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: 1399-1625
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Inform, v. Also: informe, infform; infourme, -fowrm, -furm. [ME. informe (rare, a 1450), e.m.E. inform (a 1513). Cf. Enforme v.]
1. tr. To impart knowledge to (persons); to tell (one).(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 530.
The apostil than thru his gud lare Infowrmit al that var thare Schortly of thre [things] a1400 Ib. xxvii. 705.
I al-way has besy bene Til infourme ȝu in cheryte, & in sawle hele thochty to be c1420 Wynt. vii. 2253.
On this erand alsa fast Infurmyd welle thir monkys past c1420 Ib. viii. 383.
He … infurmyd [richt] falsly And set the case all swykfully 1443 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 43.
We ar infourmyt that oure soueren lorde … has chargit yhou … to ger restore … al his gudis1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 107.
Infurmc1610 Melville Mem. 338.
The said ambassadour infourmed his Maieste of ther rud maners, doildnes and dronkeness(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvi. 56.
His fadir thane … Gert informe hyme besyly In liberale hartis sutely c1400 Troy-bk. i. 152.
Of that wrangwise wenyng he Informit is c1400 Ib. 480.
Ȝhit will I tell ȝow … Rycht as my buke informis me c1420 Wynt. iv. 1608.
All thair senatowyrys … Behuwyd to be in thare serwys Informyd and kend, as yhong nowys 1450 Edinb. Chart. 70.
Foralsmykle as we ar informit … that thai dreid the evil and skath of oure enemies of England 1463 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 25.
He is sickerly informyt of a flot of Inglismen to cum for the destruction of our tone 1497 Ib. 65.
As we ar informit, our said admirall … requiris admiralite of our said schip 1533 Boece ii. i. 57.
King Fergus … informit ws sa weill that in quiet and eis we may occupie this cuntre c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1228.
The spy come to the knicht, anone, And him informit how they wer gone 1566 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 89.
Our Queine belyke is not well informit a1578 Pitsc. I. 2/5.
Robert Lyndesay of Pitscottie, … laitlie informit be thir authouris 1598 St. A. Baxter Bks. 63.
Maisteris of baik-housis till informe thair servandis instantlie of this present act 1625 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III. 181.
The saids commissioners, being informit that the saids factouris, … does buye … the victuall befoir the hand [etc.]
2. To instruct, teach.1456 Hay II. 9/21.
Ȝe wald ... teche me and informe of the documentis and proprieteis belangand to the said ordre1490 Irland Mir. fol. 160 a.1497 Reg. Cupar A. I. 310.
The said Thomas sal … informe the prentys … al craft in masonry or ony wther he can 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 329.
I seik no moir Bot ȝour ane sone to … Informe and teiche, and into science bring 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 88.
Pray … that God wald inform, mollifie and mak soft the hartis
3. To affect by change or improvement.a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1216.
He informit his will, And gert the corps of Christ be gevin him till 1596 Dalr. I. 107/6.
Sum … quha … throuch thair exemple of lyfe and doctrine sulde informe the people to pietie 1596 Ib. 230/7.
He be Sancte Columba, in pietie and godliness, … maist halylie is informit
4. To form, shape, fashion (a material object).1603 Criminal Trials II. 422.
[They] infformet and maid ane pictour of walx
5. ? intr. To be formed, take shape.1588 King Catechism 223.
The charitie of God is powred forth in thair hartes ... and informes or inhæres in the same
