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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.

Inventar, -are, -aire, n.² Also: inwentar, -air, inventer. [Late ME. (once) inventare (1435), OF. inventaire, late L. inventārium. Cf. Inventour n.²]

1. An inventory or list of the goods and chattels, etc., found in possession of a person on his decease.(a) 1488 Inv. Wardrobe .
Inventare of ane parte of the gold and silver [etc.] … that he had in depois the tyme of his deceis 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 174.
The inuentare of all the geyr left be bischoipe Alexander Gordoune seruandis within the bischoippis palice 1622-6 Bisset II. 80/10.
Gif ony persone testamentare … to ony deidis geir gevis nocht up the iust inventare baith of the quantitie and iust prices thairof(b) 1579 Edinb. Test. VII. 212.
The said Barbara … refaris the geving doun of inuentar of testament of gndis & geir to … hir spous 1588 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 425.
The testament dative and innentar of the guidis pertening to … Dauid Chalmer of Balbethane 1662 Decis. Lords G. 21.
The up-giving of an inventar, and confirming an executor

2. An inventory of chattels generally.(a) 1561 Inv. Wardrobe 121.
Inventairis of the movables pertening to the quenis grace dowriare … and to our soverane lady 1571 Melville Chart. 119.
Becaus the gudis that he had ar only the plennissing of his landis … , he himself culd mak na speciall inuentare thairof 1585 Rep. Elphinston Mun. 22.
The haill inventare of the haill munitioun and vtheris of guidis and furnesingis … within our said castell(b) 1568 Fleming Q. Mary 511.
The inventar of the Quenis graces cleithing … send to hir grace furth of Loch Leuin 1609 Wemyss Fam. P.
That there suld be ane perfyte and particular inventar maid of the haill utenseills 1630 Bamff Chart. 224.
Inwentar of Georg Ramsay his biging 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 314.
The housses and brewing loomes conforme to the inventar subscryved be Thomas Robertsone 1691 Falkirk Par. Rec. II. 13.
Anent the registers and utensalls … [they] gaue in ane inventar(c) 1603 Stirling B. Rec. I. 104.
To … gif up … ane trew inventer of the haill gudes that salhappin to be within the saidis schippis

3. An inventory, list, or catalogue, of anything. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 42/5.
We … that hes uithin oure selfis … a compte booke & inuentaire of all the crymes that ue uill be accused of 1613–4 Misc. Spald. C. V. 94.
The clarkis that tuik up the inventar of his bukis 1640-1 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 85.
To produce ane inventar of the non-covenanters' rentes, gudes and geir 1657 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 168.
[He] hes grantit the recept of the samen [library], conforme to ane inventar containeing the haill particular names of the samen 1692 Acts Sederunt 5.
Inventars are appointed to be made of the evidents, means and estate of pupils and minors

4. In various phrases, in the sing. without the article.(1) 1547 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 129.
[To] mak pryces with the said straynger of the saidis guidis, and putt the samyn in inuentare 1632 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 40.
The saidis bookes to be put in inventar and catalogue, and delyverit accordinglie to the bibliothecar 1640 Ib. 224.
That all the cornes in store within the toune be put wnder inventar for interteining of the regiment(2) 1579 Argyll Lett. 18.
Saulffing the mvnitioun and victuallis … quhilk ȝe sall caus ressaue vpoun inuentair 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 103.
The saids wreats … to be delyvered up to his curators upon inventair and recept(3) 1615 Edinb. Test. XLVIII. 288.
My wyfe … to mak inventer gif ony thing be eschaipit my memorie(4) c1650 Spalding I. 159.
The governour … causit tak wp inventar of sic goodis and geir wes within the laird of Pitfoddellis hous Ib. 294.
Monro causis tak wp inuentar of ilk manis armes