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: 1399-1400, 1614-1697
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Compense, v. Also: -pens, -pence. [ME. compense (Gower) and e.m.E. (1622), OF. compenser, L. compensāre.] tr. To make compensation for (a thing) or to (a person); to compensate or recompense. (Common after 1650.) a1400 Legends of the Saints xii. 264.
[Judas desired] that he mycht compense Of thre hundir the teynd leyly; That cumys be raknyne to thretty c 1614 Mure Dido i. 47.
Striving to compence Fair Helen's rapt, and Paris' prowd offence 1629 Id. True Cruc. 2221.
Thy Lord, who (one day) shall thy paynes compense 1651 Gen. Assembly III. 356.
Acting somewhat for compenseing the losse of much time 1671 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III. 310.
So much … as may compense what he hes payed 1697 Foulis Acc. Bk. 216.
To compens Th. Richie his helping the horss foot
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"Compense v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/compense>
