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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hienes, n. Also: hienace, -nis, hines. [Var. of Henes.] Highness.

1. Highness of rank, dignity, greatness. 1456 Hay I. 32/27.
The faith has tane mare hienes and strenth throu the … marterdome of haly marteris c1475 Wall. xi. 1315.
He has rong lang in contrar my hienace c1490 Porteous Noblenes in c1515 Asl. MS. I. 175/10.
He that has na honour his hienes be he neuir so gret hastely fallis a1568 Scott vi. 11.
For luve to hienes hes no heid, Nor lychtleis lawlines ane air 1596 Dalr. I. 105/28.
The secunde of thame, quhais nobilitie, and hines of blude, hes placed in the secunde digrie of the commoune weil 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 26/6.
Thinke not thairfore that the hienes of youre digntie diminishes youre faultis

2. As a complimentary title. 1456 Hay I. 4/3.
I mak ȝour hienes hertly … supplicatioun 1478 Misc. Spald. C. V. 26.
For certane commissionaris … to be send til his hienes c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 8/32.
Souerane lord of hevin & erd … , I grant that I haue synnit aganis ȝour hienes 1502 Acta Conc. MS. XI. 150 b.
The costis … made be the kingis hienes vpone the graithing … of the sade schip 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 446.
Thair hienessis doubtis nocht bot everie nobill man … will obey 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 165.
Thair was presentit to hir hienes … a lettre [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 51/16.
They sould be denunceit as tratouris to our sowerans hienes horne 1578 Reg. Privy C. II. 705.
That his hienes Parliament … salbe thair fensit 1592 Acts III. 563/1.
All … wreittis … [to] be past vnder his hienes casshett 1618 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
For ministring of justice equallie to all his hienes leigis 1641 Acts V. (1817) 600/2.
Ane act … for his hines and his successoris

3. Pride, conceit, vanity. 1456 Hay I. 300/15.
Or it cummys of pride and hienes in hert to pas otheris in fredome 1533 Gau 87/27. Ib. 95/20.
Keip ws fra al spiritual hienes and fra al vane gloir

4. Height, altitude. 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 280.
Ane triangill to measure the hienis of the borrow loche