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: 1399-1617
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Melody, -ie, n. Also: mellody, -ie. [ME. (c 1290) and e.m.E. melodie, -y(e, F. mélodie, late L. melōdia.] Sweet and tuneful music, melody, harmony.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxiv. 348.
With angel sang and melody c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 942.
The trumpettis [etc.] … Maid sic ane reird it was gret melodie 1461 Liber Pluscardensis 382.
All thir foulis that melody contruvis a1500 Henr. Orph. 60 (Asl.).
Armony celestiall Reiosing men with melody & sound a1500 Ib. 101 (Ch. & M.).
By the way sum melody he lerde a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1383. a1500 King Hart 316. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 32/31.
With sueit notis and melodie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6317. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 17.
Thair was maid banket with melodie 1560 Ib. 8069. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 179.
During this space Dame Music … exercesit hir art with great melodie(2) a1500 Henr. Orph. 301 (Asl.).
Orpheus … Has tane his harpe and maid sweit melody a1500 King Hart 79.
Thai within maid sa grit melody [etc.] a1500 Ib. 310, 372. c1500-c1512 Dunb. x. 52.
All … foul … Be myrthfull and mak melody 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 39/20.
The lauerok maid melody vp hie in the skyis
b. An instance of this, a song or other musical performance.c1420 Wynt. v. 4880.
Syngand and dawnsand wyth melodys 1490 Irland Mir. I. 163/8.
His woce … was mare plesand to gud personis than ony sang ore melody a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 2580.
For me scho [the nightingale] makis this melody c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 19. c1500-c1512 Ib. lxxxi. 39.
Quhill rong the widdis of hir [the blackbird's] melody 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 6431.
Hir dulce melodiefig. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 18/8.
c. Passing into: Rejoicing, joy.To mak melody, to rejoice.c1420 Wynt. vi. 2457.
Thare mellody all chawngyd wes In gretyng and in hevynes c1420 Ib. vii. 420.
Fra the madyn clere Had borne the byrth off hyr body That causyd all oure mellody 1513 Doug. v. Prol. 35.
Langeir in murnyng, now in melody a1540 Freiris Berw. 185.
Thus sportand thame and makand melody
