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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Manifest, adj.¹ and adv. Also: many-, manie- and -feste, -fast. [ME. (Chaucer) and e.m.E. many-, manifest(e, L. manifestus, F. manifeste.]

1. Clear to the understanding, plainly evident, patent. 1456 Hay I. 77/2.
Thus may ȝe tak manifeste knawlage of the hevynly governaunce anent all erdly creaturis Ib. 128/25.
Manyfest thing and clere is that [etc.] c1460 Thewis Gud Women 155.
Hait nocht but gret caus manifest 1533 Boece iv. xv. 149b.
Me and my folkis … in manifest dangere to leis oure boundis a1538 Abell 83 a.
Trew it is in expliyt thingis that is manifest thing is 1562-3 Winȝet II. 33/27.
That I may begin at the nerrast and maist manifest 1571 Reg. Privy C. II. 85.
Manifest pruiffis, presumptiones and liklyhedis of thair giltynes 1573 Sat. P. xli. 77.
It is ane mirrour manifest Of dule and dolour to be dred

2. That is palpably, patently or unmistakably what the noun asserts, palpable, manifest. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 305.
For the dispyte to Cupide scho had done, And to Uenus oppin and manifest c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 69/7.
In vane glore manifest ?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/1.
All manifest and kyde revaris mvrthreraris [etc.] 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 153.
A manifest le Ib. xi. iii. 52.
Of cryme manyfest 1548 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) Drummond v. Drummond.
In manifest contemptioun & lychtlying of all auctorite 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 263.
Sum said it was ane manifest myrakle c1552 Id. Mon. 54.
This … pest Was nocht bot for our synnis manefest Ib. 2395.
Manyfest idolatrye 1558-66 Knox I. 47.
Manifest lyearis 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 8, 11. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 62/10. Ib. 4/25, 116/17.
To ganestand the manifest veritie 1576 Inverness Rec. I. 247. c1575 Balfour Pract. 39.
All theives tane … in manifest thift, sic as hand-havand and back-beirand a1578 Pitsc. I. 42/18.
No man … that is ane maniefest trespassour 1584 Rec. Privy C. III. 730.
Be way of manifest oppressioun and bangstrie 1607 Acts IV. 375/2.
In manifast defraude of our souerane lordis customes 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 125. 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xix. § 5.
Manifest theft was when [etc.]

3. Clear to view and access, public; plain to be seen, visible. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 65/5.
That confessioun of a ladye … be maid in the kirk in a place manifest 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 99.
Not … within the halie … places bot in publick and manifest places 1648 Declar. Commissioners Generall Assembly .
As well hid as manifest rocks

4. adv. Clearly, plainly; palpably, patently. 1431 Liber Melros 523.
It was manifest thar prufit be actentik letteris [etc.] 14.. Acts I. 381/2.
Thai that ar manifest wode 1446 Raine N. Durham App. 22.
The manifest tressonable takyn off our castell of Dunbar 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 138.
This heresie is manifest impossible Ib. 180 b; Abell 46 b; 1542 Acts II. 417/1.
That is manifest fals