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: 1375-1596
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Destiné, Destané, n. Also: destyné, destinie; destenie, -eny; destanie, -anye; distane, -anie. [ME. destiné, -yné (14th c.), -enie, -anee, etc., OF. destinée.] Destiny, fate, fortune.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xii. 205.
Hyr a sowne [= son] … That scho til eschewe destyne, In a cophyne kest in the se c1420 Wynt. v. 2004.
In intent that destyne Off thare goddys suld brokyn be c1420 Ib. vi. 1330.
Destyne swa mad hym ayre Till Conrade this Empryoure 1513 Doug. xii. ii. 152.
Declarand thame the fatale ordinans, Thar destyne, and Goddis purvians 1596 Dalr. I. 78/28.
Quhen he was sett in the chyre called the chyre of Destinie, to wit, quhair the kings ar crouned(b) 1375 Barb. v. 428.
He chesit forthward to travale, … And sua driff furth his destane a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1226.
Quha may his danger endure or destanye dispise 1513 Doug. i. i. 72.
Am I abandonyt with sa hard destany? 1513 Ib. ii. xii. 83; etc.
My purpos I left, obeyand destanye c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 228.
Alexander … vas send be hauinlie distanie, Of vickit men a punischer to be a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxix. 2.
O wrachit weird, … O cruell destanie a1570-86 Ib. xxx. 92.
I suld nocht my destany dispyte a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xl. 26.
Since I am be destanie becum ȝour seruituire(c) c1550 Rolland Court of Venus Prol. 196.
Thay say it is fals destenie And wyittis Fortoun of thair misgouernance a1500 Henr. Fab. 641.
My destenie and eik my weird I ken a1500 Id. Test. Cress. 62; etc.
The fatall destenie Of fair Cresseid c1590 Fowler I. 114/49.
His fearse and cruell fates and destenies 1596 Dalr. I. 79/6.
This chyre, quhilke our cuntrey people called of Destenie
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"Destiné n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/destine>
