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.
Auctour, Auctor, n. Also: auctore, aucthor, auctheur. [ME. and e.m.E. auctour(e, auctor(e, e.m.E. aucthor, OF. auctour, aucteur, L. auctor.] = Author, Autor.
1. A writer.(a) c1420 Wynt. ii. 595 C (thai ar forȝet withe auctouris seyr). 1492 Myll Spect. 272/27 (myn auctour that was the fyrst compyler of this buk). 1531 Bell. Boece I. 7 (as sum auctouris sayis); 248 (I will follow my auctouris). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 56/22 (an epistil as haly as is the auctour thairof); II. 7/27 (the sentence of my auctour).(b) c1400 Troy-bk. i. 492 (the auctore tretys herof). c1515 Asl. MS. I. 325/32 (Bochas and otheris auctoris). 1546–7 Corr. M. Lorraine 179 (findand ane auctor to it [sc. a writing]).
2. An originator.(a) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xxiii. 5 (auctour of dissensioun). 1561 Crim. Trials I. 418 (ane seditious persone and ane commoun auctour thairof). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 120/2 (Christe the auctour of peace). 1567 Reg. Morton I. 21 (the auctouris of ony domestik seditionis). 1578 Leslie 66 (auctour of peace and concord).(b) 1533 Bell. Livy I. 60/24 (auctor of sa trist Iugement). 1562-3 Winȝet II. 79/21 (Nestorius the auctor of noueltie). 1558-66 Knox II. 310 (the Spreit of God is nott the auctor of it). 1614 Highland P. III. 164/5 (the auctoris of all the rebellion).(c) 1570 Leslie 298 (the principall aucthoris of all the trubles). 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 61 (the auctheur of al heresie); 214 (thir first auctheurs and pillaris of that sect).
