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: 1420, 1490-1492, 1562-1626
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Absolutioun, n. Also: absolutyowne, -ucio(u)n, -usioun, obsolutioun. [ME. absoluciun, -ucioun, etc. (13th c.), OF. absolution, L. absolūtiōn-, absolūtio.]
1. Ecclesiastical remission of sin. Also fig.c1420 Wynt. v. 3862 (tuk absolutyowne); vii. 2685 (gave absolutyown). 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf I. 295/6 (tuk absolusioun of his confessour). c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I.10/3 (confessioun and absolucoun of al his synnis). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 103/28 (the absolutioun of the minister). 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 191 (the wrang absolutiounis to thame geuin). 1574 Edinb. Kirk S. 15 July.
Thaireftir to be ressauit to the societie of the Kirk and obtene ane obsolutioun conforme to the ordour1581 Burne Disput. 14 (the inuart absolution).
2. Law. The absolving of a defendant by decision of court. 1622-6 Bisset I. 180/2.
Ane exceptioun temporall … is helpfull to the defender, to obtene absolutioun to him for that tyme onlie
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"Absolutioun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/absolutioun>
