A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500, 1562-1649
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Madnes, n. Also: maid- and -ness(e, -nis. [ME. mad(de)nesse (1398).] a. Lunacy, insanity, frenzy. b. Delusion, folly.a. c1500 Rowll Cursing 45 (B).
Maigram madnes or missilry 1590 Criminal Trials I. ii. 212.
Suddenly hee gave a great scritch, and fell into madnesse 1590 Ib. 220. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 106. c1615 Chron. Kings 116.
Efter ten ȝeiris warding, he deis in maidnis 1649 Cupar Presb. 143.
He went to Marjory Winster, who seemed to him to dissemble and feinȝie madnesseb. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 115/20.
St. Augustine … affirmis that to dispute of thai thingis vniuersalie obseruit, gif thai suld be keipet or nocht, to be maist insolent madnes 1562-3 Ib. II. 42/14.
Lat that be the madnes of the Manicheis, quha, precheand phantaseis, says [etc.] ? c 1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 254/27.
Maidnes c1611–c1617 Mure Misc. P. i. 109.
In age, a doating madnes, A schort abiding glaidnes
