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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Ornat, -ate, p.p. and ppl. a. Also: -ait. [Late ME. (Hoccleve) and e.m.E., L. ornāt-us p.p. of ornāre Orn v.] Adorned; ornate.

1. p.p. Adorned, ornamented (with). a1500 Henr. Fab. 129 (Bass.).
This gentill jasp … Betakinnis perfite prudence and cunning, Ornate with mony deidis of vertew

2. adj. As a complimentary term applied to language or style: Highly ornamented or embellished. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 68 (B).
For all thi ornat style most perfyte Id. Tua Mar. W. 505 (M).
Quhen endit had hir ornat speche this eloquent wedo Id. lxv. 10.
The eloquence off ornat rethorye 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 2.
Thy dulce ornat fresch endyte Ib. 149.
Hys ornate [Sm. ornait] goldyn versis Ib. 361.
Of Virgillis vers the ornate bewte Ib. 393. 1535 Stewart 107. Ib. 11603.
Thir storeis … All … In ornat spech 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 66. c1540 Id. Syde Taillis 7.
Because the matter bene so vyle It may nocht haue ane ornate style c1552 Id. Mon. 110.
Thocht ornat termes in to thy park not spredis Ib. 579.
Quhen Romanis rang … The ornat Latyne wes thare propir leid Ib. 3582. 15.. Clar. v. 2256. a1568 Bann. MS. 217 a/30. 1568 Charteris Lyndesay Pref. Adhort. 17.
Thocht Gawine Dowglas … In ornate meter surmount did euerilk man

b. transf. to an author possessing or using such a style. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xviii. 31 (B).
And be I ornat in my speiche … I speik not lyke thair hous menȝie 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 326.
This ornate poet a1568 Bann. MS. 93 a/86. Ib. 216 b/60.
And all the sternis … War in this erd moist ornat oratouris [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 228.
I did neuer sleip on Pernaso As did … the ornate Ennius Ib. 4322. a1578 Pitsc. I. 375/15.
Thow sould haue hard the ornat oratouris makand hir hines solutatioun

3. Ornamented, embellished, highly decorated. 1596 Dalr. I. 23/15.
I passe ouer … mony landwarde tounes ornat aneuch and elegant Ib. 89/6.
Nathir war thay … ornat in thair cleithing Ib. II. 261/12.
Gif his clathis was onything ornat, he studiet neuer to follow the fassoune of the court