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.
Incline, Inclyne, v. Also: inclynd, incleine, inclinde. P.p. inclinit, -clynit, -claynit, -clynet, -clynat(e; inclynyd, -clynd(e. [ME. inclyne, -cline (15th c.), OF. incliner, L. inclīnāre. Cf. Enclyne v.]
1. intr. To bend the body forward, esp. as a sign of courtesy or respect.Also, to bow (to) another, with dative pron.1375 Barb. iv. 509 (E).
Than went thai till the King in hy And him inclynyt curtasly?1438 Alex. ii. 2993.
Gaudefere halsit courtesly The King, and Cassamus inclynit in hy Ib. 3521.
He inclyned than in hy And leued thame richt courtesly a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 383.
Thay … salust the souerane … Courtesly inclinand, and kneland on kne c1475 Wall. I. 448.
Wallace inclynys, and gudely tuk his leyff c1500-c1512 Dunb. x. 25.
All clergy do to him inclyne, And bow vnto that barne benyng 1535 Stewart 31160.
Ilk man … Richt laulie thair inclynand on his kne 15.. Clar. i. 1120.
Clariodus inclynit to the King, Thanking his Heenes 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1024.
He rais on his maist humbill wise, Inclining law Ib. 5677.
Sa Galiene, na ill hauing in minde, To pull the rute lawlie he did inclinde
b. fig. To bow or yield to one.c1420 Wynt. vi. 96.
To the Pape inclynyd he nocht, … Na the Papys lele desyre He dyde nocht Ib. vii. 2275.
Than the kyng inclynyd nowcht To that c1475 Wall. x. 1001.
Baith hycht and waill obeyed all till his will, … The byschoprykis inclynit till his croune c1420 Ratis R. 851.
Ilkan of thir inclyn ȝe may Bot nan thi fre wyll put away c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 516.
He lewch, and wald not to hir will incline
c. To give ear to.1490 Irland Mir. I. 115/27.
To this my prayere … thi hie deite and maieste suld inclyn
2. fig. To have or take a leaning towards (or from) persons or things.(1) c1420 Wynt. i. 620.
Syne God of mycht inclynyd was Thus tyll a pagane c1420 Wynt. viii. 2144 (W).
Throu the kinrik as he past, The Scottis till him inclynit fast 1533 Boece xv. v. 583.
He was in sic hovire he couth nocht determe to quhat parte he suld inclyne a1568 Scott xvi. 32.
Bot and gud scheruice mycht hir mais, Scho suld inclyne(2) 1533 Boece vi. xi. 208.
Quhen Angusiane sawe fortune planelie frawart him inclyne a1578 Pitsc. I. 74/20.
The infinit favour of God … hes caussit the wictorie to inclyne to ws
3. To be disposed to do or practice something. (Most frequently in the p.p. inclinit.)(1) c1420 Wynt. i. Prol. 2.
As men ar be thare qualyteys Inclynyd tyl dywersyteys Ib. v. 2049.
Hys fadrys hart … Wes hale inclynyd baptysme to ta 1456 Hay II. 22/15.
He suld be les inclynit till all wikkitnesse c1460 Wys Man's Consail 22.
Gyf thow inclynit be to gudnes a1500 Henr. Fab. 1456.
Mercie, Lord, … Sober thy wraith … And mak thy mynd to mercie inclynate [: estait] 1492 Myll Spect. 288/5.
Wedowis quhilk is inclynit to nathing bot to halynes a1500 Doug. K. Hart 15.
He wes inclynit cleinlie to remane, … vnder the wyng of wantownnes 1535 Stewart 57569.
Ane evill asposit man, … Far moir inclynit ay to ill no gude c1552 Lynd. Mon. 428.
We bene all to syn inclynde, In werk, in word, and in owr mynde 1572 Sat. P. xxxv. 26.
Ȝour Quene had pruif that Mortounis race To covatice wes hoill inclynde 1596 Dalr. II. 327/22.
The quene … steirit vp thair hartes meikle to that gentrise quhairwith tha war inclynet(2)1375 Barb. iv. 723 (E).
Thai men that will study In the craft off astrology ... knew the constellacioun That kyndlik maneris gyfis thaim till For till inclyne to gud or illc1420 Ratis R. 1710.
That thow inclynis to thorow kinde Rycht tenderly have in thy mynd c1460 Thewis Gud Women 210.
For youthed ay inclinis to wyce 1490 Irland Mir. I. 117/12.
Thai saw the souerane lady … inclyne to mercy c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiv. 18.
Ȝit se ȝe hir full suddanelie incleine To tak a crippill
b. Wele inclinit, well disposed.1473 Acts II. 104/1.
Gif the said Ambassatouris seyis the said king of France … wele inclinit to our souerain lorde 1621 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 341.
That the worthiest and the best inclaynit may be preferid
4. trans. To make bend or curve; to allow to bend down.c1450 Cr. Deyng 95.
Inclynand … the armys to the embraising a1500 Henr. III. 162/10.
We thé beseik … , Thy eiris inclyne and heir our grit regrait a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ. 933.
Fra Christ … Inclynit him the spirit till expire Ib. 991.
On his breist he inclynit his heid 1513 Doug. xi. xv. 142.
Sche … Hyr sowpil crag inclynand and nek bayn, Bowyt dovn hyr hed 1560 Rolland Seven S. 992.
The childe his heid he did inclinde a1578 Pitsc. I. 369/4.
Scho bowit and inclynnit hir self to the earth
b. To affect, influence, or direct in some way.a1500 Henr. Orpheus 5 (H).
So that his hart he mycht inclyne tharby The mor to wertew and to worthynes c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 10/8.
A noble wertew inclynand a person to … have abhominacioun of syn Ib. 172/1.
Inclinand thair hertis to vicious and ewill sayng 1513 Doug. ii. xi. 18.
With ony prayeris inclynyt gif thou may be, Tak heid to ws Ib. vii. v. 72.
Gif I may nocht the hevinly goddis inclyne To my purpos 1533 Bell. Livy II. 214/11.
Knawing wele thai wald nocht inclyne thare hertis to na deditioun or randering
5. intr. To have a tendency, tend (to).1568 Lyndesay Pref.
How thay suld best sustene thair kingdome inclynand to ruyne
