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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vitiat, v. P.p. viciat(e, vitiat(e, vitiated. [Late ME and e.m.E. viciate p.p. (1432-50), viciat p.p. (c1450), viciat(e (1534), vitiate (1598), F. vicier, L. vitiāt-, med. L. viciat-.] tr.

1. To spoil, deface, tamper with ((part of) a document), esp. a formal or legal document, in some way. 1386 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 174.]
[Cartas litteras et euidencias … non viciatas non cancellatas non abolitas nec in aliqua suarum partium suspectas(a) 1407 Montgomery Mem. II 20.
Quhilk infefment is weill auld, the letteris of sindrie wordis thairof is ane pairt viciat and consumit, and be schort spaice the samen wil becum skairclie legiable 1495 Acta Conc. I 395/1.
The lordis … consederand the said letter hale vnrasit vnsuspect or in ony parte of the sammyn viciate … decernis the said lettre to be transumpit 1616 Crim. Trials III 417.
His prothogoll buik was viciat be him, in the dait foirsaid, scoiring out ‘primo’ and putting in ‘tertio’(b) 1504 Rec. Earld. Orkney 78.
Ane lettir … nocht spalt nor vitiat in it self 1596–7 Crim. Trials II 2.
And tressonablie vitiat, adulterat, and alterit fra the originall act of parliament, votit and agreit vpoune be his hienes and thre estaitis 1609 Writers Signet 240.
Ony lettres beis found by the keiper of the signet raised, vitiat, blaiked, interlyned or anywayes unbeseiming 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 296.
The instrument is vitiat in the dait and that laitlie as appeires be occular inspectioun 1660 Glasgow B. Rec. II 437.
Some of them, for better effectuating of their sinistruous ends, had vitiat and interlyned their book most vnjustlie 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xxvii 2.
The writ … is said to be suspect, if either it appear vitiat by occular inspection, or if the writer or producer used to produce false writs, or if it contain things that are improbable 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 163.
The reading of the charter is indeed very difficult, by reasone not of its being … any ways vitiate or worn, but of the many … contractions of many monosyllables, and in words of moe syllables 1699 Fountainhall Decis. II 53.
In respect of her deceitful embezzlements … she having vitiate the compt-books by ocular inspection … by tearing out leafs thereof … by scoring out articles … as if paid in his time, whereas, by the uniformity of the ink, etc. it appears all done since his death(c) 1681 Stair Inst. iv xlii § 19.
If the writ appear to be vitiated in substantialibus, by deletion, rasing, or superinduction of letters and words which may alter the same, especially if done with other ink; thence it is inferred that it was not done at or before the subscription 1686 Fountainhall Decis. I 431.
It was vitiated on the back, two lines being delete

2. To diminish, harm, render ineffective. b. With non-material object. 1586–7 Reg. Dunferm. 449.
The said kirk with the haill fruitis and rentis of the parsonage and vicarage therof is sett in tak and assedacioun be Patrick maister of Gray … to Andro Wood of Largo comptroller be ressoun quherof the auld assumptioun of the said thrid is vitiat be the said commendatouris proper deidis to our greit preiudice and hurt … thairfoir … we command yow to assume alsmekill beir and aittis out of the reddiest and best payment of the tua pairt of the abbacie of Dumfermling as the said kirk of Newbirne schyre was assumit of befoir in awld 1593 Acts IV 25/2.
As ony pairt of the rent of Dumfermling now viciat salbe re coverit 1665 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 14 Aug.
The toune's band which was presentlie vitiat and distroyed 1687 Cromartie Corr. I 51.
All those humores or excrements may hinder good chilification and vitiat the chileb. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 42/36.
So suppose I that it hath so viciat the imagination and memorie of some … that they haue thought themselues verrie woolfes indeede at these times 1600-1610 Melvill 246.
The presuming … of the cheiff corrupt members be avarice and ambition, haid vitiat and wrakit the esteat of the kirk from tym to tym, bringing in sectes, schismes, heresies, and all kynd of corruption