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.
Mek(e)-, Meiknes, n. Also: meick-, myk(e)- and -ness(e. [ME. meknesse, mekenes, also mike-, muek-, early meocnesse (Orm).] Meekness, mildness, gentleness; humbleness, lowliness, modesty; kindness, mercy.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xiii. 59.
He wes of sa gret meknes Quhen he with men mad maste of wes Ib. xxxvi. 16, 241. Ib. xl. 1256, 1285. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 87.
[Leamedone] ordane we With meknes for to leue hys land c1420 Wynt. v. 3829.
The byschopys hart in mare meknes At thir wordys turnyd wes 1456 Hay I. 284/20.
The religious men ar cled in blak wede … to schawe mekenes in hert Ib. II. 60/34.
Mekenesse 1490 Irland Mir. I. 6/9.
His rigor of justice He has mixt with meknes and mercy 1494 Loutfut MS. 140 a.
The gret meknes that the gentil has and the knaggy wnbuxumnes [etc.](b) (c 1580) Alex. ii. 3141.
‘Schir’, said Gaudifeir, ‘ȝour meiknes [F. humelité], Ȝour courtasy and ȝour largnes Is bot mesure’ Ib. 2702. c1420 Wynt. v. 2596.
Quha that haldys hym in the lawe Till hycht hys meiknes will hym drawe 1490 Irland Mir. I. 13/36. a1500 Seven S. 2539. 1492 Myll Spect. 290/14.
The meiknes of wedowis and agit wemen 1531 Bell. Boece II. 264.
Makbeth returnit fra al meiknes to his innative cruelte 15.. Clar. iv. 210. 1571 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxx. 31.
Meiknes is thocht pusillanimitie a1586 Lindsay MS. 44 b.
The grit meiknes that the gentill hes 1588 King Cat. 38 b.
Meiknes of mind a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 406.
Lenitie and meiknes suld not be dolfe 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. viii. 16. 1635 Hist. Fragm. III. 15.
A spirite of meickness(c) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 16.
In na place ma he [sc. the Devil] nocht be With myknes & vergynite 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 335.
With marciall hart inclynit to mykenes
