A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1450-1600
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Degrade, Degraid, v. Also: degrayde; degrath. [ME. degrade (c 1325), -grayd, OF. degrader, late L. dēgradāre.]
1. tr. To reduce (a person) to a lower rank; to deprive of rank or honour. Freq. const. of or fra.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 175.
Degradyt syne wes he Off honour and off dignite c1450-2 Howlat 952.
This howlat [being] … degradit fra grace, for his gret pryde 1456 Hay I. 109/36.
Gif he be ane unworthy persone … he [the pope] degradis him1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 251.
Quho bene iniuste degradit ar of glorie1549 Complaynte of Scotland 146/31.
He vas … degradit fra his nobilite c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4823.
Off that office thay serue to be degradit 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 18.
Mr. Normond Govrlay wes first abiuirit, … and thairefter degradit for heresie(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 397.
I sall degraid [M. degrayde] thé, graceles, of thy greis 1513 Doug. xi. vi. 66.
Till invaid Kyng Priamus, and of hys realm degraid 1531 Bell. Boece I. 50.
Thay concludit … to degraid him of his crown and kingdome
b. To deprive ignominiously of something.1475 Prestwick B. Rec. 26.
Puttand the accioun of thar curt … and degradand the hale communite of thar fredome in that thing 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3617 (B).
Ȝe sall se ws sone degraid them Of cowle and skaiplarie 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 295.
Scho sall be degradit of the busk of ane burges wyfe
2. To bring down to a lower level; to lower in repute or worth.a1500 Henr. Fab. 1478.
It will degraid sum part of ȝour renoun To sla ane mous a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 999.
Bere this in mynd and degraide nocht thi gre 1513 Doug. II. 907/4.
Say thai nocht, I myne honeste haue degraid c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iv. 237.
I war laith my honour war degraid a1578 Pitsc. II. 196/22.
He wald not degraid the honour of his housc1590 J. Stewart 21/230.
The virgin so … degraths hir hie renoune
b. refl. To debase (oneself).c1515 Asloan MS I. 171/25.
Mony men that in all thingis has counterfeit myne estait … misfassonit & degradit thaim self
