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: 1491-1615
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Circumspect, a. Also: -speck, -spek. [ME. circumspect (1422), L. circumspectus.] Circumspect, cautious. Of persons or actions.(1) 1491–2 Haddington Mem. 240.
A circumspect clerk 1531 Bell. Boece I. 159.
Galdus, richt circumspect in all his werkis 1543 Rec. Earld. Orkney 225.
Venerable and circumspect persons 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 6389.
Ane king suld ay … be circumspek 1558-66 Knox II. 376.
Hir sister … was not so circumspect in all thingis as that sche wisshed her to be a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xix. 25.
I exhort the to be circumspect Off thy counsale in the electioun 1615 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 258.
For Godis cause … be circumspeck, and cald, and wyse(2) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 4/19.
With mair … circumspect aduisement 1562-3 Ib. 5/10.
Ȝour … circumspect distributioun of benefices
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"Circumspect adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/circumspect>
