Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Maintain, Man-, Mentain(e, v. Also: mantayn(e, -tane, -tenne, mentane, meantayne. [e.m.E. maintain, mayntayn etc. (16th c.), late var. of Maintene v.] To maintain or uphold, in various senses: see Maintene v.(a) a1578 Pitsc. I. 39/30.
Ane servant to sum … bludie tyrant to maintaine him contrair the invation of wtheris c1590 Fowler II. 135/24.
Thir modern prences maintaineth na … suddarts that ar traned up … as the Romanes wer(b) 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 249.
Whose children … the nobilitie did sweare … to mantaine in the right of succession c1650 Spalding I. 239.
The admirall … mantaynde him self couragiouslie in the efter pairt … 3 houris long 1673 Sc. N. & Q. i Ser. XII. 169.
I … sall mantaine and assist them in the administration of justice(c) c1650 Spalding I. 85.
Seing thay came heir to mantane the true religioun … and to oppose poperie(d) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 97.
Quhais force aught and mon mantenne oure anthoritie(e) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 306.
[To] mentaine, fortefie and assist the trew preichouris of the word of God against whatsumeuer … gainstanderis of the same c1590 Fowler II. 149/28.
That he can not mentaine his estat without his princis standing 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 131.
He shall be frustrat of the meanes to mentaine his life in his old age 1694 Glasg. B. Rec. IV. 114.(f) 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 46.
Thatt your Matti doueth intend to mentane your oune authoratie and them(g) 1645 Edinb. Surgeon's Rec. in J. Gairdner Hist. Sketch Coll. Surg. 30.
That he sall meantayne and defend the liberteis and previledges of thair calling