned thé to flit out of it, and to devoid thé of it

c. absol. in the same sense. c1420 Wynt. iv. 463.
Thai … ete and drank thaim to refresche, And syne dewoydid prewaly 1487 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 71.
[We charge them to] devoyd, red, and pas furth of this toun and compeir vpoun the sandis of Leith 1514 Lennox Mun. 209.
George Lyll … to dewoid and pas out of the place of Dwchall 1514 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 151.
The said Thomas … to devoyd betuix this and the morn vnder the said payne 1530 Ib. II. 42.
Margret Baxter … is banist this tovne … and till devoid incontinentfig. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 130.
Heir we wer apeiring to fallout in some termes devoyding from the purpose

d. tr. To deliver, rescue (a person); to remove or take away from another. c1450-2 Howlat 519.
Sen I se thé our-set, … I sal devoid thé of det, Or de in the place 1521 Liber Melros 631.
To red or dewoid ony steding or stedingis of the said landis out of the handis of quhatsumeuer person or personis

3. To make empty or clear. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1539.
The hous than gert he deuod all Of thaim that thar war ?1438 Alex. ii. 9362.
Grecianis thairof war full fane That the renk deuoyded was 1457 Acts II. 51/1.
He sall devoide the grovnde baith of him and his gudis 1511 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 81.
The four officiaris to … ger devoid and red the heygait of al swyne cruffis being apon the forget 1535 Stewart 47828.
He tuke purpois for to devoid Scotland Of Inglismen and thair auctoritie 15.. Clar. i. 1449.
Devoydit was the chalmer suddenly

b. refl. To divest (oneself) of something. c1475 Wall. iv. 791.
Wallas … Deuoydyde him sone of the womannys weid 1533 Bell. Livy I. 140/29.
He devodit him self sa plesandlie of all ornamentis riall

c. To free, rid, release (oneself or another) of something. a1500 Henr. Orph. 147.
Treis dansit with thair leves grene Him to devoid of his gret womenting a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1078.
For luf of Ihesu devoid thé of thi wyce 1492 Myll Spect. 272/2.
For to devoyd me of sic ymagynationis I tuk a lytill buk in Latyn to pas mye tyme a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. cxvii. 15.
Repent in tyme, devoid thé of this laid 1531 Bell. Boece II. 8.
Devoid you of sleuth, and belt you with gud hoip

4. To remove or withdraw from; to vacate. ?1438 Alex. ii. 9401.
His men the feild deuoyded all. Fleand thay went 1503 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 97.
That all vther beggaris nocht haiffand thir taikins sall devoyde the towne incontinent 1540 Lynd. Sat. 950.
It is the Kings command, That he anone devoyd this place

b. spec. To vacate (lands, etc.); to withdraw from occupying or possessing. Freq. coupled with red and const. to a person. 1442 Stirlings of Keir 216.
That he sulde … incontynent remufe and devoyde the said landis … and decist from sic occupacioun in tyme to cum 1457 Acts III. 51/1.
The personis complenȝeande vpone sik maisterfull men sall … ask his grovnde to be devodyt 1466 Acta Aud. 3/2.
The tak … of the landis … is of na vale; and therfore [thelordis] ordanis him to devoide and red the samyne to Alexander 1469 Ib. 9/1.
That the said Alexander … sal incontinent devoide & red … the said akris 1485 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 318.
The Lordis of Consale … ordanis thaim to devoide and red the samyn [land] to … Wilȝhame elect confirmate of Aberdene 1500 Lennox Mun. 167.
Quhensumeuir it sall happin the said lord to command … me, … [I] sall devoide and red the saide ground 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 181.
The jugis hes decretit … that thai sould devoid & red the saidis landis of Ballinbeitht