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.
Limit, v. Also: lymit(e, -yt. P.t. limitt. P.p. limit(e, lymit, -yt, lymed; limmit, -yt, lymmit(t, -yt; limitd. [ME. and e.m.E. limit(e, lymyt(e (Wyclif), etc., p.p. limit-, lymyted, -id (Wyclif), also lymyt (1420, north., and 1508), -ett (c 1460, north.), limitte (c 1530), F. limiter, L. līmitāre. Cf. Lemit.]In sense 1, appar. obsolescent after the early 16th c.
1. tr. a. To ordain or appoint (the time or place of anything) within specified limits.14.. Burgh Laws xciv (B).
In that stede the qwhilkys the bayles lymytis of the fayre1487 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 53.
The said provest and schiref … aucht and sould limit and bound certane places … to the quhilk nolt, scheip and horse sould be brocht and be sauld the tyme of the fairis 1500 Ib. 85.
That quhair it wes limit the time of xv dayes to all persouns … haiffand … [infected] guidis closit in hous, that thai suld haif clengeit the samyn … within the said terme, nochtwithstanding [etc.] 1554 Ib. II. 199.
That thai … proclame wappinschawingis to be haid within thair awyn boundis and prefix and lymite ane convenient place within the said burgh 1563 Bisset II. 66/25.
That everie commisser within his jurisdiction lymed to him, conferme the testament [etc.] 1586–7 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 482.
Thay locat, limitt and ordanet the merket place for selling of thair [sc. the cordiners'] wark … in the merket day in the Kowgaitt fra the new well to the Grayfreiris allanerly
b. To ordain or appoint as a final or limiting date. c. To appoint, fix definitely (a date, time, place or amount).Const. to or til the person, to or for the purpose intended.(1) 1424 Acts II. 4/2.
At thir bukis be present to the Kingis auditouris at Perthe the day lymmyt thairto 1443–4 Cart. S. Giles 70.
It salbe leful to the said Thomas … to … recouer the said land … eftir that the said annuellis … be vnpait at the termez that thai ar lymit to be pait at 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 255.
That the segirstane sale keip his houris in ringynge of bellis that is lymmit to him be the sicht of the cheptour 1493 Lindores Abbey 181.
Because he was chosyn balȝe after the day lymit in the law 1496–7 Acta Conc. II. 66. 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 85.
The … counsale hes limit to thame … Fryday at nixtt cummis … for clengeing of the said guidis 1503 Acts II. 254/1. 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 209.
And attour it is ordanit … that thair be ane day lymit in the oulk to the fermoraris viz. Setterday 1524 Ib. 218. 1529 Ib. II. 18. 1532 Exch. R. XVI. 551.
All utheris officiaris … that kepis nocht the day lymmit to thaim 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 54.
The chesing of thair dekynnis yeirlie at the tymes limite thairto(2) 1509 Soc. Ant. LXXXIX. 454.
[The Cordiners of Edinburgh allege that the produce of the Cordiners of Canongate] is nowther sufficient in werkmanschip nor stuf and tharefore thai dar nocht compeir to the markat of our … burgh … for danger of correctioun lymit and ordanit … tharefore in the commoun proffit of all oure liegis and strangearis resortand thareto 1524 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 220.
The vnfremen … til hald and bruik thair places and standis lymmit to thame 1534 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 422.
And he to have send for assouirance or he come in Scotland at ane certane place lymmit tharto(3) 1533 Boece vi. xv. 218.
This Abbay was augmentit baith in nowmer of devote persouns and rentis lymmyt to thare expens
d. To appoint or designate (a person) (to, also upon, an office or duty or to do something).(a) 1483 Acts II. 166/1.
That our souueran lord sall lymyt a wise man that has knaulege in the mone to be wardan thairof 1492 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 62.
Heirto the baillies ar sercheouris, and quha thai will lymit heirto 1533 Bell. Livy I. 47/9.
He … wald found and lymyt diuers preistis to bere … charge … of thir sacrifices(b, c) 1466 Acts II. 86/1.
And seculeris tocum befor the Kingis justice depute in that parte to be lymmit ande ordanit be his hienes of xv dais proclamacion Ib. /2.
The lordis that salbe lymmit til have the strenth of the parliament in vther causes … haue power [etc.] 1487 Ib. 178/2.
That serchouris micht be lymmyt heruppon haifand power [etc.] 1489 Acta Aud. 145/2. 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 256.
That nayne rede legendis bot at commavnde of the president bot gif thai be lymmit in the cheptour obefore a1500 K. Hart 20.
Nature had lymmit folk … This godlie king to governe and to gy 1506 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 110. 1515 Mill Mediæv. Plays 140. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 103.
Be quhom certane men war limit to minister justice on the Romane maner 1586–7 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 482.
2. To set bounds to (in a non-material sense), to restrict, limit.a1538 Abell 77 a.
He lymittis nocht his powar alanerlie to naturall proces … sa that he ma nocht wirk a nothir way 1561 Admir. Ct. Bk. 199.
Gif he had transferrit his said rycht lymmit and boundit to ane certane soume with claussis irritant 1618-60 Lithgow Poet. Remains 245.
When he thats kept in chains was now set free, Is he not limitd and thy mighty power Set to controle him?
