A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420-1456, 1520-1600
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Imply, v. Also: imple(y. [ME. implie (c 1374), also enpliȝe (c 1400), OF. emplier. Cf. the later Imploy v.]
1. a. In p.p., Entangled, involved, embroiled; engaged, occupied. c1420 Wynt. v. 2092 (C).
Ȝhe are implyide [R. impleyd [sic in MS.]] in gret erroure, Ȝour mychty makar to forsayk 1533 Boece x. vii. 36.
Edwyne … was implyit in civill weris 1533 Ib. xi. xvii. 441b.
Ane idle vane harlot vagabond … implyit in all vicis 1533 Ib. xii. xviii. 490 b.
Implyit amang the troubill of warldly curis
b. reflex. To involve, concern, or occupy oneself. 1456 Hay II. 38/29.
For quhat caus he will tak the ordre; and quhethir it be … till implye him for the haly kirk c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Tim. ii. 4.
Na man halding knichthede to God, implyis him self with wardly nedis
2. tr. To employ, make use of (a thing); to expend (money) on a particular object. = Imploy v. 1 and 1 b. 1456 Hay II. 47/16.
His lytill schort suerd, … that quhen he has implyde … his lang suerde … , than is it gude at schort strakis 1565 Reg. Privy C. I. 334.
The twa part [of the money] to be implyit to the behuif of the Quenis Majestie c1600 Montg. Suppl. xix. 3.
Quhair for, Minerve, imply my pen to serve
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"Imply v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/imply>
