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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1375-1596

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Mankind, -kynd(e, n. Also: mane- and plur. menkynd. [ME. mankind, -kynd (Cursor M.), e.m.E. also pl. menkind (ME. men kyn); superseding mankin, OE. man-, moncynn.]

1. Mankind, human beings in general, the human race.Chiefly coll. without article, also the mankynd. Const. both sing. and plur. verb.(1) 1375 Barb. iv. 225.
Fendis … to mankynd has invy
a1400 Legends of the Saints Prol. 52.
To ransone mankynd that ves lorne
a1400 Ib. xxxii. 541.
Al mankynd … Ware send me
c1420 Wynt. v. 888.
Wyth all mankynd off his eyld, He wes the joy callyd
c1420 Ib. 5315. 1456 Hay II. 5/28. 1456 Ib. I. 6/33.
Betuix him and the inymy of mankynde
1456 Ib. 68/4. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 75.
Fore al mankind is knawin … Be froyt [etc.]
1490 Irland Mir. I. 113/10.
Ȝour … miserabile creatur and seruand mankynd
1553 Doug. i. Prol. 468.
Thou salviour of mankind
c1550-60 Arundel MS. 274/17.
Be blitht, mankind
1559 St. A. Kirk S. 12.
The redemar of me and all mankynde
1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 181 n.
And restorit mankynd to his foirfaltit heretage
1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 7.
Thir ten commandis, To teiche to mankynde euerie ane
1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 12. 1596 Dalr. I. 29/23.
[Oxen] war sa … wylde that frome mankynde thay abhored
(2) 1456 Hay II. 97/3.
Syk melodious soundis … gerris the mankynde tak delectacioun naturale

2. Human nature, the nature of man.(Of Christ) To take or fang mankynd, to become man.(1) 1375 Barb. iv. 530.
Mankynd biddis vs that we To procur vengeans besy be
a1400 Legends of the Saints xxix. 5.
Of mankynd thru brukilnes
1456 Hay II. 102/37. 1456 Ib. I. 291/26.
Suppose thou be a king … ȝit art thou bot a man and mankynde mon folow
1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 14.(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi. 242.
How mane-kynd that he can fange
c1450 Craft of Deyng (S.T.S.) 66.
To tak mankynd to radem the trespas that Adam [etc.]
1513 Doug. x. Prol. 106. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 67.

3. The male sex, male persons. a. sing. b. plur.a. a1585 Arbuthnot Maitland Quarto MS xxxv. 129.
Of man kynd Ma wicked may be called Then of the wemen stryinde
b. 1535 Stewart 44409.
All the menkynd of his surname and clan [he] Gart lib thame all than be the leist ane man
1596 Dalr. I. 133/19.
Gif the king left successione … vndir xiiii ȝeiris in menkynd, and xii ȝeiris in womenkynd

c. adj. Ayre mankynd, = heir male.1479 Reg. Cupar A. I. 230.
Ane ayre mankynd, gottyn of the said John Boyd
1495 Ib. 245.

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