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.
Quotation dates: 1490-1587, 1638-1679
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Legatio(u)n, -acioun(e, n. Also: legetion. [Late ME. and e.m.E. legacion (1460), -ation, F. legation, L. lēgātio.]
1. The mission of an ambassador or embassy; a diplomatic commission or message; an embassy. = Legacy n. 1. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 127/17.
In this euuangell ... the angell of paradis ... schawis the mater of his legacioune and office 1491 Acts Lords of Council I. 200/2.
Personis that sulde pas in our souerane lordis legacioune and ambaxat in France and Denmarke 1494 Loutfut MS. 8 b.
Thai suld ... say his legatioun or gif his letteres 1533 Boece i. i. 33 b.
Becaus the legacion of Moyses & chargis of Almichty God war be the King & his barouns takin in … hething 1533 Ib. viii. iii. 252.
I sall in schort wourdis twich the effect of my legacioun 1533 Ib. ix. vii. 302 b.
Arthure … ansuerit in tyme cuming he wald here na legaciouns nor tretie of Saxounis 1571 Reg. Privy C. II. 99.
That his Hienes Commissioneris foirsaidis hes done honorablie … in thair legatioun according to thair saidis commissioun and instructionis a1586 Lindsay MS. 17 b.
He suld … say his legatioun or gif his lettres c1679 Kirkton Hist. 64.
Out of all which, by a solemn legation of commissioners from euery presbytrie, they used yearly to constitute a nationalassembly
b. The office of a papal legate (Legat n. 1). a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) 58.
He had accepted a legation from the Pope
2. Disposal of one's effects by will; bequeathment. = Legacy n. 2. 1587 Protocol Book of J. Inglis MS. i b.
Legetion of hir guddis & gere
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"Legation n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/legatioun>
