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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.

Purpos, -pois, v. Also: powr-, por- and -pose, -poss-; -pes; -pis. P.t. and p.p. purposit etc., purpost etc. [ME and e.m.E. purpos(e (Wyclif, Gower, etc.), -pas (north., c1400), e.m.E. also pourpose (1504), OF por-, purposer (early 12th c. in Greimas), also later pourposer, parallel forms of proposer Propose v.] To propose, purpose.

1. tr. To set before oneself as an objective or intention, to propose to oneself (to) (also for to) do something; to purpose, resolve, decide, design, intend, mean. Also ? reflex.Also with ellipsis of the obj. and const. noun obj.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2109.
Quhar thai purposed to byd For recreacioun in that tyid a1500 Henr. Fab. 408. 1478 Acts II 119/2.
Our souuerain lord purposis … to haue hasti ansuer again of his said ambassiatouris a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 696 (Asl.). c1490 Irland Asl. MS 12/32.
That the person … purpos to commit na syn in tyme to cum Ib. 63/2.
Sa dois the synnare that will and purpossis to put all the charge of syn that he has done … apon the eld Id. Mir. I 15/10.
In this present werk I purpos quhilis to introduce the haly scripture 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 197.
Traist nocht al talis that wanton woweris tellis, Ȝow to deflour purposyng, and nocht ellys Ib. viii xi 22. 1516 Reg. Privy S. I 425/2.
M. Archibald Lyndesay, chantour of Abirdene, purposis to resigne his said chantorie now 1524 Douglas Corr. 95.
Purpossis 1528 Lynd. Dreme 120.
And purposit for passing of the tyme … With pen and paper to regester in ryme Sum mery mater 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II 42. 1531 Bell. Boece I 20.
Les than thay purposit to rendir falset, hatrent and evil dedis for faith [etc.] a1540 Freiris Berw. 37 (M).
Till on ane tyme thai purpost till pas hame 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3218.
Ane king is cum amang ws That purposis to heid and hang ws 1547 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. vi, Hope v Tod & Robertson.
And he purposet to heif blokit with him 1549 Compl. 68/4.
Than I purposit to preue ane prettic Ib. 103/25.
Sa mony Scottis men as thai purposit til hef venquest at that iournay c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3792.
Purpose Ib. 3417. 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 216.
That the haill merchandis that purpos to saill in ane schip convene and compeir in the Tolbuith 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1635. Ib. 9880. 1568 Buch. Indict. 34.
That the king … of determinat mynd purposit to tak his lyif at the first occasioun 1570 Bann. Memor. 59.
Whairby ȝe purpose to culour ȝour impietie 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 133.
After that the lord of Mortoun had put the Regentis grace agaitward, [he] purposed to haue gone to Dalkeyth a1578 Pitsc. II 34/16.
Purpossit Ib. I 69/28. c1590 Fowler II 72/3. 1594 Charteris Wall. Pref. 168. a1651 Calderwood VII 425.
He purposed to have written noe more? reflex. 1466–7 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i 590 (19 Jan.).
That he purposis him to mak persecucoune of his gudis(b) c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 861.
And than, efter his greit trauaill, He purpoisit him to repois Ib. 1101.
Ȝoung Squyer Meldrum Wes now into the cuntrie cum Purpoisand to seige that place 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5970.
How purpois ȝe my companie to bruik Ib. 6356.
And purpois neuer to amend it Ib. 6251, 7335. 1567 Sat. P. iv 59.
Sum vncouth vaiage I purpoisit prepare 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi in 1563-72 Tracts 62.
This is the … ordour quhilk our prophet … obseruis, quhilk also I purpois presentlie to follow 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl 91.
I purpois schortly now for to cum nar Vnto the but a1578 Pitsc. I 19/3.
Quhat euer he purpoisit to do he set it out vnder the pretence of the king 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 606.(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. (O.U.P.) 77.
Thow purpest for to undo our lordis cheif(d) 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 286.
And be this menis powrposis … to recwwir the Crestian liberte(e) a1578 Pitsc. I 74/31.
That throw suddane feir they tuik the flight and porpossit to flie Ib. II 36/23. 1592 Mining Rec. 92.
To lat me knaw quhat your lordschip porpossis to haif don(2) 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 135.
Baythe thir armys, as thai purpos, sall … meit at Sterlyng(3) c1475 Wall. ix 39.
Off Kyrkcubre he purpost his passage 1513 Doug. xii xiii 14.
Quhat purposis or etlys thou now lat se 1549 Compl. 101/19.
Thai purposit mony maneyrs to ische furtht fra that strait place 1593 Prot. Bk. T. Auchinlek MS 27.
Be quhais counsall this fulische interpryse wes purpoisit

b. passive. To be resolved or determined, to intend (to do something). c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1853.
Pallamides was hole purpost For to betrais the Grekis oist And [etc.] Ib. 1950. 1437 Reg. Panmure II 230.
And my lord and my lady beforsaid … was sumtym purpost til haf mariet the said Alexander of Seyton with Elisobeth his douchtir that was wif to Duncan of Wemys c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2978.
Thai befoir war purposit to remufe 1551 Hamilton Cat. 148.
Seand that I am nocht purposit to ken a man carnally 1571 Haddington Corr. 201.
Becaus I was purposit to haif chargit William Leslie witht this mater a1578 Pitsc. I 119/15.
Quhat he was purpoisit to do at that tyme Ib. 318/20.
That baitht the airmeis was in sight of wther and was porpossit to fight Ib. II 150 h. of ch. 1582–3 Crail B. Ct. MS 7 March.
That the said Elezabethe was … purpossit to haue burrit the said bairne 1587 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 36.
With the mor speid, the king being not purposit to staye any longe tym thair 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 78.
And this y ame porpisit to do

c. With the obj. of the infin. phrase transformed to a passive subj. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 15/13.
Throw … satisfactioun done or purposit to be done

d. Governing an adverbial of motion or direction, with ellipsis of a dependent infin. verb of motion: To purpose or intend to go, to be bound (to or for a place, or with adverb). 1513 Doug. Comm. i iii 100.
Eneas purposis to Italy, his land of promyssion a1578 Pitsc. I 258/27.
Desiring thé nocht to pase at this tyme quhair thow art purposit 1600-1610 Melvill 42.
Mr. Andro Pulwart … cam ther; and tareing a whyll, purposit hamwart 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 216.
Forsamekill as the said skipper is purposit … in all convenient diligence to Norroway for [etc.] 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii 92.
Here I stayed in Canea twenty five dayes before I could get passage for the Arch Ilands, being purposed for Constantinople 1644 Elphinstone Mun. 200/1.
The schip … leadnit with coalles at your lordships herbarie is purposed, God willing, thairwith to this brugh Ib.
Ather to this schip or any vther weschell purposed for this brugh

2. Once, in Nisbet after Purvey: To put forward or present (to another) (a suggested or commanded course of action).Rendering L. prōpōnere. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Hebrews xii 1.
Be pacience rin we to the batale purposit to vs

3. To discourse, converse or talk (with a person). (Cf. Purpos n. 3.) 1592 in Calderwood V 207.
Which two she deteanned at her maistresse' chamber doore, and her self purposed with them, untill he was furth at a window