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.
Instruct, Instru(c)k, v. Also: instrukt, instruk(k)-. [Late ME. instructe (1477), L. instruct-, p.p. stem of instruere.]
1. tr. To teach, educate, train in knowledge or learning.(a) 1456 Hay II. 55/23.
Thai suld ger doctryne thame, instruct thame, and teche thame … in thir virtues a1500 Bk. Chess 641.
To gar instruct thaim … To schaipe and sew 1533 Boece iii. xxi. 124.
That his pepill in … gude maneris suld be instructit 1562-3 Winȝet I. 97/29.
Na preist … bot sik that may instruct the peple be … syncere doctrine 1567 G. Ball. 72.
To teiche and instruct vs how … That we suld leif our wickitnes a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. c. 22.
Gredynes now gydis all estatis, Instructand thame with covetus consaitis1630 Soc. Ant. LVI. 50.
Sathan ... instructit him be quhat meanis he sould cure the said Thomas of his said seiknes(b) 1496 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 339.
He sale … teche … and instruk ale barnis under his cure … to sing, and play on the organis 1513 Doug. ix. iv. 83.
My fader … nevir apon that ways Instrukkit me, nor tawcht sik cowardy 1531 Bell. Boece I. 8.
[They] instrukkit the preistis to mak … sacrifice to the goddis on the same maner as the Egyptianis usit 1553 Cart. Northberwic 67.
Thomas … band hymselff prenteis to the said Patrik … for instrukkin hym in all … the poyntis of vrycht craift 1596 Dalr. I. 210/13.
To instruck the … barbarons people in the christine faythe
2. To impart information to (a person) concerning something; to inform, apprise.1490 Irland Mir. I. 133/2.
The haly angell … instrukkit the nobill lady … anens the misterie of the incarnacioune 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 252/1.
Our traist cousing … quham we hane instrukit of our minde thareanent 1513 Doug. vi. xv. 106.
Of the pepill eik in Latyn land … He him instrukkis
3. To give instructions or commission to; to commission, charge, direct.1513 Doug. xiii. vi. 53.
Be this the rowt, as thai instrukkit wer, … Ar entrit in the Troianys new cite 1587 Conv. Burghs I. 272.
That thai send thair commissioneris fullie instructitt to condiscend to the doun setting of ane act 1625 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 237.
[That] ye wald send your commissioners sufficientlie instructit for keiping of the said convention
4. To furnish (a statement) with evidence or proof; to confirm by evidence, substantiate.1594 Acts IV. 72/2.
Except thai instruct with thair summondis that the persoun alleagit hurt ... wes the Kingis fre leige man the tyme of that deid1616 Crim. Trials II. 405.
As for the impertinent discourse, that [etc.] ..., that allegeance is nather releveant nor instructit1644 Butler Life Leighton 224.
To continue all further processing of James Ramsay till it be instructed that he is living1649 Kirkcaldy Presb. 333.
He was inhibit to sit in ane seate of the kirk whereunto he claimes some right bot can instruct nonea1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 240.1659 Rothesay Par. Rec. 9.1661 Forfar Witches in Reliq. Antiq. Sc. 142.
If ... malefices be otherwaves legally instructed and proven1670 Urie Baron Ct. 91.
Ilk persone … being lawfullie sumondit to come to the barrone court … and does failȝie to come … sall pey … fourtie schillinges … without they instruct relevant excuses1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 54.1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. ix. § 3. 24.
As no man can kill himself lawfully, so neither can he burn his own house, except he can instruct that he did the same upon a just and reasonable cause 1681 Stair Inst. iv. xv. § 5.
Thirlage of lands to mills of the Kings property is sufficiently instructed by use of coming to the mill [etc.]1685-8 Renwick Serm. 369.
Whence we will instruct this lesson that [etc.]
