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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.

Monitio(u)n, n.¹ Also: monicioun, -cion(e, -sioun, monytion, -tyown, -cion, monetioun, (monitoune). [ME. (1398) and e.m.E. monycyon, -ssion, monicion, -tion, OF. monition (13th c.), L. monitio n. of action f. monēre v. (see Monest v.).]

1. Instruction, commandment; urging, advice; warning; also, an instance of these.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 655.
With hey voice Andro mad thame monicione That thai suld nocht his passione Let Ib. vi. 49.
The kinge … gerte mak gret monicione That al that euire vare in the tovne … Suld … cum to that feste 1513 Doug. ii. iii. 74.
Calcas, At quhais monicioun als vp biggit was This bustuus form in lyknes of a hors 1535 Stewart 25447.
Throw greit monisioun that tha to him maid Ib. 51839.
Monetioun(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Prol. Romans 345/2.
[St. Paul] yit myngled anne gude monitiounn that we suld be war of the … doctrynne of menn 1531 Bell. Boece II. 116.
His eldest douchter … maid inhibitation to the wild geis to eit hir faderis corne and thay obeyit hir haly monitionis 1622-6 Bisset II. 178/7.
His umquhill maiesties monitioun and admonitioun gevin to his hienes

2. A formal charge or warning by an ecclesiastical authority to a backslider to amend, under the threat of consequent spiritual penalties. c1420 Wynt. vii. 2273.
Efftyr gret monytyownys [C. monycionys] And syndry exhortatyownys [by the Pope] Till the Kirk for till restore … that thai before Had 1533 Boece xiv. xii. 564 b.
Inglissmen oftymes monyst be the pape … extemit all his monitiouns vane Ib. xv. ii. 576.
Twynan … eftir diuers moniciouns to desist fra adulterye, contempnit the authorite of haly kirk 1551 Acts II. 485/2.
All persounis quhilkis … makis perturbatioun in the kirk … and will not desist … for na spirituall monitioun that the kirkmen may vse 1551 Hamilton Cat. 47.
A man that is gevin to herisie, eftir the first and secund monitioun fle and forbeir his company 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 260.
The ministerie wald proceid wyth detfull ordor be public monicionis to the finall executing of the sentence of excommunicacion

b. A formal charge or injunction by an ecclesiastical judge to a person or persons to carry out or refrain from a certain action or to adhere to the terms of a contract under the threat of spiritual punishment; such a charge recorded in the court register as an act of monition. (Cf. Mones v. 2.) 1525 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. V. 30.
And ȝe cum nocht and revele … in sa fer as ȝe … kennis within thir said nyne days now nixt herefter followand this my monitoune … I will denunce ȝow cursyt 1545 Oliphants 78.
For the quhilk lord and Kathrenis monitioun to be ackit for the keiping of thair pairt of the premis … thai … ordanis … thair … procuratoreris to consent to the regestrein of this … contract … and to thair monition for fulfyllyng of the samyn 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 51.
The same to be … actit in the officialis bukis of Glesgow and thai to ressave monytiones thairupoun upoun ten dayis wairning of ony of the saidis parteis 1552 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I. 141.
And als monist be the official of Glasgo in dait of the said contrak and of the monition the forsaid day and dait 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 112.
To adheir to the said Johane as to hyr lawfull husband wythin xlviij howris efter the said monicion 1564 Ib. 201.
Tharin summond and monest Jhon Bycartoun for the thrid and last monicion to compeyr [etc.] 1567 Reg. Privy S. V. ii. 351/1.
Put to hir horne for non leving to Henrie … the … land quhilk was the said Henreis umquhile fadderis … conforme to ane act of monitioun maid thairupoun in the commissaris buikis of Douglas 1622-6 Bisset II. 64/5.