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: 1456-1556, 1608, 1665
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Desolatioun, Dissolatioun, n. Also: -acioun(e. [ME. desolacioun (Wyclif), -acyon, etc., OF. desolation, L. dēsōlātio.] Desolation; destitution.(a) 1456 Hay II. 149/35.
Thus genderis divisioun, and efter divisioun desolacioun 1490 Irland Mir. I. 120/21.
Lat nocht … this hevinly place stand in ruyne na desolacioune 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 224.
Thus dullit in to desolatioun, Me thocht this bird [etc.] c1552 Id. Mon. 6289.
Ay tormentit … With dolour, dreid, and desolatioun 1608 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 1061.
It was ane generall greife … of the great desolatioun of the want of pastours 1665 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III. 582.
The loses of the brught … by demolishing of thair tolbooth, … and steaple, and vthair desolatiouns(b) a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 149.
But justice kyngdomes tornes in tyrandrie, … Murmour, discord and dissolacioun 1531 Bell. Boece II. 455.
The Scottis … come to irrecoverabill dissolatioun 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 43.
For doutles throuch diuisioun Proceidis dissolatioun
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"Desolatioun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/desolatioun>
