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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Convenient, a. and n. Also: convenent, -wen(y)ent. [ME. (Chaucer) and OF. convenient, L. conveniens.]

1. Fitting, suitable, appropriate. 1467 Acts II. 90/1.
To avis … vppone the mariage of our souerain lord … with a conuenient persone of nobile blude a1500 Henr. Fab. 2581.
Esope … Wrait this parabole, quhilk is convenient 1490 Irland Mir. I. 129/22.
It was ressoune and conuenient that the gud … angell ware messingere 1513 Doug. xii. iv. 61.
Gif so betyd, … It is conuenient, and we grant to fle … As venquyst folk 1536 Rep. Menzies MSS. 33.
And rychtsua that tha sall deput ane conuenient man, … to the keping of the haill woddis and forestis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 397.
The vther sex said … His counsall was gude and conuenient Ib. 3730.
We sall ȝow gif answer conuenient 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 446.
To vesie … thair Hienessis ordinance, of the quhilk ane large part wanting convenient furniture [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 59.
To assy gif thair ladderis wer convement and lang aneuch

b. Of time or place. a1500 Lanc. 29.
I promyt, als fast as I haue tyme Conuenient, … I shall [declare my name] c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 31.
Asking wald haife convenient place, Convement tyme, lasar, and space 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 242.
That he mycht persew thairfor tyme and place convenient a1578 Pitsc. I. 292/9.
To punische thair oppressioun … so sune as he sawe tyme convenent Ib. 341/14.
That he sould come quhene he saw tyme conwenent 1589 Edinb. Test. XXI. 101 b.
My moder to haue the gyding and handling of the said scheipe quhill convement tyme

c. Adapted or suitable to or for something. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 259.
Sa is the saull of man conwenyent Till gud or ill as man list till applie 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 102.
Till sustene and vphald oure said altar in all necessar thingis convenient thairto 1547 Ib. II. 129.
Gif ony of the craftis hes ado with sic guidis as ar convenient for thame 1549 Compl. 8/24.
Sciens, craftis, ande mecanyke occupations, maist comodius and conuenient for the public veil 1570 Sat. P. xxiii. 52.
The toun … Cheissit thé to be thair prouest and thair mair, As man thairto meit and conuenient a1578 Pitsc. III. 125/14.
This trywmphe … continwit the space of xx dayis with … all knychtlie gaine convenient for the tyme

2. Agreeing in opinion; in accord. 1485 Acts II. 178.
To conclude & performe the samyn [mariage], sa that … the princez that suld be the partj be greable & convenient

b. In agreement or harmony (with or to). c1515 Asl. MS. I. 330/8.
The vij day God restit fra his werkis, conuenient and coresponding to the vij age 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 30.
We aucht tak tent That baith accord, and bene conuenient, The man, the sentens, and the knychtlyke stile a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 16.
Seher Seytoun succedit to Dougall, quhilk I beleve was his father, becaus I find it convenient wyth the tyme

3. n. Convenient time, opportunity. 1604 Elgin Rec. II. 123.
It is woitit that the wapinschaw … stay till another convenient, first, becaus of the pest, secundlie, becaus of the beirseid