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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Commend, Comend, v. Also: cummeind. [ME. commend(e, comend(e (a 1340), L. commendāre.]

1. tr. To commit or consign; to make over (to or till one).a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 225.
On hyre scho can lay The takyne of the croice verray, Commendant [hir] to Criste Ihesu
c1420 Wynt. iv. 44.
Till hyr suete wyrgynyte This tretys I commend and me
Ib. v. 815.
He … till hym comendyt hale Off his gret ost the governale
c1475 Wall. xi. 1338.
Hvmbly to God his spreyt he thar comend
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1008.
Crist … His meike moder … Hertlie commendit to Jhon the ewangelist
Ib. 1065.
His spreit [he] commendit vnto his faderis cure
c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1273.
To thé my querrell I do commend
1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 124.
To quham, … he commendit his flok and congregatioun

b. To recommend (oneself) to another's kindly remembrance.a1500 Doug. K. Hart 914.
To Rere-Supper, be he amang that route, Ȝe me commend
c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 3.
We that ar heir in hevins glory To ȝou that ar in purgatory Commendis ws on our hairtly wyis
Ib. xlii. 4.
Till hir … I me commend … Intill hir bandoun for to rest
15.. Clar. i. 608.
Then courteslie he tuike his leave and wend, To lord and lady oft doing him commend
a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 108.
I me commend vnto ȝour nobill grace
c 1584 Maxwell Mem. II. 154.
Em, I cummeind me to ȝow

2. To speak of with approbation; to praise.1375 Barb. x. 296.
Off all vertwis maid was he. I will commend him heir no mar
a1400 Leg. S. x. 365.
Thane matrimone he can commend
c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2189.
Nestor commendit nocht Thare counsale
c1420 Wynt. iv. 418.
Quhen the lyffe off man tais end, Than is tyme hym to comend
Ib. v. 2216.
He suld be welle alowyde And commendyt wyth thaim
1456 Hay II. 148/7.
His wit [is] mare prisit … and his jugement mare commendit
c1420 Ratis R. 1569.
Thai thretty ȝe.r are to comende, Fore thai ar gud at athir ende
c1475 Wall. ix. 1909.
The wyt of Frans thocht Wallace to commend
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 74.
That … philosophoure Four thingis commendit accordand for a king
c1515 Asl. MS. I. 217/13.
He tuke the portar & wan the ouyr balȝe … and was commendit for his takin
c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 347.
His greit courage he did commend
1562-3 Winȝet II. 82/3.
He is naway to be reprocheit, bot gretumlie to be commendit thairfor
a1585 Maitl. Q. lxviii. 5.
Catullus Verone did commend as his native countrie
1596 Dalr. I. 126/12.
The maist notable men, and best commendet in justice and prudencie

b. With complement: To praise as something.c1420 Wynt. vi. 382.
The sentens off Boes, That a wys clerk commendyt wes
Ib. vii. 3526.
Lytill Jhon and Robyne Hude Waythmen ware commendyd gud

3. To recommend, advise.a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 198.
Eike I commend ay or ȝe gif sentens … To counsall call … gud consciens
1562-3 Winȝet I. 120/33.
Feruentlie commendand ws peace and concord
1596 Dalr. I. 134/30.
He wil … gyue place to the lawful ȝouth … quhome lykwyse he commendet to the senat and to the people

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