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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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PACTION, n., v. Also pactione. packshon. Rare and obs. in Eng.

I. n. 1. An agreement, bargain, an understanding (Sc. 1818 Sawers, Sc. 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 62); specif. in Sc. Law, an unofficial agreement as distinct from a legally binding contract (Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 694). Derivs.: pactional, adj., of the nature of or pertaining to a pact or agreement; pactionally, adv., by means of a compact or agreement.Lnk. 1709 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 66:
As to the pretence of Walter Carmichaell having right to the grass by pactione from Baillie Howesone . . . John Hutchisone answered that albeit paction had been betwixt them yett it cannot militat against the said John Hutchisone.Sc. 1726 E. Erskine Works (1871) I. 126:
In a way of pactional debt.Sc. 1754 Erskine Principles i. vi. § 25:
The provisions that the wife is entitled to, either by law or by paction.Sc. 1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs II. 159:
They made a paction'tween them twa.Sc. 1819 Scott L. Montrose xiii.:
"And my guerdon is to be life and liberty?" said the Child of the Mist. "Such is our paction," replied the Campbell.Mry. 1851 Lintie o' Moray 25:
And sair I did repent the paction, And wondered sair at my daft action.Sc. 1884 Law Reports 9. App. Cases 341:
An estate . . . which was being pactionally secured to the issue of the marriage into which she was entering.Sc. 1887 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 77:
It is directed against what are called Simoniacal Practices, i.e., all unlawful pactions made by, or on behalf of ministers, in order to secure appointments to vacant parishes.Fif. 1897 S. Tytler Witch-Wife v.:
The truth was, they longed for the conclusion of the paction.Sc. 1927 Gloag & Henderson Intro. Law Scot. 150:
In a holding a provision for penal or pactional rent, i.e., for payment of a fixed sum as liquidate damages for any breach of the conditions of the lease.Abd. 1929 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (3 Jan.) 6:
Gin that wis a' he hid tae compleen aboot, Hilly, I wid lat 'im sit gin he made ony sic paction.

2. Collusion, trickery, fraud.Sc. 1702 Analecta Scot. (Maidment 1834) I. 117:
As to the Second Sight, you may shortly gett ane accompt from my son what my judgement of it is . . . several persons hes it, that is free of paction, yea, and are found to be pious.

II. v. To come to an agreement with, to enter into a compact.Dmf. 1717 W. McDowall Hist. Dumfries (1873) 325:
We find the Dean seizing a daring Annandale man, because he "pactioned for the pryce" of several bundles of lint.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 40:
Did not I packshon wi' you for the bried o' my mither's back and the length o' her carkage?Ayr. 1824 A. Crawford Tales Grandmother 283:
You pactioned to meet the Enemy of mankind on the key-stone of the bridge of Ayr.Ayr. a.1839 Galt Demon Destiny 27:
When they had paction'd to proceed together.