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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Ses(e, Seis(e, Sase, v.¹ Also: sess, seys, seisye, seize, sais(e, sayse, seas(e, seasse, seaz(e, cease. [ME and e.m.E. saisi (c1290), sayse(n (a1300), seyse(n (a1300), sese(n (Chaucer), seise(n (14th c.), sease (Caxton), sessyd p.p. (a1533), seize (1588), saisir (1080 in Larousse), vulgar L. (Frankish, 8th c.) (ad propriam (proprietatem)) sacīre, to take into one's own possession, to appropriate.]

I. To put in possession.Freq., to infeft and sese.

1. tr. To put (a person) in legal possession of (in) a feudal holding; to invest or endow with (in) property; to establish in (on) an office. Also reflex. 1513 Doug. xiii ii 106.
I sall ȝou seys and induce now, but weir, In far largyar rewardis myghtyly 1562 Montgomery Mem. 191.
Chargeing them to west and seis the saidis Thomas in the saidis landis 1572 Prot. Bk. A. Lawson 17b.
The said Johnne sall … infeft and seas the said Katherine … In all … his tenement of land 1614 Oliphants 184.
Deulie & sufficentlie to infeft and sais the saidis Laurence Oliphant [etc.] 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 101.
Sease 1659 Stewart Mem. 134.
Sase 1662 Burnett Fam. P. MS.
To dulie and sufficientlie infeft and saise me and my foirsaids to be holden [etc.]reflex. 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 159.
Mony personis within this realme hes … seasit thame selffis in uther mennis landis 1584 Calderwood IV 29.
They might the more easilie sease themselves in the lands, goods, and geere

b. passive. Variously const. 12… Reg. St. A. 376.]
De duabus marcis et dimidia quales ego dedi … de qualibus dicta capella saysiata est(1) 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 384.
Quhill the forsayde hayr be at lachfull helde and lachfully sesit in the ilk landys of Balkarne 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 48.
Sa that he be sesyt in that tym in the cheff 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 126.
Quhether ony man was sessyt in ony tenement as of fee or as of warde a1500 Rauf C. 923.
Riche douchereis seir to be sesit in 1476 Acta Aud. 42/1.
Sesit … in a land & tenement lyande in the burgh of Edinburgh 1495 Acta Conc. I 388/1.
Johne Schaw wes in … possessioun of the saidis landis deit sesit in the sammyn 1536 Sc. Ant. X 3.
The said Alexander sall … get himself … sesit in the haill lands and thanedome of Boyne 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 614.(b) 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI 170.
Now, the complainer is heritably infeft and seised in all and the whole the lands, coal and coalheughs of Nudrie(c) 1589 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 188.
Mr. George Bissat … is heretablie saisit … in … the office of mairschip of fee of the said schirefdome of Abirdene 1597 Swintons App. cxlviii.
Quha wes heretablie infeft and saisit in the saidis landis in maner abonewrittin 1654 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 316.
Being swa infeft and saseit in the foirsaid lands(d) 1581 Glasgow Chart. II App. 538.
I maister Robert Rollok being ceasit and infeft in the yerd and tenement abone mentionat 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 173.
Seasit 1641 Acts V (1817) 560/1.
Seaset(2) 1496 Acta Conc. II 5.
The … Duk of Albany was possessit and saisit of the saidis landis of the erledome of Mar 14… Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 249.
The kirk of Aberdene … has been sesit tharof evir sen [etc.] 1544–5 Blackfriars Perth 152.
That the said buith … pertenis to the said priour and convent … and thai saisit of the samyn 1585 Acts III 403/1.
The said wmquhill erll being onlyve and standing seasit in fie of his landis(3) 1600-1610 Melvill 57.
He was seasit hard and fast on the bischoprik(4) 1513 Doug. vii v 85.
Thou salbe saisyt [L. dotabere], madyn, to dowry 1580 Reg. Privy S. VII 433/1.
Being enterit and sessit as air to … his brother, to the saidis landis(5) 1582–3 Reg. Privy C. III 558.
That thai sall persew, compryis and obtene thame selffis seasit likuise within the space of thrie termes 1663 Decis. Lords G. 45.
No body can be seased but the fiar or liferenter

c. passive. In the phrase vest(it) and sesit. Const. of, in and absol. 1280 Reg. Dunferm. 145.
[Et omnes alias terras in quibus predictus Ricerdus de Balwery miles obiit vestitus et saysitus 1333 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 53.
Predecessores dicti Reginaldi … fuerunt vestiti et saisiti vt de feodo de terris predictis hereditarie 1407 Liber Melros II 500.
Obiit vestitus et saisitus … de … terra 1434 Reg. St. A. 418.]
Vestitus & saysitus(1) 1501–2 Reg. Privy S. I 115/1.
Lanndis … quhilk his grantschir … deit last vestit and sesit in 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 184.
Jhone Brovn vas fovnd laufull air to Villiem, his broder in all thingis quhilkis he deit vestit and sassit in 1556–7 Reg. Privy S. V i 7/2. 1560 Stirling B. Rec. I 75. 1560–1 Inverness Rec. I 51.
Ane chalmyr [in the] kyr[k]yard quhilk his broder … deyt last west and sesit in 1579 Inverness Rec. I 269.
The prothogoll buike … quhar he is lauchfullie westit and seisit in the said land 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Breve.
Na man sall be ejected furth of his land … quhairin he alledgis him to be vest & saised, bot be an brieue pleadable 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 25b.
Quherein he is vest and saised, as of fie and heritage a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 199.
[His wife] falls the third of his heretadge quherin he wes vest and seased the tyme of the marriage(2) 1425 Coldingham Ct. Roll MS.
Of all the landis … that John the Ros deit vestit & sesit of 1454–5 Soc. Ant. Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 7.
Henry Munduyle … deit vestite & sesit as of fee of the twa quarteris of the landis(3) 1500 Stewart Mem. 82.
Of the landis … quhilkis vmquhyll Neile Stewart deit last westit and seissit as of fee at the faith and peis of the king 1525–6 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 116a.
Jhone of Lauder … deit vestit and seissit at faycht of Haly Kirk 1527–8 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 132a.
Seyssit 1650 Laing MSS 253.
The said laet William of Wrightshouses to have dyed last vest & seased at the faith and peace of our soverane lord in the lands of Wrightshouses(4) 1501 Lanark B. Rec. 11.
Tyll be enterit tyll the landdis ayrschipis that hee deit last vesttit and seissit as of fee 1529–30 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 104.
Thomas Mynto, sone and ayir of David Mynto, umquhill burges in Selkyrk, that last deit, vestit and sessit a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 55.
The dependance of reduction of the predecessor's infeftments quha died last vest and seased aucht not to stay the seruice and retour of his laufull air

d. fig. To be invested or endowed with (of) something non-material. ?1438 Alex. ii 3642.
I grantit ȝow my lufe, I wis, And I of ȝouris als sesit is

2. To put, settle, establish (in(to) (abuf) a particular place). Also reflex.(1) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 668 (Asl.).
All tornes in powder and corrupcoun Fra thai be sesit in thar sepulture 1513 Doug. vii iv 190.
Thre hundreth mylk quhite hors … had he Seysit and fed in stalwart stallis hie 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 44.
All stoir and catall seysit in thar lair 1535 Stewart 3983.
The lordis … Hes saisit him syne in his sepulture … in till ane feild full fair 1540 Lynd. Sat. 8 (B).
The haly gaist … Save ȝow all that I se seisit [Ch. seasit] in this place a1568 Bann. MS I p. 23/75.
And hummill peax sall occupy his place And peax salbe seisit in his stall a1568 Bann. MS 246b/40.
Chryst sen my corps that nycht and day is fane Seisit wer sur in to my sepulturreflex. 1513 Doug. viii iv 93.
And fra he had hym self sesyt tharin [sc. in the cave] 1584 Wemyss Corr. 30.
Rebellis, quhilkis laitlie sesit thame selffis within the castell 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 118.
He makes his Son to come down, to sease Himself in the womb of the Virgin a1599 Rollock I 381.
The Spreit of Jesus cummis doun and seazis him selfe in thy eie(2) 1513 Doug. xii xiii 13.
Enee Is destinat … forto rest in pes Sesit abuf the starry skyis hie(3) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2297.
Sanct Roche, weill seisit, men may se

b. To fix or fasten in place. 1513 Doug. xii vii 120.
On his bak full thik [was] Sesyt hys curace or his fyne hawbrik

c. fig. Of a mental quality or moral trait: To be established in a person. a1500 K. Hart 629.
Ȝoung counsale in ȝow sa lang wes seasit, That hes ȝour tressur and ȝour gude distroyit 1587-99 Hume 6/19.
The filthie vice and corruption that naturallie is seased in the harts of all men

d. fig. To put (a person or a personal attribute) into (in) a certain condition. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 5 (Asl.).
Our saull to sese in sure saluacioun a1568 Scott i 110.
To seis thy subiectis so in lufe and feir

3. To sese (property) (in (a person's) hand or (persons') hands, to hand (it) over give possession of (it)).(1) c1420 Wynt. viii 7099.
The King of Yngland grantit … All Gaskone … To be seysit and westyte (2) c1475 Wall. viii 1577.
Preistis … sessyt in his hand Roxburch keyis c1475 Wall. ix 400.
‘Wallace,’ he said, ‘I had leuir off gud land, Thre hundreth pund haiff sesyt in thi hand’ a1500 Bernardus 290.
Sustene … thine herytagis and lande The quhilk thi fadyr seseit in thi hand 1567 G. Ball. 187.
Half the ryches on the molde Is seasit in thair [sc. priests', monks' and friars'] handis

II. To take possession.

4. Of a feudal superior or monarch: To confiscate, take possession of (the lands of a subject or vassal).Const. to, till the king, his peace, etc. 1375 Barb. x 779.
Sesand the countre till his pes 1375 Barb. xiii 499 (C).
All his land Was sesit, and forfalt to the kyng c1420 Wynt. viii 4279.
And all the land, That Jhon the Cwmyn had qwhill in hand He [sc. the Earl of Atholl] sesyd till hym as in his fe 1609 Crim. Trials II 581.
Letter from his majestie to the chancellar commanding him to sease the Lord Balmerinois landis

b. To arrest or confiscate (goods) in compliance with a judicial order. 1563–4 Reg. Privy C. I 256.
To arreist and seas all and sindrie cornis, cattell and utheris gudis 1680 Glasgow Chart. II 211.
They aught not to have medilled therwith altho the samen [sc. goods] had bein so aither seased or arreisted 1696 Conv. Burghs IV 212.
The burgh of Peeples … hade the priveledge to sease all light weights and short elvans … in all the fairs … of Tifvidaill

c. To arrest or apprehend (a person). a1568 Bann. MS 93b/55.
And leill men to be sesit as tratouris 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 176b.
Barons … may doe justice vpon ane man taken with theift, that is seised thairwith, in hand haueand, or vpon back bearand

5. To take possession of (goods) by force; to take as plunder; to capture (a city). Also (once) const. (? adv.) in and (once) absol.(1) 1375 Barb. vi 449.
His menȝe than Sesyt weile hastily in hand That thai abowt the castell fand 1375 Barb. ix 444.
The lave … Sesyt to thaim … Men and armyng and marchandis And other gud 1375 Barb. x 764. ?1438 Alex. i 95.
Bot the hirdis, quhan thay haue sene Men seis thair oxin and thair ky ?1438 Alex. ii 4006.
Said Marciane, ‘I sall ȝow say Quhen we haue sesit and tane the pray’ 1460 Hay Alex. 3330. c1475 Wall. ix 463.
Thir four hundreth … A forray kest and sessit mekill gud 1513 Doug. ii x 94.
Maist cruel Juno has … Saysit [L. tenet] … the port clepit Sceya 1513 Doug. iii ii 15.
Ane haly iland … Quham … Appollo … Saisit and band betwix other ilis twa 1533 Boece 82.
Scottis and Pichtis … descending to the plane sesing the pray collectit be Britons 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 36.
The munitioun [ed. invintioun] wes saissit on chance be the erle of Bothwill 1669 Tayler Hist. Fam. Urquhart 122.
Sir John [Urquhart], meiting with the post at Channene, seazed the money & disposed thereupon 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv 309.
Seeing we have missed himself, let us seaze … what he hath left behind him(2) 1375 Barb. xv 338* (C).
He Saw bot the fleand scaill, perfay, And thame that sesyt in the pray(3) absol. 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xxi § 2 (1678) 219.
This is not properly hame-sucken, seing the offender did not invade or sease

b. To take prisoner, capture (a person). 1375 Barb. ii 422.
Quhen he swa Saw the king sesyt with his fa 1375 Barb. ix 444 (see 5 above). a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 714.
And sesit is Sangwell with Giromalans the gude c1475 Wall. ix 1501.
The wemen sone thai seysyt in to hand c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1143.
In fre waird was Makferland seisit 1674 Laing MSS 395.
A reward to any who shall seaze preachers at conventicles 1697 Conv. Burghs IV 236.
They are most unjustly leased and oppressed by Captain Hugh Mackay, who hes seased and apprehended some of our inhabitants tradeing with packs

6. To take hold of with the hands, etc. ?1438 Alex. ii 1279.
He sesit his brydell with mekill pane ?1438 Alex. ii 1893. c1475 Wall. v 256.
Wallace the hors sone sesyt in his hand 1513 Doug. iv vii 77.
Weltis down in woddis gret mastis, and na thing sparis, Saysyng half onwrocht 1559 Inverness Rec. I 40.
The said Abram said he sessit hyr fowre tymes for macyn of ane kyrtyll

7. In various fig. uses, with non-material subject, e.g. disease: To attack suddenly and without warning. Also of a fear, a belief, etc.: To take sudden possession of (a person or his mind).In passive freq. const. with. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 40 (Asl.).
His saull thow sesis in spirituale captiuite 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 155.
And the heart … being seased with the love of God a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxxv 7.
Suppose my silly saull with sin be seasde 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 51/136.
Quhill that enuie did sease sum foullis that loued Hir anis 1685 Dunlop P. III 10.
Sickness quickley seased many of our number 1695 Anal. Scot. I 155.
I was seazed likewise with an epidemicall sickness, the rose

8. intr., const. on (upon): To seize (in senses 4-7).(1) 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 449.
The Prince of Orange, being cited and not compearing, his estate and lands ar seised on(2) 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 30.
And eftir dew tryall of thair contraventioun … to sease upoun thair movable guidis and geir 1665 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 216.
The dean of gild to cause sease vpon the brew loomes belonging to ilk one of the persones sua absenting themselves 1687 New Mills Manuf. 149. 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 26 Dec.
[The session] ordains the beddell to sease upon their mortcloath and keep the samyn ay and till they pay the samyn 1686 New Mills Manuf. 113.
To give back … cloath seazed upon by the waitters(3) 1641 Acts V (1817) 508/2.
Gif the schireffe … be not abill to sease vpon the saidis rebellis 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 602.
And the officers of the footte gaurd to seasse upone them within the verge of the court(4) 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI 356.
Englishmen, who, not content to have seised on the ship and the whole lading thereof [etc.] a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 84.
The boit was assailyeit … the graith seasit upoun and broght to land 1639 Baillie I 195.
Dalkeith … was ladderit; the munition, that so much dinn was off, seazed on 1663 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 386.
[They] did seaze upon the grapes and forced the carters to empty their carts 1675 Argyll Justic. Rec. 63.
The said John M'Illendreist seased on and away took ane gun out of the said Angus M'Millan his houss 1681 Glasgow B. Rec. III 291.
Ane act … ordaining the toun to delyver wp the lather was seased on be them belonging to the Rankines in Grinok(5) 1594 Reg. Privy C. V 173.
Seiking … to have seased on his hienes persone 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xvii 3/76.
This omne-gathrum rout of rudest rascalls … seazed upon mee 1685 Marchmont P. III 39.
But that same night they were seased on by the Bishope's order, and made prisoners 1691 Lauder Jrnl. 302.
Angus … seazed upon Cochran and the bad counsellors and hanged them over the bridge 16… Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 397.
They seas upon Queen Mary, put her in closs prison in Lochlevin(6) 1652 Representation of the Sad Condition of the People of Glasgow 2.
These of their goods and moveables which were gotten safe from the fire that first seised upon them(7) a1599 Rollock Wks. I 313.
It is not the substance of the bodie that causis thee to murne, bot sinne that seazis on thy bodie, and gangis into the merche of thy banis 1600-1610 Melvill 139.
Speattes of afflictiones war to sease on us 1600-1610 Melvill 496.
A crewall fiver ther upon me seas'd 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 321.
A burning low seizing upon his conscience 1611 Melvill Dream in Fugitive Poetry II ii 4/14. 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 7.
If slumber sweet vpon her senses sease 1629 Boyd Balm of Gilead in Last B. xlviii.
What count should such firie pipers make to God if death … should seaze vpon them with that fire pipe at their mouth? 1661 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 7.
A disease seized on his catt which … sweit to death