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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.

Vot(e, Voit(t, v. Also: vott, voite, wot(e, woit, woitt-, voyt(e. P.p. also voit. [e.m.E. vote (1589), L. vōt- ppl. stem of vovēre, med. L. vōtāre.]

1. a. tr. To vow to do something. b. reflex. To devote (oneself) to carrying out a purpose; to vow to do such a thing. c. reflex. To give (oneself) up to a fate, to accept an outcome to events.a. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 292 (see Vot(e n. 1 b).
Voittitt 1533 Bell. Livy I 86/20.
He votit to consecrate the harnes and armoure of his inemyis to the god Vulcaneb. 1531 Bell. Boece II 129.
The maist Catholik prince, Charlis, hes votit him to the deith, in defence thairof aganis the ennimes of Godc. 1533 Bell. Livy II 211/23.
All the agit pepill … votit [L. devovisse] thame self wilfully to the deith for the wele of thare cuntre

2. intr. To express one's opinion, decision or choice, chiefly in order to record such an opinion, etc. by voting as a means of determining the actions of a parliament, council, etc. a. Const. anent, for, in, on, to, vpone a matter, with, agains (persons), or with another adverbial expressing something about the nature of the result of the act of voting. Also fig. b. Const. (the counsale) about, around (the members of) the council, in parliament, etc., for (= acting for) another, expressing something about the nature of the action itself. c. Without construction.a. (1) 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II 174.
That thair assissouris … hes bene in vs to avis and voit with the counsale in all besynes 1564 Crim. Trials I i 443.
That the justice-clerk mycht nocht be clerk in this mater, nor voit thairintill 1600-1610 Melvill 755.
Howbeit all the nobillmen [etc.] … voitit to the Bisschop Law, yit [etc.] 1607 Inverness Rec. II 55.
To convein withe the rest of the commissionaris of burruis at Dunbartan … and thair to hawe voitit on certan heidis 1619 Aberd. Council Lett. I 170.
Sic commissionaris as sall happin to voitt to the remitting of any unlaw 1625 Justiciary Cases I 28.
Thay … ressonit and voittit vpone the poyntis of the saidis … dittayis 1626 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 155.
To ressone & voit anent the head of the missive 1634 St. A. Baxter Bks. 98.
Quhairby they ordanit, woited, and concludit for certain guid causs(2) 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II 174 (see (1) above). 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV 89.
Quharthrow … the … wrongous election of the said regent … be the pretendit Parliament … wes nether dewlie … nor ordourlie done … becaus ane gryet part of the nobilitie … never obeyt, voitit, nor subscryved with them 1615 Dundee B. Laws 415.
He wotid agains the como-wos [? erron. for comonwos] in the election of the magistratisfig. 1621 Calderwood VII 483.
Either to make you vote against Christ or to be neutralls(3) 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 289.
The mater wes dispwtit in consell and hoppit of na deliberacioune swa that monsieur Desse … with the rest off capitainis and gentilmen Woittit ilk ane for ther awyn part 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 9.
The saidis lordis of Secreit Counsall … votit as is particularlie abone noted 1571 Crim. Trials I ii 25.
That he suld voit conforme to his said declaratioune a1578 Pitsc. I 268/26.
Lyndsay … ansuerit to the lordis … sayand ‘ … ȝe desyre my oppinioun and iugment gif [etc.]' … Be this the lord Lyndsay had wottit in this maner the haill lordis was contentit of this conclusioun 1671 Kennedy Aberd. Ann. II 221.
Shall be all of one mind, and shall voyte all alyk 1673 Edinb. B. Rec. X 156.
Baillie Learmont … votted negativeb. (1) 1555 Dundee B. Ct. III 7 (5 Nov.).
The quhilk desyre the baillies thocht resonable & wotit the counsale about 1577 St. A. Baxter Bks. 26.
That Johnne Walie [etc.] … pay vs … becaus thay var convicted be the haill craft and woted about thairfor(2) 1600-1610 Melvill 440.
The questioun … whither ministers might vot in parliament a1650 Row 191.
Because the brethren could not be fullie resolved for the present concerning the office of him who should vote in Parliament 1663 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 470.
That my Lord Justice Clerk is one of the judges of the Justice Court and hes power to sitt and vote therein(3) a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 16.
Androw Earle of Erroll … gives commission to Francis his sone … to occuppie his place and voitt for him in parliament 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 28 Sept.
Thomas McCairtney merchand being chosen be the commitie to voite for themc. 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II 243.
Thai culd nocht voit becaus the counsale wes nocht all present 1576 Orkney Oppress. 44 (see 3 below). c1610 Melville Mem. 368.
Our consaill wer convenit, and pratikit and intysed to vot, as the maist part of them did 1681 Stair Inst. (1981) App. 1095.
All bills … to be reasoned and determined with open doors … so that the parties … may be present when the Lords are arguing and voting

3. tr. To consider, decide (a matter), chiefly by submitting (it) to a vote. b. Const. infinitive or clause object. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 221.
Efter the reiding of the … supplicatioun, the heidis thairof being dewlie ressonit and wotit 1576 Orkney Oppress. 44.
The laird held courts alsweill in tyme of hervist … and at everie court he had twa or thre of his awin men, quha votit and decernit all decreits at thair plessure and wald gif the commownis na place to vote bot conforme to thame a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 130.
Eftir the reeding of the quhilk supplicatioun, the heads quhairoff being reassonit and voitted, it was fund … that the Queene was compellit … to subscryve the said comissioun 1607 Inverness Rec. II 55.
That … nane of the … borrowis … apoint ony personis for them … to beir the office of ane commissioner in parliamentis, conventiounis [etc.] … quhilkis [etc.] … and that he sall nocht do woit or attempt ony thing to the hurt and preiudice of the common estaitt 1612 Aberd. Council Lett. I 116.
The ratifeing of the actis of the kirk maid at Glasgo red and voitted 1619 Elgin Rec. II 162.
The elderis convenit this day have all wotit and grantit my Lord Bischop his dask and seat in the kirk to apertein to his Lordschip and his airis 1622-6 Bisset I 221/30.
That in all actionis pledabill befoir the lordis quhow sone that ane sentence interloquutoure is argoned, advised and voitted [etc.] 1650 Acts VI ii 588/2.
Act … redd voyted and past in parliamentb. pres. 1601 Prestwick B. Rec. 85.
Lambert Hay canceller, chosin be the said inquest … and out of the mouth of the maist part of the said inqueist woittis Johne Neill and William Fergushill to be bailleis [etc.] 1604 Aberd. Council Lett. I 98.
That thay send thair commissioneris sufficientlie instructit to resone voit and concluid quhow [etc.]p.t. 1586 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 657.
The brether … vottit, not to [etc.] 1687 Cramond Kirk S. II 5 June.
The session … unanimously refused any treating with Cramond anent the said anwelrent, … but voted, that [etc.]p.p. 1589–90 S. Leith Rec. 1/1.
The quilk daye voitet by monyest that [etc.] 1604 Elgin Rec. II 123.
It is woitit … that the wapinschaw … stay till another convenient 1673 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 297.
It wes woited and concluded that [etc.] 1689 Acts XII 57/1.
It was voted if the committie should be named [etc.](b) 1611 Dioc. Synod Lothian in Sc. Hist. Rev. XIX 112.
It was voit … be the haill synodell that [etc.]

4. a. intr. To choose or elect an official by voting. Const. about (cf. 2 b above) or in (an election, etc.). b. tr. To choose or elect (an official) by voting; to vote (a person) into office.a. 1537 Dumfries B. Ct. 201b.
To be gin at the litis of provestrie and to woit about throw that haill nowmer and he that gettis monyest woittis to be chosin 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II 190.
In cheissing and electing of all officeris … that … the dekynnis of euirilk craft wote in the elecking 1565 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 24.
The haill faythfull wotit in chesing the elderis and dioconisb. 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 201.
James Young … desirit foure alanerlie to be electit and the dekynnis to cheis ane thairof but woting and … the saidis provost baillies and counsale … refuisit the samyn sayand thai wauld woit foure of the viij and cheis tham conforme to the ordour of the chesing of vther officeris of the burgh 1567 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 72.
The persons followin wes chosin, every ane standin in order as thay war wottit with moniest lyttes 1568 Peebles Chart. 74.
The saidis baillies votit the samin be fre electioun of the haill communite 1603 Moysie 24.
Coline erle of Argyle wes woited in counsall, and creat chanceller 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1529.
Then sit they to consult To Cesar whome to send And all into ane voce they vote Our Elphinstoune a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 85.
Such persones as have … bein solemnlie belted and woitted as temporall lords of parliament 1667 Irvine Mun. II 220.
[Six persons] are voited to be upon the leit for baillies 1696 Cramond Kirk S. IV 20 Dec.
That the session should vott & appoint some other of the heretors to take that charge