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: 1375-1400, 1460-1578
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Contenance, -ence, n. Also: -ans, -ens. [ME. contenance (1340), OF. contenance. Cf. Continance and Countenance.]
1. Manner of bearing oneself, esp. towards others; manner or looks, as indicating disposition or feeling.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 392.
Bot quha in battaill mycht him se, All othir contenance had he 1375 Ib. vii. 127.
Thai changit contenans and late a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi. 227.
Scho rase, with contenance plesand & wysage clere, ymange tham thrange c1460 Thewis Wysmen 313.
Thar manteinyng, and thar contenans, And wordis, schawis thar ignorans c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 202.
Sad of contenance he was bathe auld and ȝing c1475 Ib. iv. 591.
Wallace … Syne comfort thaim with manly contenance a1500 Golagros and Gawane 87.
With stout contenance and sture he stude thame beforne c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 89.
With a full hardy contenance and kene 1513 Doug. x. xiii. 148.
Quhen … fers Eneas Beheld hys wlt and contenans in deyng 1531 Bell. Boece I. 57.
Baith his wordis, visage, and contenance apperit but ony dissimilance a1578 Pitsc. I. 41/16.
The chancellar … witht ane heartlie contenance in this maner [said, etc.](b) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 1668.
At this herrold he askyt his credence, With aspre spech, and manly contenence 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 71/5.
Sche ansuert vitht ane dolorouse contenens
2. Favour, support.1570 Leslie 300.
He buir the matier so fordwart … , be the contenance and fortificatione of the Quenes aucthorytye a1578 Pitsc. I. 122/10.
His … freindis be quhois continance and assistance he had interprysit sa heigh matteris
