A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1538-1578, 1639-1666
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Abjure, v. Also: objure. [Late ME. (1480), L. abjūrāre.]
1. tr. To require (a person) to recant heresy; to sentence to recantation.(a) 1538 Reg. Privy S. II. 396/1.
Makand mentioun that thai ar convictit … of heresy, of the quhilk thai wer dilatit and abjurit 1538 Ib. 408/2; etc.
As Richart Rollok … wes dilatit of certane poyntis of heresy and wes abjurit and convictit tharof 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VI. 430/1.
Passing with lettres to arreist the mennis gudis in Dunde that wer abjurit 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 19.
Mr. Normond Govrlay wes first abiurit, syne callit, and thairefter degradit for heresie(b) 1538–9 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 153.
To pas and serche thair gudis quhilkis war obiurit and declarit heretikis
2. To recant (heresy, etc.).(a)1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 29 (he abjurit his religioun). 1570 Leslie 266 (to abjure thair arrouris). 1639 Chron. Perth 37 (the episcopall government is abiurit).(b) 1666 Jurid. Rev. XXIV. 18.
Will ye not objure the covenant … that was hatched in hell and tuik off the King's head?
3. intr. To make recantation.(a)1568 Pref. Lyndesay 5 (outher to abiure or suffer the fyre). a1578 Pitsc. I. 351/1 (he wald nocht abiure and burne his faggat).(b) 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 19.
Ane Dauid Strathque wald not obiure bot was constant, who was brynt a1578 Pitsc. II. 133/18.
Than said the bischopis, ‘Will thow obiure?’
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"Abjure v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/abjure>
