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

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

Wend, v. Also: wende, vend, weind, weynd, went. P.t. wend, went(e, wentt, vend, vent, whent, veynt, wynt, vynt, vint. P.p. wend, went, uent. [ME and e.m.E. wend(en (c1200), wendenn (Orm), went, weind (both Cursor M.), weynd (14th c.), OE wendan, MDu., MLG wenden.]

1. intr.Of a person or animal: To go, travel, make one's way, depart. Chiefly with preps. to, fra, etc. (a place, person, event, etc.) (to do something). Also reflex. and fig.Cf. note at Ga v.(1) ?1438 Alex. i 403.
In short tyme I trow that ȝe Sould scorne me, fra I war went ?1438 Alex. i 698.
I pray thé weind! Ga furth, gif that thy willis be, To bring vs of this perplexitie c1420 Wynt. viii 4594.
Thai cryide than ‘Roslyne;’ bot he can say: ‘Roslyne is went, yhe tak Mowbray’ a1500 Henr. Fab. 709.
Neid causis me to steill quhair euer I wend a1500 Seven S. 639.
Ypocras no way wald wend Bot thocht he wald his newo send c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 152/60.
Hud pykis hurdaris and gadderaris All with that warlo went 1513 Doug. iii vi 194.
Beseik hir or thou wend, thocht thine hart betis a1540 Freiris Berw. 108 (M).
Scho … bad thame wend withouttin wourdis more a1700 Mare of Colinton 18.
Oft have I … born your self right oft-times hame, … But now is come my fatal end With you I may no further wend(2) pres. 1375 Barb. ii 283, 284.
Till thar herbery went [1571 wend] sall thai And sum sall went to the forray 1375 Barb. iv 609 (C).
Vend a1500 Rauf C. 249.
Thow sall wit weill aneuch or I fra thé wend c1475 Wall. viii 1282.
Thai at suld to consaill went 1513 Doug. vi ii 127.
It is na wys lesum I thé schaw Thir secret ways vndir the erd to went 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1047.
Quhen the quene come … he bad him [sc. the child] wend With hir to chalmer, and go hence a1570-86 Maitl. F. 172/92.
Thy falow or thy freynd Quhame with thow hapnis for to wend 1607 Dalyell Darker Superst. 23.
I charge thee [sc. a disease] … To wend out of flesch and bane, In to sek and stane(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 6855.
Towart Porrus couth sho weynd, And by the hand richt courtasly Scho tuke him(c) 1460 Hay Alex. 1774.
With gret ioy the lordis to daner wentis [: tentis] a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 287.
The wy that wendis for to were quhen he wenys bestp.t. 1375 Barb. i 183.
To Scotland went he than in hy 1375 Barb. iv 517.
The king … speryt … How thai had farne in thar [outyne], And thai him tauld all but lesing … Syne with the king till his herbery Went [C. Thai wend] bath ioyfull and ioly a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 66.
Til hel He vent in hy; & of the merwalis he vrocht thare a1400 Leg. S. iii 129.
To the bordale I wente ine hy To fulfill myn lichory a1400 Leg. S. vi 43.
Than vent thai to the se but bad a1400 Leg. S. vi 95.
He vent in-to the strete 1460 Hay Alex. 1295.
The chiftanis ilkane to thair battell went a1540 Freiris Berw. 110 (M).
Vp thay wend richt in the hallis end In till ane loft 15.. Dunb. App. viii 27.
The watter, quhen dry he on it went a1578 Pitsc. I 326/6.
Then George … wentt to the challmer and knokit, bot nane ansuerit him a1650 Row 422.
Mr. Patrick Simson, after his laureation, went to Ingland 1684 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 174.
William Clerk and James Mcmichell uas in ther respective houses quhen the rebellis uent in the same(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 112.
One til his awne hame He wynt c1615 Chron. Kings 109.
The King … vint to bed(c) 1584 Gowrie P. 34.
The Lords … whent to the inner howse(d) 1643–4 Misc. Spald. C. V 107.
To ane poist who veynt to seik intelligence concerning the rysing of the Gordonis, 2 lib. 14 s.p.p. a1400 Leg. S. xxix 350.
Placydas wes priuely Went of the town 1460 Hay Alex. 113.
Thus is the king vnto his chalmer went c1500 Fyve Bestes 160.
Gundulfus with his frendis assent To Oxinford to study is he went(3) reflex. 1375 Barb. xvii 591.
Thai went thaim forth-ward in the land Slayand swa & destroyand c1420 Wynt. viii 4844.
Towart Ingland he went hym [C. went haym] swne(4) fig. a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 564.
Quha in oure seruice mais ende Euirmare with ws sal wende 1513 Doug. vii xii 71.
Nor thow Oebalus, onreknyt sal nocht wend By our metyr

b. With non-personal subject. Also in perfect tense with to be.(1) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 211.
Wynis went within that wane … In coupis of cleir gold c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 175/1.
O wreche, be war: this warld will wend thé fro 1513 Doug. vi xi 3.
Sawlys … quhilkis war forto wend To myddil erd and thare in bodeis ascend 1513 Doug. xiii x 63.
As conquerouris … Of quham the schynand souerane glor sall wend And far beȝond the occean see extend 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8073.
The sound of all the instrumentis And the greit noyis in at the windois wentis a1570-86 Maitl. F. 364/145.
Thir wordis out throw my hairt so went That neir I wepit for hir wo(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 40/37.
Swete gentill turtour, quhair is ȝour pete went? 1513 Doug. iii i 107.
Eftir this effray was fra my banys went 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10524.
Wit and wisdome was went … Richt and ressoun and reuth quyte fra me ran a1570-86 Arthbuthnot in Maitl. F. 55/188.
The Lordis plaig throuchout the warld is went

c. With adverbs. Also with non-personal subject. Also in perfect tense with to be.(1) 1375 Barb. xvi 476.
Thai … to purpos has tane To wend hamwart a1400 Leg. S. xv 125.
Thane vent thai furth ?1438 Alex. ii 3259.
Barefut thay went … Richt to the kingis pauillioun ?1438 Alex. ii 3972.
Porrus and Caneus … And xxviii with thame … Richt at our ȝet sall tak the pray And syne went to the wod away a1500 Henr. Abbay Walk 1.
Allone as I went vp and doun c1475 Wall. v 1101.
Wallace went in, and bad ‘Benedicite‘ a1500 Seven S. 276.
Ilkane hamwart went agane 1513 Doug. ii x 105.
Fle thou, my son, in haist away thou wend 15.. Clar. iv 2184.
Hame he went, rycht gladsome of his cheire a1585 Maitl. Q. 149/194.
Reioyis in Him and tak ȝour rest As ȝe wald wische ȝour wo away sall wend c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxx 3.
I am nocht worthie to be callit thy chyld Quha stubburnelie hes went so lang astray 1663 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 500.
For horse hyre to the notar that went alongis [12 s.](2) 1375 Barb. i 589.
He tuk his leve and hame is went 1375 Barb. x 247.
Thai that war went furth beforn … fled a1400 Leg. S. l 1170.
Quhene that woyce wes went away, That haly virgine [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 611.
The chylde smyled and away is went a1500 Henr. Orph. 414.
A wofull wedow hame-wart is he went c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 395.
Me thoght his wit wes all went away with the laif c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 233.
Sudaynly in the space of a luke All was hyne went 1535 Stewart 30420.
With this ansuer the herald hame is went 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3231.
Quhen hir spous furth of the toun was went Without tary than for her lufe scho sent 1567 G. Ball. 88.
Saif vs, gude Lord, and succour send, For … treuth away from men is wend, And fled fra thame is faithfulnes 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 168.
Thir vipers … Amang the grene gars lay … Quhill storm wes went away 1701 New Mills Manuf. 268.
For lybelling the Counsell summonds againsts the servants uent auay to Hamiltone

d. quasi-tr.With gait, way, etc. Also fig.Also const. on (one's) way, etc.(1) 1375 Barb. v 563.
Thar thocht he with his sonnys twa For to supprise the king & sla & syne went [C. vend] to the wod thar way a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 154.
Scho … tuk hir leif & wend hir way ?1438 Alex. ii 4835.
The fourriouris ar went thare way c1450-2 Howlat 468 (A).
Quhat way he couth wend a1500 Henr. Fab. 114.
To seik his meit this cok his wayis went a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 531.
He grippit to ane grete speir, And furth his wais wynt c1475 Wall. xi 989.
Kerle he tuk ilk nycht with him … And this ȝong man that Menteth till him send; Wyst nane bot thir quhat way at Wallace wend 1535 Stewart 13720.
Tha pepill war … ill to wit quhat way that thai had wend 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2474.
Thow seruis better for to haue punischement … nor halie gaitis to went 1663 Stirling Common Good 15a.
To Robert Fledger for going alongst with his horse with those that went the marches 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1693) 78.
I know no, Lord, they went a gate of their own a1714 Cromartie Corr. II 488.
Nixt day then vent a gait wards Kintaillfig. a1508 Kynd Kittok 7 (B).
So to hevin the hie way dreidles scho wend(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 52.
Gude man, quhether art thow went on way a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 135.
Wourthy schir Gawyne went on his way a1540 Freiris Berw. 241 (B).
I pray ȝow to wend on ȝour way a1570-86 Maitl. F. 361/56.
Than wepit scho lustie in weyd And on hir wayis can scho went

e. To wend exile, to go into exile. Cf. to wend hame, in c above. 1513 Doug. iii i 9.
Syndry landis and cuntreis forto seik, And wend exile in diuers nationys, Of the goddis by reuelacionys We war admonyst

f. specif.Of the sun: To wend to, to set, go down. 1513 Doug. iii viii 121.
The son went to … the wyndis calmyt eik

g. To wend agane, to turn back, to return. 1375 Barb. xvi 434 (C).
Quhen thai saw thar lord ves slayne Thai tuk hym vp, and vent [E. turnyt] agayne Till draw thame fra the schot avay ?1438 Alex. ii 1827.
The cieteȝenis ar went agane, Manly as men of mekill mane Wysly fechtand but affray c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 156/200.
He went agane to bene bespewit

2. To depart in death. Chiefly, to hell, joy, etc., fra this life, etc., of this world.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 834.
O fulische man! … To conqueis wrangwis guidis, gold and rent … To riche thy air, quhilk efter thow art went … he takis bot small tent To sing … for thy saluatioun 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 106.
Thynk on the haly marthyris at ar went, Thynk on the payn of hell, and endles glor c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6272.
And euery day my sonne memento mori And watt not quhen, nor quhare, that thow sal wend a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 45/7.
Think on the end how ȝe man wend(2) a1400 Leg. S. xl 637.
Fra this lyfe fra he can wend, Lestandly with God to lend a1450 Fifteen Ois 219.
That quhen I sall of this warld wend Grant me the blis neuer sall haue end a1500 Henr. Fab. 794 (Bann.).
Do wilfull pennance here, and ȝe sall wend, Eftir ȝour deid, to ioy withouttin end c1475 Wall. ii 178.
Quhen so thow will, out of this warld I wend Giff I suld now in presoune mak ane end 1567 G. Ball. 165.
Quhen fra this warld to Christ we wend, Our wratchit schort lyfe, man haif end a1570-86 Maitl. F. 251/31.
Confes thé clein restoir all wrangis win For of this warld thow man pas hyn and wend

b. Of things: To disappear, perish. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4142.
Siclyke as the snaw doith melt in May … Thir gret impyris rychtso ar went away 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3906.
The well away sall went

3. Of a period of time: To elapse, pass. Also with adverb.(1) 1375 Barb. x 261.
& quhen a litill time wes went Eftre Thomas Randell he sent & [etc.] c1475 Wall. x 513.
‘It prochys ner the nycht Wald thow to morn … Or nyn … meit me [etc.] … ' Wallace said ‘Nay or that ilk tyme be went [etc.]’ 1533 Boece 358a.
Nocht mony dais war went, quhen the ambassiatouris cuming to Camelodune [etc.] 1535 Stewart 7390.
Quhill wynter wynt and symmer come agane 1567 G. Ball. 113.
The nycht war went, Bydand the day to tak him rest 1587-99 Hume 31/165.
Now noone is went, gaine is mid-day, The heat dois slake at last(2) a1550 Tayis Bank 42.
Wod Winter with his wallowand wynd But weir away wes went

4. To direct one's attention or effort to (in) (a course of action or an activity), to do something; to turn to (a person). 1375 Barb. xvii 358.
Thai trumpyt till a salt in hy, And ilk man with his apparaill Quhar he suld be went till assaill 1375 Barb. xvii 520.
That … Thai suld leve thar sege in hy And wend to reskew hastily Thar gud thar frendis and thar land c1475 Wall. iv 95.
Syne spoilȝeid thai the harnais or thai wend, Off siluer and gold aboundandlye to spend a1500 Seven S. 2548.
Quhen that ȝe for me send My masteris and I to wesy wend Quhat of my passage mycht appere And we saw [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 34 (M).
Thai spend the spreyth all thame betwene So few to wend this mischeif to amend c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 120.
Thairfoir schortlie lat vs to purpos wend, Mair summarlie we sall cum to the end Of our mater 1567 G. Ball. 35.
Christ … To saif vs is ful plyabill, Gif we repent and to him wend — ?1438 Alex. ii 1467.
Now ar my sonnes in hunting went c1475 Wall. viii 171.
In this caus that I wend, Sa that we wyn, I rek nocht for till end

b. To change to (another opinion). 1531 Bell. Boece II 303.
The Erle of Chester … with mony othir … went to hir opinion

c. To wend to the horne, to be proclaimed an outlaw. 16.. Hist. Kennedy 63.
Being in Edinbrughe, gart charge the freindis befoir the counsall; quha bot ane gritt pairtt of thame vynt to the horne

5. tr.To aim to achieve (a goal); to make one's way along (a planned route). Also intr. to strive to be. a1500 Lanc. 1638.
How the right, and how the dom is went, For to inquer that yow be delygent 1513 Doug. xiii v 46.
Is this the meith and finale term or end Of all laubouris as we desyrit and wend? 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 32.
Saturn … Went progressyve the greis of his ascensintr. ?1438 Alex. ii 4195.
Nouthir of thame preissit vther greatly, Bot athir throw his mycht anerly Wend the wourthiest for to be

6. To change into another state, to go out of one's mind, also with adjectival complement. 1375 Barb. ii 199.
Quhen to King Eduuard wes tauld How at the Brwys … Had brocht the Cumyn till ending … Owt off his wyt he went weill ner 1456 Hay I 50/10.
Quhen he herd that his falow was our thrawin … he was sa wa that nere witles he wend 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5761.
All that hir saw, beleuit that scho had went Quyte out of minde, and as ane bodie mad

7. Of an event: To come about, to happen. 1513 Doug. ii xii 32.
This chance is not, but goddis willis went; Nor it is nocht leifful thing

8. fig.a. To wend about, to go about (one's business). b. To wend alongst, to go along with, agree upon.a. 1659 A. Hay Diary 126.
At nyt I went about familie dutieb. 1695 Rothesay B. Rec. 496.
They have nominat and chosen Adam Stewart Chancellor and therupon went alongst the whole persones of inqueist