A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1490-1584
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Impotent, a. [e.m.E. and ME. (1390) impotent, L. impotens.] 1. Physically helpless or weak.1503 Acts II. 251/1.
That thai thoill nane to beg … except crukit folk, blind folk, impotent folk, and waik folk 1512 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 137.
Als mony pure folks that ar impotent and aigeit 1543 Reg. Morton II. 289.
The said Erle being … impotent of his leggis 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1098.
The bak … Off naturall sycht scho bene so impotent 1584 Acts III. 325/2.
The puir wedowis [etc.] … lamit, maid impotent and crippill in thir saidis weiris
b. Sexually feeble.a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1343.
Ȝone knycht is impotent trewlye
2. Unable, powerless, ineffectual.c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 27/21.
And [= if] he that aw to mak satisfactioun be impotent to do it 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 27.
Warldly strenth is febill and impotent In Goddis sight 1562-3 Winȝet I. 44/11.
Effeminat personis or babis, impotent to defende vs
