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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.

Involve, v. Also: inwolwe. [ME. involve (a 1420), envolve (1382), L. involvere.]

1. tr. To wind round (something with something else), to enfold, envelop. b. To wrap. 1513 Doug. v. ix. 85.
Hys tymplis al … He gan involue and belt with grene lawrer Ib. vii. i. 114; etc.
Eftir that semyt this gudly wight Tobe involnyt in ȝallo reky lyght 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxxi.
Ane stane … that kendlis … hardis in fire quhen it is involvit thairwith Ib. liii.
The see tangle … is sone involvit with any thing that it metis 1533 Boece ix. xvi. 330 b.
The king … involuyt in ane vile sek and borne … furth to the feildb. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 152.
Ilk ane of thame … involvit thair fische skinnis togidder

2. fig. a. To encompass, beset, entangle, ensnare. b. To wrap up in obscurity.a. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 13.
The cairfull cummer and curstcalimite Inwolwis all stait, condicioun, and degree 1513 Doug. xiii. iii. 98.
Quhou was sa gret foly and dotage Involnyt in thy mynd with fury rage? 1562-3 Winȝet II. 17/11.
I, quha sumtymes wes inuoluit with sindry and sorrowful cummeris of this warldlie weirfair c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 57.
Thir … ar inuoluit in-to dung-hillis of sin c1590 Fowler I. 275/8.
My bodye with al euils orwhelmed and corsps inuolud in cairb. 1513 Doug. vi. ii. 44 (Ed. 1553).
In subtel wordis of obscurite Involwand the trewth 1596 Dalr. I. 341/8.
His forspeikings … war … sa inuoluet and rowet vp in allegories & dark sentences [etc.]