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.
Importance, n. Also: -ans. [e.m.E. (1508) and 16th c. F. importance, med. L. importantia (1497 in Du Cange).]
1. Income, revenue, emoluments. (This sense only Sc.)1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 102.
Itt is weill knawen … quhow thatt we vphald ane altar … and hes na importance to vphald the samyn bot oure sober oulklie penny and vpsettis 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 318/2.
The gift of ane ȝerely pensioun … ay and quhill he be promovit … to benefice of c merkis of fre importance 1524 Misc. Spald. C. II. 178.
The said office … with all and syndry commoditeis, fredomis, importans, feis and dewiteis … pertenying … thairto 1533 Bell. Livy I. 95/20.
Riche wedois, sic as mycht spend ijm pennyis of ȝerely importance and rentis
2. Importance, consequence, moment.1545 Bk. Carlaverock II. 25.
I persave that ȝe think the credit … to be of [our] greit importance to be sent by moutht 1562-3 Winȝet I. 108/21.
Quhy esteme ȝe it a thing of na importance?
