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: 1456-1586
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Intelligence, -gens, n. Also: -ygence. [ME. -ence (1390), -ens (c 1450), e.m.E. -ygence, OF. -ence, L. intelligentia.]
1. Intelligence as a quality of the mind.(a) 1456 Hay II. 121/37.
Blude-lattingis … confortis the v wittis and the memoir and intelligence a1500 Henr. Orph. 352.
Quhen that resoun and intelligence [Asl. -gens] Plais apon the harp of eloquence 1490 Irland Mir. I. 59/15.
He gave him memore & intelligence c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 34.
He spairis no lord for his piscence, Na clerk for his intelligence 1538 Lynd. Justing 13.
James was ane man of greit intelligence 1551 Hamilton Catechism 6.
He … hurtis & dullis his intelligence a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitland Folio MS xxx. 103.
Thocht it exceid our dull intelligence Off everie thing the ressoun till invent(b) a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1388.
He mycht discerne be trewe intelligens That wardlie plesans is litill till emprys a1500 Bk. Chess 846.
So suld his saull with gret intelligens Of knychtlie werteu be enarmed richt 1513 Doug. x. Prol. 69.
Intelligens consideris the thing befor
2. a. Knowledge, information.a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 66.
Now to ȝow kingis I cry with compassioun That of ȝour stait ȝe tak intelligens 1563 Inverness B. Rec. I. 106.
To haif intelligens of forstallaris and thai that byis vtow mercattis 1577 Reg. Morton I. 89.
We may haif sum certane intelligence of thair ettilling and proceidingis
b. Understanding or communication with others for some purpose. Also with ane and in plur.1549 Complaynte of Scotland 178/32.
Thai haue gart ane secret brute pas in Scotland that sum of ȝou hes intelligens vitht them 1567 Reg. Morton I. 37.
Thair is ane wthir intelligence and ligue mair secreit 1569 Reg. Privy C. I. 652.
Nor yit sall we tryist or haif intelligence with thame in previe or apart 1570 Buch. Wr. 46.
Be ane prevy intelligence with the quene and … verie few of the nobilitie 1570 Leslie 231.
He laid the battre, apoun the south eist pairt … and cuttit away all moyens, passages and intelligences
c. Signification, meaning.1551 Hamilton Catechism 46.
It helpis us to the trew intelligence of the scripture1580 Cath. Tract. 39.
Considering it is the trew intelligence that makes the wourd, and nocht the outward sounding of the woce
