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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.

Gratitude, -tud, n. Also: gratituid, -tiud, gratetud. [e.m.E. (1524) and F. gratitude, late L. grātitūdo.]

1. A service or benefit performed, kindness or favour conferred. 1502 Douglas Bequest 51.
Becaus of grete gratitudis and wthir mocionis schawin to me be the said Robert c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 97.
Nocht thanking thé of gratitud nor grace That thow me wrocht 1531 Soc. Ant. II. 390.
xl li … delyverit … to the Lord Setone for gratitudis to be done 1535 Stewart 54610.
All war tynt ilkane, … The gratituidis war done to me befoir 1579 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 323.
Sinderie gratitudis and pleissouris done to me be my louit freind 1614 Burnett Fam. P. MS.
The gratitudis & guid deidis alreddie done to me 1631 Highland P. I. 324.
Many … gratitudes, plessouris, and guid deidis, done and impendit to him

b. Graciousness, kindness, favour. 1535 Stewart 23477.
On to that King, … Beseikand him of his greit gratitude He wald prouyde for thame ane king or prince

2. A free gift, grant or contribution to the King, Queen or Archbishop; a ‘benevolence’. 1490 Liber Aberbr. 267.
Till … Wilyam … Archbischop of Sanctandrois … the sowm of thre hundreth merkis … for his subsidé and gratitude 1530 Acta Conc. MS. XLI. 154.
Ane gratitude to the kingis grace of v^m li. 1535 Acts II. 344/2.
Ane gratitude is grantit to the Kingis grace be the thre estatis … for supportatioune of sik necessar erandis as his grace hes ado 1555 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 293.
To gif ane compositioune, propyne and gratitud to owr said souerane lady … for reformatioune … of the hurtis

b. A ‘good will’ payment or contribution to the landlord, in addition to the fixed rent and ‘gersum’. 1533–4 Acta Conc. & Sess. IV. 70.
Thai payand thar males and dewiteis with ane gratitude at the entres of ilk abbot 1548 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone 95.
The bischope send me to ȝou to … bid ȝou deliver ther gratitud as wtheris did for the tackis of Megstraucht 1549 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 146.
Quhilk land gaif ȝeirlie to him the sowme of ten merkis of male allanerlie but ony vther gratitude 1551 Banff Ann. II. 379.
To haue sett and for maill, grissum, and gratitud lattin

3. A payment or other remuneration for some service or thing; a gratuity. 1555 Digest Justiciary Proc. B. 122.
Certane sowmes of money payit to thame … and vther gratitudes gevin to thame in name of assythment [etc.] 1562 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 293.
Gif the same may nocht be purchest frelie without gratitud or compositioun 1574 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 329.
The Kirk ordains the said Mr James and Mr David to travell with Mr Andrew Polwart … , for correcting of the said Bible, and to appoint a reasonable gratitude therefore 1581 Lanark B. Rec. 84.
[He] gaf the said leceus and walter roum to the said myln to the toun … fre, gratis, without gratetud, in all tymes cuming 1597 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 158.
The sowme of fowrtie merkis, for ane gratitude for the sey kart presentit … be him to the prouest 1607 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 29.
In contentatioun of all other extraordinar gratitudes that thai may craif of the toun 1610 Forbes Certaine Rec. II. 422.
His Majestie had caused mak proclamation offering great gratituds and immunities to any who sould apprehend him

4. Gratefulness, gratitude, the desire to repay a benefactor. a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 141.
I luif the vertew callit gratitude, And lyk for lyk I ȝarne to ȝeild agane