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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.

Langsum, a. Also: layng- and -su(i)me, -some, -sam. [North. ME. langsum, midl. and south. long-, OE. langsum. Cf. Longsome.]

1. Lengthy, protracted, long drawn out; tediously lengthy, tedious, wearisome. In various collocations.(1) 1456 Hay I. 144/32.
To say all the ressounis … it war a langsum proces 1513 Doug. ii. i. 2.
The weir Bypast … sa mony langsum ȝeir Ib. 25.
Thai of Troy … Thair langsum duyl and murnyng dyd away Ib. iv. viii. 113.
The nycht owle … was hard ȝowle With langsum voce Ib. viii. xii. 119. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 122/23.
Quhare ony batallis ar mare langsum than scharpe 1551 Hamilton Cat. 152.
To be crucifyit … was ane dede verrai langsum c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4294.
Officiallis … Quhose langsum law spolȝeis the puris 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 173.
Eftir thair langsum and skaythfull troublis a1578 Pitsc. I. 102/24.
Throw langsum and tidieous trawell taine of the appessing of the commone weill 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 184/5.
Gif … you … uryte … in uerse or prose … take na langsum workis in hande for distracting you from youre calling 1605 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 68.
This langsuime feade betuix him and the Johnstons 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 38.
To eschew all langsum disputatioun(b) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 60/8.
We ar offendit be his layngsum delay(2) a1540 Freiris Berw. 388 (B).
Now … mak gud cheir eftir this langsum day 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4338.
Than come scho hame and put of as scho micht That langsum day(3) c1420 Ratis R. 1094.
With luf is langsum lyf to led 1535 Stewart 20244.
The Scottis … With soir travell … Richt mony da leidand ane langsum lyfe a1568 Scott xxi. 30.
Cupeid, thow kennis I burd to knau The langsum leving in thy law 1581 Sat. P. xliii. 161.
Quha could declare our langsum lyfe in Leith, Fechtand all day, and syne lay in our clais?(4) 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 234.
Lufe … Quhat is, bot turment, all hys langsum fayr a1605 Montg. Misc. P. lii. 1.
Irkit I am with langsum luvis lair(5) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1237.
It ware langsum for to say The wondir that God … Wrocht c1420 Wynt. iii. 799.
It is langsum for to telle How mony changys … fell 1535 Stewart 36082.
Ouir langsum war the wordis to rehers 1577 Fam. Innes 132.
The quhilk war verie langsum and tedeus to writt 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII. 167.
Wtherwayes it wilbe langsam and onable to ws to get trustey deling with our freindis at home 1609 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 160. 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 612.

2. Said of a person, (to be) langsum (in (doing) something): a. Slow, tardy, b. Longwinded, tedious. 1543 Bk. Carlaverock II. 24.
This maid ws in ane part langsum in our travell c1610 Melville Mem. 103.
Sche lamented that the princes of Germany wer sa slaw and langsome in all ther deliberations 1621 Dunkeld Presb. II. 22.
No exercise this day, because Mr Robert Murray … was langsome in coming through darkness of the day 1622 Haddington Corr. 140.
Craifing your lordships pardoune I am so langsume, I end