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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.

Doctrine, n. Also: doctryne, -rin, -rene, -rein(e; doct(e)ring, dochtering. [ME. doctryn(e, doctrine (Wyclif), OF. doctrine, L. doctrīna.]

1. Teaching; instruction. 1456 Hay I. 68/13.
Sum tyme it hapnis … that the barnis … will nocht tak with the doctryne of the faders Ib. II. 18/5.
In the fault of doctrine and teching of the poyntis … of noblesse c1420 Ratis R. 625.
Sa sais Paull in his doctryne, Thai are his vordis & nocht myne a1500 Henr. Orph. 418.
Boece … To wryte this feynit fable tuke in cure … For oure doctryne, and gude instruction 1533 Boece ix. xv. 326.
The pepill was rude, gros, deif, … and nocht of capacite to resaue doctrine c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 969.
I haif bene … at the seuin seages of sapience, For to haif had thair counsall and doctrine Id. Seven S. 411.
That this childe may se, vesie, and luke, And tak doctrine

b. Public instruction in religion; preaching. 1560 Bk. Disc. 209.
Yf it be upaland, whaire the people convene to doctrine but once in the weeke 1558-66 Knox I. 250.
After doctrin, he lyikwiese ministrat the Lordis table 1600-1610 Melvill 33.
I saw him [Knox] everie day of his doctrine go … to the Paroche Kirk 1611 Fife Synod 29.
That na boattis cors the Ferrie on the Sabbaoth day … till the efternones doctrine be endit

2. A point or matter of instruction; that which is taught or put forward as a dogma or tenet.(a) 1456 Hay I. 18/21.
Persouns that wald nocht trowe his fals doctryne Ib. 285/22.
Ane othir reugle and doctryne apon the gouernaunce of clos bataill a1500 Henr. Fab. 17.
Sa lyis thair ane doctrine wyse aneuch … vnder ane feinȝeit fabill c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 13/8.
This is the doctrine nocht allanerlie of theologis and haly writ, bot richt sa of philosophouris 1533 Bell. Livy I. 4.
Throw quhilk apperis ane notabil doctryne To ws that has the trew relligioun 1551 Hamilton Cat. Pref. 4.
To keip uniformitie and concord in setting furth to the people the doctrine of our christian faith a1578 Pitsc. II. 232/28.
Thair fell amangis thame ane gret contentioun anent certane doctrinis prechit be ane callit Hammiltoune(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xli. 7.
Be rewlit rycht and keip this doctring [: spending, etc.] 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 99.
Gif thair wes ony brother that had ony thing to lay to the charge of the saidis ministeris, ather in life, doctering or conversatioun 1575 Ib. 120.
In thair dochtering, lyfis, or conversatiounis(c) a1578 Pitsc. II. 58/18.
That he sould … appeir befor the judge … to gif accompt of his heriticall doctrene Ib. 75/10.
Thai desyre … to choke and distroy thy trew doctrene and werietie 1581 Burne Disput. 9.
Thinkis thou then the doctrein of the scolastik theologiens treu? 1594 St. A. Kirk S. 788.
To heir the word of God, that he may learne the doctrein of repentance c1650 Spalding II. 259.
He alledgit he wold byde be what he had teichit that day to be orthodox doctrein

3. Learning, erudition. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 12.
The principal to be ane man of iconomie, and sufficient doctrine to supple the regentis absens in redyng