Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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.

Creature, Creatour, n. Also: -ur, -uire, -eur(e, -oure, -or(e; creture, -or. [ME. creature (c 1300), -our, OF. creature, L. creātūra.]

1. A created thing or being.(a) 1375 Barb. iv. 223.
He wes fule … That gaf treuth to that creature c1420 Wynt. v. 5278–80.
Off creature mad he wes makare; A makare mycht he nevyr be Bot gyve creatures mayd had he 1456 Hay I. 15/32.
The third part of all the creaturis quhilkis had saule and lyf … war dede Ib. 200/1.
Law naturale has grauntit that privilege till all creature naturale a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 765.
Oure vnkyndnes to Crist … All creatur of thar kynd sall accus c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 55.
He … Wald no thing fruster put … , In to his creature of his awin making c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3238.
It bene the Lordis mynde, All creature tyll vse thare kynde 1567 Sat. P. iv. 112.
In mynde malicious attoure all creatuire(b) 1461 Liber Plusc. 385.
Quhat mycht God more do till His creatoure? a1500 Bernardus 15.
O mane and wrechyte creatowr Maide in this warlde dolowr to endour 1504 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 101.
Quhen thai ar commandit to eird the creatour of God 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 148.
The saulftie of Scottis people, being the creatouris of God

2. A human being; a person.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 1849.
He gert thare thole the passyoun Off dede mony a creature 1424 Acts II. 8/2.
That the Juge … get a lele … aduocate to folow sic pur creaturis caus 1456 Hay I. 241/15.
Sa bydis the pape all Cristyn creature … to kepe that privilege to the labouraris Ib. II. 36/37.
And … a lord mak ane unworthy creature knycht a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1188.
Hell is … Ane dirk dungeon for creaturis dampnat c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. Wem. 454.
No creatur kennis of our doingis Ib. xviii. 27.
Be I bot littill of stature, Thay call me catyve createure 1538 Lynd. Justing 59.
Quha wan this feild, no creature could ken c1550 Id. Meldrum 1470.
Wes never creature that maid sic cair c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 35.
The … terribill decreit, … That is prepared for wekit creaturs, And vicius men 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 36.
Defend sic innocent creaturis as dependis onelie … upoun your mercy 1596 Dalr. I. 239/30.
The maist vngratious creatur of all quhome evir this warlde wrocht(b) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 227.
To him … That wes so slichty a creatour c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiv. 18 (M).
A crippill, or a creatour Deformit as ane oule be dame Natour 1583 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 460.
He was … glad to wissie the puirest creatour 1610 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 49.
Ar thow takin af thai bonnat to ane skait cretor? 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. xvii. 21.
More courtesse, comelie creator newer dyed 1622-6 Bisset I. 46/29.
Be thir lawes the peopill … of effeminate creatouris, war maid … manlie campyonis