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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.

Present, n.² Also: præs- and -entt, -end; -ant; plur. also presens, -ans. [ME and e.m.E. present (a 1300), -eint (1497), ellipt. or absol. use of Present adj. 3 and 5.]

1. This present, this document itself; this present document or writing.Usu. plur., in the same sense.plur. c 1379 Cal. Charters Suppl.
To this presens I haf set my seyll 1388 Douglas Chart. 33.
Presans 1402 Scone Indenture (Reg. H.).
For al the terme of hir lyfe fra the date of this presens — 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 48.
The makyn of thir presens 1519 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 107.(b) 1407 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 32.
To thire presenttis I haf set my sele 1420 Liber Aberbr. II 53. 1462 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 371.
The date of the makyng of thir presentis c1515 Asl. MS. I 171/15.
Pece and greting to ȝow be thir presentis 1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 105. 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 51.
Baith the saidis parteis hes subscryvit thir presentis with thair handis c 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 308.
The entre … to … begyn at … the dayt of thir presentis and … to … perseveir … in all tyme cumyng 1550 Rep. Sir Arch. Grant Mun. 239.
Presenttis 1562-3 Winȝet I 68/24.
Præsentis 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS. III xlviii.
Quhairvnto thir presentis sall acrue our clerk of registre for a sufficient warrand 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 158.
Be thai presentis 1586 Grant Chart. 292.
Haldis thir presentis for my latterwill 1588 Dunferm. Hammermen 26.
Presants 1606 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 117.
That this presentis suld stand … as ane sufficient letter of slains 1627 Arniston Mem. (1887) 12. 1641 Recantation of Two Ancient Prelates 2.
To whose knowledge these presents shall come 1677 Stitchill Baron Ct. 83.
Presentts 1681 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 4.
Wheranent the presents shall be a warrand 1695 Rothesay Par. Rec. 135.sing. 1438 Lennox Mun. 68.
The fest of Wytsonday next eftyr the dat off this present 1520 Maxwell Mem. 245. 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 317.
At the makkyn of this present 1564 Q. Mary Reg. Privy C. XIV 201.
We ar movit … to wrait this present unto you a1568 Scott xxvii 3.
This present to compyle express 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 548. 1581 Misc. Spald. C. II 111. 1586 Reg. Morton I 147.
This presend is to desyre ȝow that [etc.]

b. Appar., applied to persons already mentioned earlier in the document. — 1447 (1449–50) Reg. Great S. 68/2.
Of thar consent and ordinance it is acorditt betuix the said presentis in fourm and maner eftir folouand

2. The present time; the time at which the events narrated took place.Only in adv. phrases, as at this or that present, for (the, also, this) present, also (once) in this present.(1) 1493 Crim. Trials I i 14.
Undir all the hiest payne … that ȝe … may … inryn agane our majeste riall in this present(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 113.
Dout not that deith sall with ȝow deill At this present 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III 184. 1575 Reg. Soltre 229.
The said beidmen that ar desolat of wyffis at this present or to cum a1578 Pitsc. 5 I 259/17. 1582 Crim. Trials I ii 109. 1596 Aberd. Council Lett. I 65.
I wil not comer yow with furder wretin at this present 1643 Lennoxlove MS. [The Duke of Hamilton] C1/1827.
I was never so hoopfull as att this present that [etc.](b) 1562-3 Winȝet I 57/28.
Præsent(3) 1570 Dysart Rec. 27.
All his yrnes he had lyand at that present in that cellar a1578 Pitsc. II 189/26.
Of his cuming nane cuild tell at that presentt c1590 Fowler II 26/11. 1592–3 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 77 b (25 Feb.).
With hir part of the hoggis & lammis, that scho fell at that present(4) 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 360.
This is the monitionis that is necessar for this present to the Castell of Dunbar — 1593 Perth Kirk S. in J. P. Lawson The Book of Perth 207.
Being inquired if they … had any persons under cure for the present who had the goir 1598 Household Bks. Jas. VI 20 July.
His majestie … com to Halyruidhous to super quhair he wes for the present — 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 26 Dec.
That [baptismal plate] which they have for present being to flashe