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.
Lifeles, Lyfles, Liveles, a. Also: lifles, lyfeles, lyveles. [ME. lifles (12–13th c.), lyfles, ME. (c 1400) and e.m.E. lyveles, liveles(se, OE. lífléas.] Lifeless: wanting life, inanimate, dead; also fig.(a) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1067.
Baith hevyne and erd and lyfles creature a1500 Seven S. 1569.
He … left hir lyand in the stra All mast lyfles ill farandly 1513 Doug. x. vii. 87.
Half lyfles [R. lyfeles] thi fyngyrris war sterand Ib. xi. i. 115.
Bot we hys lyfles child, quhilk aw na thyng Onto the goddis Ib. iii. 10.
Assuring hym thar mycht be led na weir On venquyst folkis that lyfles [R. lifles] mycht not steir Ib. 41.
All the lyfles [R. lifeles] banys And corpsis Ib. xiii. v. 7. 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æn. ii. 312.
Of all sense denude He long a lifles, senseles statue stood(b) 1596 Dalr. I. 62/21.
Excepte that thay war litle, lyueles and fethirles 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æn. i. 537.
The live-les pictures seeme to see, move, touchfig. 1649 Brechin Presb. 17.
Becaus of a dead and lyveles ministrie
