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: 1420-1460, 1513-1614
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Lenth, v. Also: lenthe. [North. ME. lenth (Cursor M.), f. Lenthn.: cf. Linth v. and Length v.] 1. tr. To lengthen, prolong (time, esp. lifetime). c1420 Wynt. vi. 762.
All thare dedis to record Wald lenth the tyme wyth-owt conforde c1460 Vertewis of the Mess (S.T.S.) 193/33.
The tyme of the mes that a man heris lenthis his lyf sa lang mar na [etc.] 1513 Doug. ii. x. 139.
Gif goddis lykyt lenth my life langar space c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1437.
Thay mycht no more thare lyuis lenth, Bot swame so lang as thay had strenth a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS cii. 62.
Thair is na riches Sa lang his lyfe can lenthe 1584 Edinburgh Testaments XIV. 122.
Gif God wald lenth my dais c1614 Mure Dido & Æn. ii. 472.
A rod he bears, by which he … Lenthes and abridges life, as he desires
b. p.p. Prolonged, extended. 1535 Stewart 21931.
In Aprile quhen lenthit wes the da a1568 Bannatyne MS 229 b/39.
Schort is ȝour havy nycht And lenthit is ȝour myrry day
2. intr. To grow long or longer. 1456 Hay II. 129/27.
Quhen the sonne enteris in … the Crab … the dayes schortis and the nycht lenthis 1456 Ib. 132/5.
And than begynnis the nychtis to schort and the dayes to lenth
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"Lenth v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lenth_v>
