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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1586
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Covatous, Covetous, a. Also: cowatows, -ous(se, covatouse, -us; covetows, -us, covett-, cowet(t)ous, covytous; cuvat-, cuwatous; covatys, covetyse. [ME. covatus, covaitous, var. of coveitous, covetous, OF. coveitus.] Covetous.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 195.
Sa ryth fellone And sa wykkyt and cowatous 1375 Ib. iv. 741. c1420 Wynt. vi. 1351.
A byschape … led hys lyff wytyusly, Cowatows, and incontynent 1456 Hay I. 32/15. 1456 Ib. II. 162/30.
It has lestit sa lang, and ay the langer the mare covatus and mare gredy c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace I. 69.
Couatus Balȝoune folowid on hym fast a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1265.
Thy covatus hart has maid thé blynd c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvii. 31.
For quho in warld moist covatus is In world is purast man 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 245.
Be nocht gredie nor couatus a1578 Pitsc. I. 62/33. a1578 Ib. 169/5.
Sen they sawe the Earle of Douglas so covatus to make wpe his freindis(b) 1456 Hay II. 31/21.
He that left … his gudis till a bitter cuvatous knycht a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS lxxii. 6.
Mother of vyces and most to cuvatous Ringis in thé to thy confusioun(c) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1949.
Be creuell, prydefull, couytous kyngis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 4912.
Of thair counsall ȝe ar ouir couetous a1578 Pitsc. II. 111/20.
He and the bischop his brother begane to grow cowettous and gredy a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS c. 22.
For gredynes now gydis all estatis, Instructand thame with covetus consaitis(d) 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 289/6.
This Quene was sa lechorus, … and sa covatys, that scho wald tak … meid and proffet tharfor 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 126/8.
The grit promes that is maid to them … , altris nocht ther couetyse desyre
