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: 1487-1667
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Descrive, Descryve, v. Also: descrywe, -schryve. [ME. descryve, descrive (a 1225), OF. descrivre. Cf. Discrive v.] tr. To describe, set down in writing; to delineate.(a) 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 33.
Gif we descryve the woddis a1568 Scott i. 171.
Scolastic men the scriptouris to descrywe 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 11.
Vnto all men thair dewtie to descryue 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 1012.
Wha could cleirlie descryve his cases In Parise, and in vther places 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xi.
Gif that thou culd descryue the cairt, The way thou wald go richt 1647 Misc. Spald. C. I. 55.
Your sone … is to be imployed be the nobilite of Angus to deschryve that schyre 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 140.
I have descryved him thus at length to show the reader [etc.](b) 1551 Hamilton Catechism 45.
Heir it is expedient to descrive quha is ane heretyk c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 65.
Thair waillit weid, and stature to descriue c1550 Ib. ii. 130.
To descriue thair honest ornament 1573 Satirical Poems xl. 9.
Quhilk vprichtnes we may descriue to be: Ane traid of lyfe conforme to Godds command a1585 Polwart Flyt. 540.
Desist, delay his death, whill I descriue him 1587-99 Hume Epistle 246.
I will not striue To slander courts, but them I may descriue
b. ? In the sense of 'descry'. 1487 Brus xiii. 184 (C).
Armoris ... With blud wes swa defowlit thar, That thai mycht nocht descrivit [E. descroyit] be
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"Descrive v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/descrive>
