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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prais(e, Prase, v. Also: prays(e, praese, prease. [ME preise(n (Ancr. R.), preisie(n (c 1290), preyse(n (14th c.), prais(se (Cursor M.), prayse(n (14th c.), e.m.E. prais(e, prays(e, preyse, OF preisier: cf. Pris(e v.¹]Sense 3 is perh. rather to be regarded as a mere spelling var. of Pris(e v.¹

1. tr. To regard or hold (a person) at a certain worth. = Pris(e v.¹ 4 c. ?1438 Alex. ii 9180.
That he na prasit thame all ane stra

2. a. To hold in honour, b. To extol, commend, praise (a person). = Pris(e v.¹ 5 a, b.Also reflex.: cf. Pris(e v.¹ 5 g.(a) ?1438 Alex. i 1452.
That the worst was richt douchty And praissit of hie chewalry Ib. 2947.
He praisit him [Gaudifere] in his hart greatly c1400 Troy-bk. i 400.
That nane was wiser vndre the hewen Ne Medea in hyr dais, Ne mare of wertues to praise c1500-c1512 Dunb. l 46.
Ȝett this far furth I dar him prais, He fyld neuer sadell in his dais 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5651. 1567 Sat. P. iv 19.
Sum tyme in mynde sho praisit me sa hycht a1578 Pitsc. I 366/15.
Sieing that the king thair awin prince was so hichlie praysed and estemit amang so mony nobill princeis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 105.
Praysit a1605 Montg. Misc. P. l 15.
And prays the pereles preclair, Montgomrie, maikles Margareit(b) 1562 St. A. Kirk S. 174.
Quharof sche is to be prased and nocht evyll reportet a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. clxxvii 102.
Louk to be prasit as thow playis thy pairt(c) c1590 Fowler II 29/10.
For the discipils intentioun being to prease his master Hammiltoun in philosophy gaue him the commendation of a poet 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 361.
And those that had course redacted to the same pryce for whiche caus the king wer greatlie preased and his ordinances fund so iust that [etc.]reflex. c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Cor. iii 1.
Begyn we eftsone tharfore to praise oure self? 15.. Clar. i 840.
Full suith they tell That sayes ane man that praisis not him sell The moir he beine to praise with uther men

c. To praise or glorify (God). = Pris(e v.¹ 5 c.(1) 1562 St. A. Kirk S. 174.
To exhort tham to thank and praese God of his grace 1562 Q. Kennedy Ressoning 11.
Prase 1563 Cal. Sc. P. II 24.
For I prase my God I have laid my compt 1562-92 Wode's Psalter xxxiiv.
Praise ȝe the Lord … with lute and instrument 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. Pray. 14.
Prayse c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis fol. 5 a.
All with one woyce with ane great noyce praysed God of that dayes work 1622-6 Bisset II 181/28.
[James VI] Godis name and worde ay prased 1638 Johnston Diary I 339.
I praysed God both that he had keiped me in this toune by my wil … and [etc.](2) a1568 Bann. Bann. MS. 168 a heading.
Becaws the samyne abvse is weill reformit … praysit be God 1570 St. A. Kirk S. 339.
And swa na abuse, prasit be God, cropin in in our kirk be his negligence a1578 Pitsc. II 175/20.
Praissit 1586 Glasgow Burgesses v.
Seiknes, quhairby I am sair handlet, praisit be God c1590 Fowler II 14/25.
Bot prased be God the successe was better 1602 Bk. Arran II 102.
Preasit be God 1607 Sc. Ant. XV 141.
Praissit 1610 Southesk MSS. 14.
Praysit

d. To value highly, e. To commend, praise (a thing or quality). = Pris(e v.¹ 5 d, e.Also absol.(a) ?1438 Alex. i 3059.
I prais far mair his fleyng Than I do all our follouing 1558 Knox IV 249.
Thair faith [etc.] … was brutit and praisit in far contreis a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxvii 1.
Who takis in hand by pen to prais a wark c1580-90 Rules of Health.
Quhairfore I prayse and loifis greitlie the vse of cassia 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 190/5.
As for hauking I condemne it not, but I man praise it maire spairinglie(b) c1460 Thewis Gud Women 182.
Fare langag is euir prasyt best c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 482.
Sum plenis, and sum prayis; sum prasis mi bewteabsol. 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 98.
Thairefter love, or lack, prayse, or condempne

3. To estimate the value of; to assign a value to; to put a price to, officially. = Pris(e v.¹ 1 and 2. 1576 Reg. Morton I 84.
Lat the guiddis and cornes be praysit … And send the preceptis with a tikket of the executiones therof to ws 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 158.
Thre bolls of corne … praysed be the ordinarie barliemen