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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.

Pluralite(e, -ie, -y, n. Also: -altie; Prurality. [ME. and e.m.E. pluralite (Piers Plowman), -itie, -ity, state of being plural (1398), numerousness (a 1450), plurality of benefices (1362), the greater part (1600), F. pluralité, late L. plūrālitās, f. plūrālis Plural(l a.] Plurality.

1. The state, fact or condition of being more than one. 1456 Hay I. 67/26.
That in all pluralitee of membris it is necessair that ane be as prince 1490 Irland Mir. II. 123/17.
And thai war in ony multitude or pluralite [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy II. 94/29.
That pluralite of capitanis ar vnproffittabill in batell 1581 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 170/29.
Vsurpit bischopis … professis … pluralitie of harlattis falslie callit vyuis 1588 King Cat. 117 b.
All pluralitie of mariages called polygamia ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court (1821) 33.
This pluralitie [of household offices]

2. The holding by one person of two or more church benefices concurrently. 1524 Acts XII. 40/2.
Actis … anent the … pluraliteis of benefices a1538 Abell 77 b.
The pestinens of pluralite of benefice 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2872.
My lords … Ȝe sould annull all this pluralitie

3. Numerousness; copiousness; a large number or quantity.Also, once, pl., in the same sense. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 7/11.
Thocht in sic pluralite of writaris my fame is … of litill estimatioun ȝit [etc.] 1535 Stewart 33669.
Pluralitie of meit and drink siclike Forbiddin wes bayth for puir and ryke 1572 Sat. P. xxxvi. 26.
That loving lord … Of vertewis having sic pluralitie 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 82.
Ane schole … necessair … in respect of the pluralitie of persones — 1608 Inverness Rec. II. 58.
Fra the said vices and volumpties and pluralities of thai misdoingis

4. The greater number; the majority; more than half (of the whole).Common in the phr. (the, a) pluralite of voitis (voicis).Also absol. = the majority of people.(1) c1550-c1580 Art of Music 9 b.
Guid it war to … follow the pluralitie of the nationis of all vther regionis 1580 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 458.
Be the confusion … of the plurality of kirks 1670 Rothesay B. Rec. 188.
The great prejudice the pluralitie of the brugh susteans by [etc.] 1695 Inverness Kirk S. 18.
But the pluralite of the Session were for Mr. James Fraser(2) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 186.
The Lord of Mar … be pluralitie of woitis was elected regent 1584 St. A. Kirk S. 536.
It is concludit be pluralite of voitis 1585 Burntisland B. Ct. 27 Oct.
To cheis thair awine magistratis throw the pluralitie of voteis 1625 Linlithgow B. Rec. 10 Dec.
Be pluralitie of woiceis 1639 St. A. Baxter Bks. 105.
Pluraltie 1650 Brechin Presb. 52.
By a plurality of voits Mr. David Campbell was elected 1655 Argyll Synod II. 89. 1661 Culross I. 313. 1692 Edinb. Kirk S. in Sc. Ant. XIII. 873.(3) a1650 Row in a1680 Blair Autob. 381.
Though this rescissory act was carried by the plurality — 1679 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. (MS.) 6 Oct.
Quhilke being orderlie voited, pluralitie continued the dean of guild … this yeir