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.
Inventio(u)n, n. Also: -youn, -ione, invenc(i)oun, -ione, invensioun. [ME. invencion, -ioun (a 1350), OF. invencion, L. inventio.]
1. Discovery, invention.c1515 Asl. MS. I. 305/24.
Thir ar the principale of Asia with vtheris as salbe expremit as thai rais in the first inuencioun of thaim 1531 Bell. Boece I. 48.
Na inventioun of letteris was in thay dayis to pnt the deidis of nobil men in memore 1580 Dundee Chart. No. 71.
To the effect that the said inventioun and work [sc. a new kind of pier] may the better tak effect
b. The Invention of the Cross, the church-festival of May 3.A number of examples, 1456 to 1588, can be found s.v. Beltane n. 1 b, as well as s.v. Croce n.1 1, Cros n. 1, Crose n. 1.1501 Treas. Acct. II. 94.
His … fee, fra the fest of the Inventioun of the Cors called Sanct Eleynis day 1555 Carte Northberwic 71.
To Beltane callit the Invencione of the Croce
2. Poetic invention or creativeness; an instance of this.a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 67.
I wait nocht gif this narratioun Be authoreist, or fenȝeit of the new Be sum poeit throw his inuentioun c1590 Fowler I. 59/51.
By his [sc. the poet's] plesant speiche and his inventionis new
3. An unfounded or false statement; a fabrication or fiction; the practice of making such statements.c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 125.
I synnit … In fowll disceptionis, in fals inventionis breiding 1533 Boece iv. v. 131 b.
Quha made gretest spuleȝe … and fand invensiouns to caus men of substance deburs maist monye c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1299.
Ay fyndand new inuentionis To fulfyll thare intentionis a1570-86 Maitl. F. xcvii. 43.
Mony hes inventioun For to nwreis dissentioun 1587 Rait & Cameron King James' Secret 152.
All this counsell could not move the quene to mele with the Quene of Scotlandis blood til this invention ves found furthe 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æn. i. 387.
He … forg't inventiounes to his sister told, Cloaking his cruelty with airts anew
4. A false or erroneous innovation in religious practice or doctrine.1558-66 Knox I. 197.
Those [ceremonies] that God hes nott ordeyned, such as, in baptisme, ar spattill, … and the rest of the Papisticall inventionis Ib. II. 146.
The … teichers of mennis inventionis 1567 G. Ball. 212.
Mes is na thing ellis to say, Bot ane wickit inuentioun 1562-3 Winȝet II. 61/3.
The catholik kirk, sterit be the nouatioun of inuentionis of hæretikis
