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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.

Fenȝeing, Feinȝeing, vbl. n. Also: fenyhyng, fenȝeyng(e, feynȝeyng, fainȝeing, finȝeing. [ME. feynyng (c 1380), f. Fenȝe v.]

1. Feigning; false pretence or representation. 1375 Barb. i. 341.
Oft feynȝeyng off rybbaldy Awailȝeit him c1420 Wynt. i. 1553.
Thir poetys sayis in thare fenyhyng [etc.] Ib. iii. 399.
For luff to yheld fenyhyng, It is to lele hart a throwyng a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1173.
I mak you request … but falsset, or ony fenyeing c1515 Asl. MS. I. 173/13.
In iustice he is werray noble and … gouernis and mantenis him without fenȝeing c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 65.
My fenȝeing, and my fals wynyng 1533 Bell. I. 207/5.
Saying the feynȝeing of civil dissensions was nocht bot ane new remede … to covir thare febill cowarty 1562-3 Winȝet II. 43/6.
As the saul adunit to the body … præsentis … a man nocht be feinȝeing. bot be substance a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xiv. 69.
Flie feinȝeing, flattering, falsheid and dissait

b. Freq. in the phrase but (or without) fenȝeing. 1375 Barb. i. 74.
He suld swer that, but fenȝeyng, He suld that arbytre disclar a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 398.
Thu lat me wyt but ony fenȝeynge Ib. xxvii. 683.
I sal helpe thé but fenȝeyng ?1438 Alex. ii. 2364.
I ask ȝow heir, … That ȝe but fenȝeing tell to me [etc.] c1460 Thewis Wysmen 259.
Thai kep thar lawte but fenȝeing a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 745.
Furth faris the folk, but fenyeing or fabill Ib. 856.
Thus thai faught vpone fute, without fenyeing c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 151.
Now … fallis ȝow but fenȝeing to tell … How haif ȝe farne be ȝour faith? 15.. Clar. i. 1526.
Heir is Palesis, … Whom as myself I luif but fainȝeing c1552 Lynd. Mon. 487.
Lufe thy God aboue all thyng, And thy nychtbour but fenȝeyng 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10228.
Quhilk man it was … I will ȝow schaw but ony fenȝeing

2. a. Forging (of handwriting or documents). 1512 Reg. Privy S. I. 365/1.
A respitt … for his tresonable fenȝeing of the kingis subscriptioun manuale 1540 Ib. II. 529/2.
Throw the said Laurence falseing and fenȝeing of ane proces of apprising 1563 Digest Justiciary Proc. E. 13.
The fals forging. making, and feinȝeing of ane pretendit instrument 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 193.
Thomas Barries … being convictit for fanȝeing of my lord regentis hand wreit

b. Counterfeiting (of coin). 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 401/2.
Ane respitt … for tresounabill and fals fenȝeing, cunȝeing and stryking of the kingis money, plakis and pennys 1556 Crim. Trials I. 394.
The fenȝeing, forgeing, and striking of certane fals testanis 1584 Ib. II. 135.
The tressonabill cryme of forgeing, fenȝeing, and stryking of certane fals and adultrit money