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: 1375-1420, 1475-1626
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Discrive, Discryve, v. Also: discrywe; discryf(e, discrif. [ME. discrive, discryve (Wyclif), var. of descrive Descrive v.]
1. tr. To describe, give an account of.(a) 1375 Barb. xiii. 185.
Armoris … wes swa defowlit thar, That thai mycht nocht discrivit be c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 64.
Discriue I wald … How all the feldis … Depaynt war brycht 1513 Doug. i. i. 1.
The batalis and the man I will discrive 1513 Ib. vi. Prol. 33.
In all his warkis Vyrgill doith discriue The stait of man 1533 Boece ix. ix. 309 b.
Galfreid … varyis nocht litill fra oure proces in discriving this iournay 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 2/13.
Ony … verteouse lady that Plutarque or Bocchas hes discriuit 1570 Satirical Poems xvii. 27.
It war to lang in vulgare vers expres it At lenth, the same sen cronickles discriues(b) 1375 Barb. x. 278.
I think … till discryve ȝow his fassoun c1515 Kennedy Asloan MS II. 273/31.
Plesand pennis for to report perfyte … Couth nocht discryve thi honouris infinit 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 511.
The batalys and the man I will discryve 1513 Ib. x. Prol. 37.
Quhilk souerane substans … Na cunnyng comprehend may nor discryve 1533 Bell. Livy I. 9/23 (B).
Thai fabillis in discrywing the beginnyng of Romanis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3287.
Mony cunnyng clerkis Hes hym discryuit in thare werkis 1572 Satirical Poems xxx. 106.
I laith wer to discryue The manly Methwen mischantly put downe a1585 Polwart Flyt. 560 (T).
Delay his death, quhill I discryve him 1622-6 Bisset I. 48/30.
[Part] of Mr Hectoure Boyes cronicle: … discryvand the lyfe and governament of King Kenneth(c) 1375 Barb. xx. 282.
I hop that nane that is on lif The lamentacioune suld discrif That thai folk for thair lord maid c1420 Ratis Raving 729.
I am nother monk nore frere That can discryf thar fals missouris Sa weil [etc.] a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 738.
This iugement is sa furious & sa fell It passis manly mynd for to discryf 1535 Stewart 34908.
My rude ingyne wald bayth grow doll and dirk … Gif I suld heir his worthines discryfe c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1878.
He did depart out of that stede, … As the scripture at lynthe discryffis
b. To describe geographically; to map out. c1515 Asloan MS I. 153/7.
Julius Cesar … ordanit wys men to meit & discrive all the warld abowt 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xviii.
Howbeit recent authouris discrive the warld in sum uthir figure and sort than it hes bene discrivit afore be … auld cosmographouris 1533 Boece ii. ix. 74.
King Ptholome had devisit to discrive be instrumentis of astronomy the situacion of the hale warld
2. To decide, decree, disclose, devise. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 654.
Yhe men off wit, this question dyscryve a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 777.
Than sall the iuge dowble dome discrive Off all our deidis a 1568 Waus Corr. I. 58.
I desyr yow … at ye waid not discryue my wretting to na creator 1571 Satirical Poems xxviii. 47.
I was coequall with Achitophall, Or subtill Sinone, knaifrie to discriue
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"Discrive v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/discrive>
