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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Reductio(u)n(e, n. Also: redux-; reduictoun. [e.m.E. reduccion (1483), -ducyon, -duction, F. rédu(c)tion (late 13th c. in Larousse), L. reductiōn-, n. of action f. redūcere Reduce v.]See also the index to Acta Conc. III and Morison Dict. Decis. pp. 1324–7.

1. Only Sc.: In law, a rescissory action, peculiar to the Court of Session; the action of revoking or annulling a deed, decree, etc. In simple reduction if the action is successful the document concerned is ‘reduced’, i.e. declared to have been always null and void. In an action for reduction and improbation the decree sought not only ‘reduces’ the document, but also ‘improves’ it as false and forged, with the further conclusion that ‘the users of it should be punished.’ See Bell. Dict. Law Scotl. ‘Against the forgery of documents the appropriate civil remedy was an Action of Reduction and Improbation.’ Miscellany of the Stair Society I 95.(1) 1496 Acts II 239/1.
Thai sall … tyne thair priuilege of reductioun of the said proces and errour for all tyme to cum 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 509/2 (see Reduce v. 10 p.p.). 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 37.
Tuiching the reductioun of the infeftmentis, chartour or chartouris of talye 1550 Ib. 101. 1555 Aberd. B. Rec. I 292.
For defence of the sommondis rasit … aganis the … baillies … for the reductione of thair fewis 1558–9 Statut. Sc. Ch. 159.
The fewars of kirkland … ar compellit to pas to Rome to pley the reduction of thar infeftments 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 179.
Call and persew … befoir the Lordis of Sessioun, for reductioun of ony infeftmentis maide be thame 1564 Perth B. Ct. 144 (4 Sept.).
Gif the jugis … assins him ane vther schortar day for reduxioun of proces 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 443.
Summondis of errour for productioun and reductioun of the said declaratioun of the assyisis 1572–3 Ib. II 185.
To call and persew for reductioun and annulling of the said confirmatioun of the landis c1575 Balfour Pract. 268, etc.
The Lordis of counsal, anent the reductioun and retreiting of decreitis gevin be thame [etc.] 1593–4 St. A. Kirk S. 773.
Thai will abyde be persuit of the reductioun of the electioun of Mr. William Mwrray, provest 14.. Acts (1597) Table s.v. Reduction. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 18/26.
For a kings giuing of any fault the dewe stile, inferres no reduction of the faulters pardon 1622-6 Bisset I 272/4. 1630 Acts Sederunt ii 43 heading.
Reductioune 1631 Highland P. I 330.
To infer nullitie reductioun tinsall or amissioun of the foirsaid infeftment 1689 Dunkeld Presb. I 234.
An action … for exhibition and reduction of the following documents [etc.] 1697 Burnett Fam. P. MS.
I declaire the not delyverie hereof shall be no cause of nullity or reduction of thir presents(b) 1552 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 181b (12 Aug.).
That he have just accioun for reduictoun of the infeftment maid be his father be resson of vnpayment(2) 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I 211.
Thai mycht haue the decrete gevin aganis them … retretit for sic causis as thai wald libell for the reductioun 1572 Inverness Rec. I 217.
That thai maye … call for reduction as occasioun seruis for the caussis foirsaidis c1572 Chart. Coupar A. II 216.
This reduction quhilk I sall caus be callit with all diligence 1589 Burntisland B. Ct. 15 Aug.
Reserwand alwayis as said is for wilfull error reductione and remeid off law 1593 in Montg. Suppl. p. 326.
The decreitt of baratrie is not tane away bot man byid ane reductioun 1622-6 Bisset I 128/2.
All reductionis at the kingis advocattis [instance], contenand ressone of improbatioun, or falsett Ib. 272/21.
Reductioun nocht onlie stayis … the executioun of the decreit … , bot alsua cassis and annullis the samin 1681 Purves Revenue Crown 27.
To cause raise reductione agaynst severall particular landes 1681 Stair Inst. iv xx §3, etc.
A single reduction proceedeth in the same form as a reduction and improbation: for in both the writs craved to be reduced are called for to be produced … if they be not produced, they shall be holden to be null 1686 Lauder Notices Affairs II 765.
They pershue a reduction and declarator against the litsters of the Cannogate 1686 Mackenzie Observ. 117.
Falsing of dooms are now in desuetude altogether, and to them have succeeded reductions, in our present practice(3) 1561 Admir. Ct. Bk. 218.
Undir protestatioun that scho on noe vys pas fra hir actioun of reductioun 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a fol. 13a.
Anent the Monundayis tabell quhairin ar tabulat all sumondis of reductionis. Viz. the reductionis of decretis, rolmentis [etc.] 1567–8 Reg. Privy C. I 607.
The said summondis of reductioun intentit be the saidis persewaris for reductioun 1573 Elgin Rec. I 140.
The … decreit of reductioun of the proces of forfaltory 1584 Waus Corr. 287 (see Elide v. (a)). 1602 Colville Parænese Ep. 54.
A fauorabill permission to libell and to intend a proces of reduction in the sentence pronuncit agans Gods treu religion(4) 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III 91.
The mater dependand under reductioun befoir his hienes and the saidis Lordis of Secreit Counsale(5) 1626 Justiciary Cases I 40.
Protestis in caice of reductioun or improbatioun of ony of thir thre hoirningis producet 1672 Acts VIII 84/2.
Processis are very much lengthened by the longe runing of … terms for production in reductions and improbations 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 267.
With the said actioune of reductioune and improbatioune intentit at ther instance 1680 Red Bk. Grandtully II 251.
Summonds of reductione and improbatione 1681 Stair Inst. iv xx § 5.
Reduction and improbation needs no other general reason to be libelled before production but that the writs called for are false and forged Ib. § 8.
This process of reduction and improbation … is peculiar to this nation 1692 Lanark B. Rec. 243.(6) 1681 Stair Inst. ii iii §73.
For seven years peaceable possession will sustain the right of the whole till reduction

2. The action of bringing back (a person or thing) to a state of mind, a place, etc.; restoration. b. Only Sc.: The action of bringing back (coin) to the mint. 1542 Acts II 415/1.
Gif it be for mercy and reductioun of thaim to penence and to the bosum of halikirk 1557 Knox IV 264.
And efter thair reductioun thair lyves did nothing amend 1650 Lanark Presb. 84.
Anent the reduction of his children from France, his lo. answered that it was impossible to bring them backeb. 1581–2 Reg. Privy C. III 463.
For inbringing and reductioun of quhilk money thair wes nominat and appointit William Naper and Thomas Aitchesoun … to ressave all the said cunyie 1582 Ib. 499.
The charge of the reductioun and ressait of the said new cunyie wes gevin to … William Naper [etc.] 1582 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 313.
Past of xvj s. peicis according to ane act of reductioun in x. xx. xxx. and xl s. peices