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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Obeis, v. Also: obeise, obeice, obeys(e, obais, obes(e. [Late ME. and e.m.E. (a 1400-Caxton) obeisse, obes, obeishe, obeysshe, obe(s)che, F. obéisslengthened stem of obéir Obey v.]

1. To submit to the rule of. intr. and tr. = Obey v. 1.a. (1) a1400 Leg. S. vii. 155.
For we sal al obeyse thé till c1420 Wynt. viii. 4081 (R, C).
Obesyde, obeyssit(2) 1375 Barb. ix. 303.
The north cuntreys that humbly Obeysyt till his senyowry Ib. 461. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1424 (C). a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1326.
Obeise a1500 Lanc. 2132.
To ȝhour command … Y sal obesb. 1375 Barb. xx. 147 (C).
Obeis 1398–9 Acts I. 211/1.
That all the legys … sal ansuer obeice consayl mayntene & suppouel the said lieutenande in his office a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1209. 1533 Boece v. viii. 179 b.
The cuntreis adiacent obeysing Romanis c1554 Makeson Genesis fol. 3.
Obaissand God ewir in vord & deid

2. To comply with (a command). = Obey v. 2. a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 1208.
Thane to that word obeysit he Ib. xxvii. 1042.
Obeis 1397 Acts I. 208/1.
To the quhilk bydding the schiref sal be haldin til obese 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1067.
Submitting me … Ȝour plesure and mandate till obeysing

3. absol. = Obey v. 3. a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxxiii. 15.
Ay till obeys quhill lyf mak end