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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.

Faculté, -tie, n. [ME. faculté (c 1384), facultie, OF. faculté, L. facultas.]

1. Recognized or permitted power to do something or to hold some position. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1473.
Away to be put holely The faculte of hys commyng To Troye and away goyng 1443 Reg. Cambuskenneth 126.
The said Clement … hes gevin … full fredome and fre faculte … to brek, big, and agane rais the stane gavill 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 80.
That we may haue faculte and powere yeirlie to cheis our kirkmaister of the said altar 1540 Reg. Privy S. II. 515.
Grantand to the saidis heretable possessouris … fre faculte and speciale licence to big, set furth [etc.] 1641 Acts V. 556/1.
With commoun pasturage, libertie, facultie and priuiledge of pasturing of thair gudes

2. a. Personal property; possessions, means. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 830.
Nocht wald he Haf of his bruthyre faculte Ib. xliii. 305.
Tyburcius … & his bruthire … Thare faculte … Til poure folk disponyt faste

b. Amount or value of property. 1494 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 53.
To extent the said xl markis … efter the faculte of thar gudis 1533 Bell. Livy II. 64/3.
Sa thir men war callit censouris, becaus thai nowmerit the pepill be thare faculteis & gudis

3. Social position, station, or rank. c1420 Wynt. iv. 1957.
Thou sall hym wyth gud relewe, … Set that he want faculte, Or kyn, and gud in till plente 1513 Doug. xiii. vi. 35.
The onweldy common pepill ilkane To caus adres eftir thar faculte 1549 Ann. Banff I. 24.
That … [they] have ilk ane of thame conforme to thair faculte certane … schepe, novlt, hors, &c. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3165.
Spend not in prodigalitie, Bot as affeiris thy facultie

4. A branch of learning; a department of study in a University. c1420 Wynt. viii. 262.
All thir clerkis in thare greis And studvws in thare faculteis Ib. 679.
Gret maystrys off dyvynyte Sowcht this cas in thare faculte 1480 Acta Conc. 48/2.
Ane annuel clamyt be the faculte of Arte of the vniuersite of Glasgw 1524 James V Let. to St. Andrews 19 Nov.
Maister Martyne Balfour. … den of faculte of art of the said universite 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 15.
The rectour most be … doctor or bachelar in the hyear faculteisellipt. 1509 Liber Coll. Glasg. 208.
The Deyne of Faculte of Glasgwe 1578 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 119.
Maister Thomas Smeitoun, minister of Paslay and dean of facultie of the said Vniuersitie

5. A profession, trade, or occupation. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1360.
Displeis ȝow not … thocht I Demand ȝour birth, ȝour facultie, and name c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 47.
I se that makaris … gois to graif, Sparit is nocht ther faculte 1518 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 184.
Becaus the forsaid faculte is thocht sa honorable and proffitable to be had within this realme 1549 Compl. 10/12.
His faculte is as honest … as is to be ane marynel, ane marehant [etc.] Ib. 45/9.

6. Personal character or disposition. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2705.
Oppressouris of pure men … Be violence, or craft in facultie a1578 Pitsc. I. 10/18.
Knawin[g] of wemen the facultie, That thay are nocht constant in thair quallitie c1610 Melville Mem. (1683) 30.
The Queen Mother, knowing his faculty, handled the matter so finely [etc.]

7. Ability or skill. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2794.
Tell me … quhat facultie or gyn Thow hes to bring thé ouer this watter