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.
Direct, Direk, v. Also: derect, diract; direc(k, dyrek; derek, -rak. [ME. directe (Chaucer), dy-, derecte, L. dīrect-, ppl. stem of dīrigere. Cf. Direct,p.p.]
1. tr. To cause to go, to send, in a certain direction or to a certain destination.(a) a1500 Henr. Orph. 168.
I the beseike … Direct me fra this deid sa dolorus 1501 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 90.
The toun directtand and careand the wark fra the querrell c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxi. 93.
I haif of busie serwandis foure or fyve, And all directit vnto sindrie steidis 1558-66 Knox II. 167.
For that purpose wes directed to the West, the Erle of Arrane [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 399/11.
The king … haistalie derectit tuo ambassadouris to Ingland 1596 Dalr. I. 81/27.
Ferquhard … frome Irland directeng his sone … til Albion 1614 Highland P. III. 162.
To derect one of his schippes to the west cost 1640 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 425.
They have directit certane moneyis to the compt to them for thair help and supplie(b) 1516 Misc. Spald. C. V. 396.
The justice within vj dayis sall derak his deppitts [etc.] 1538 Ib. II. 192.
We hef presently direckit attouart … the Kyng of France … our traist consalour Maister Thomas Erskyne 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 224.
We hawe derekit Kempe away agane to my lord to entyrteny the pwrpos quhill fordar remeid be fownd
b. To arrange or set in a certain order or direction.1513 Doug. iii. vi. 172.
Direkking the leiffis per ordour furth on syde 1533 Boece iii. xxi. 124.
He directit all the cast of his life to defend his kinrik 1551 Hamilton Cat. 42.
Lat … all thi labour, strenth, & diligence be direckit to God 1562-3 Winȝet II. 19/5.
Necessare it is … that the line … be directit according to the rewll [etc.] 1570 Leslie 228.
Directing thair curse towardis the ile
2. To address (a letter, etc.), to address or dedicate (a work) to a person or persons.(a) a1500 Seven S. 145.
He … gart direct his letteris sone To the sagis c1500-c1512 Dunb. lx. 2.
Complane I wald, wist I quhome till, Or wnto quhome direct my bill 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 35.
That mannis dignyte Quhamto our work we direct and endyte c1552 Lynd. Mon. 550.
Quharefore to colȝearis … my ryme sall be diractit, With cunnyng men quhowbeit it wyl be lactit [= lakkit] a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii. 110.
This rurall ryme … To Dict and Dury is directit plane a1578 Pitsc. II. 183/4.
Thair was letteris directit to thir lordis and gentilmen(b) 1467 Acta Aud. 7/2.
The lordis … ordanis our souerain lordis lettres to be direkit to devoide and red the said landis 1474 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 449.
Be a letter of balȝery … to me direkkit 1513 Doug. 906/1.
Heir the translatar direkkis his buk c 1525 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 389.
The saidis lord and bailȝeis askit … gif he hade put the summonds till executioun that was dyrekkyt to hyme 1549 Compl. 7/13.
The quhilk tracteit I hef dediet ande direckyt to ȝour nobil grace 1557 Rep. Southesk MSS. 18.
Forsamekill as we direkit our preceptis effoir to the bischope of Dunblane 1563 Reg. Cupar A. II. 279.
With x lib. giffin … to Alexander Durame … as his vritt direckit thairwpoun
b. To address (a package) to a person.1496 Halyb. 7.
Rasauit in Brugis … a mas derekit to my Lord 1498 Ib. 160.
Paid for portag of ij gret masses of lettris … the quhilk war derekit to the Archden and Thom Hakarstoun
3. To instruct, guide, or command.1490 Irland Mir. I. 42/32.
The gift of counsale … direkis ws in this peticioun Ib. 66/18.
As the man … was direkkit be wisdome c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 193.
As the man that … dois continew as Gods word dois direc him a1578 Pitsc. I. 195/27.
He directit ten thowsand of thir to be in his wangard 1589 Douglas Corr. 241.
Derek the clerk and officiar … to eik and pair to the premisses as is neidfull
4. To give as a charge or counsel.c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2463.
Behald how the gret God … Derectit thame one strait commandiment a1568 Bann. MS. 249 a/1.
In to the nycht quhen to ilk wicht natur derekis rest a1578 Pitsc. I. 139/4.
It is derectit that all faithfull men sall send thair souldeouris [etc.]
