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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Mirk-, Merknes, n. Also: myrk-, mark- and -nase. [ME. (north. and midl.) mirknesse (c 250), mer(c)knes, meorknesse, f. Mirk a. After the 14th c. appar. only Sc.]

1. Darkness, gloom.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 106 (E).
[He] eschapyt … throw the myrknes off the nycht 1375 Ib. xi. 616. a1400 Legends of the Saints v. 262.
And thike myrknes lestand ay c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1079.
Cluddis blak That can a suddane myrknes mak 1460 Hay I. 28/32. Alex. (Taym.) 2832. c1460 Wisdom of Solomon (S.T.S.) 101.
Als far as the lychtnes of the sone passis the myrknes of the mirk nycht a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 410. a1499 Ib. 1210. c1500 Rowll Cursing 172 (M).
Dirknes mirknes rouk and mist a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1148.
Into the lymbe In gret mirknes c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxvii. 45.
Bot fra the sext hour mirknessis war made on al the erde 1528 Lynd. Dreme 364. 1533 Boece xi. xviii. 442 b.
In the glomyn quhen myrknes removit the sicht 1535 Stewart 305.
Quhilis in mirknes and quhilis in mvne lycht a1538 Abell 2 a.
The first daye God … diuidit licht fra myrknes 1551 Hamilton Catechism 40. 1559 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 88.
Our licht is changeit in myrknes 1575 Reg. Privy C. II. 461.
Be ressoun of the mirknes of the nycht a1605 Montg. Flyt. 442 (T).
Be the michtis of the moone lat mirknes remane 1596 Dalr. II. 319/26. 1607 Highland P. III. 98. c1650 Spalding II. 463.
So thay pairt … throw mirkness of night(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 351.
He that gyffis his almus … Is lyk hym that in merknes gais & a lanterne before hym has a1400 Ib. xxxii. 15.
The Jow … in feld chapel lay Ourtane be merknes of nycht a1400 Ib. xxii. 437, xxix. 143. c1460 Wisdom of Solomon 501.
In cauernys and mer[k]nes 1461 Liber Pluscardensis I. 383.
Owre syle the sone with myst and with merknes ?a1500 Remembrance of the Passion 320.
Hell … is ane mekle mirk hoill … of sa gret merknes that it may be graipit

2. Blindness.a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 610.
And with that word fel fra his ene Mirknes as tha skalis had bene 1490 Irland Mir. II. 5/4.
The auld innemy of mankind … induceand cecite and myrknes c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xiii. 11.
And anon mist and mirknes fel doun on him

3. fig. a. Spiritual darkness or blindness; the state of being without grace or spiritual enlightenment. b. Obscurity; secrecy, concealment.a. (a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxx. 289.
God … fleis ay myrknes & tais tent bot to clernes 1456 Hay I. 25/17.
Sa mycht wele be said that the thrid part of the sternis was obumbrit with mirknes of unleautee 1490 Irland Mir. II. 117/25.
His awne ressoun that is … his bowat to leid him fra myrknes a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1366. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1643. 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 77.
Our conquyst haill … Aganyst spretis and pryncis of myrknes c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. vi. 23; etc.
Gif than the licht that is in thee be mirknessis, how gret sal tha ilk mirknessis be 1533 Gau 28/21. 1533 Ib. 48/19, 84/29.
The dewil … is heid ower al mirknes 1551 Hamilton Catechism 76.
He that hettis his brother, he is in myrknes a1568 Bannatyne MS 32 a/2.
Schaddow of deth and myrrour of myrknes 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 5/19. 1581 Burne in 1581 Ib. 112/27.
The ministeris of mirknes 1596 Dalr. II. 465/15.
The clud and mirknes of haeresie(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xii. 462.
Fra merknes thai come to the licht & turnyt to God(c) 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xxiv.
Marknes and darknes Pairtlie their deids debaitesb. 1405 Maxwell Mem. I. 145.
To hald ferme and stabil but fraude and gyle, doute and myrknase 1456 Hay I. 163/20.
For God reprovis all dedis done in myrknes and obscuritee, na with dissait, na subtilitee 1513 Doug. vi. iv. 65.
Seir thingis … deip envoluyt in myrknes and in myst 1562-3 Winȝet I. 57/12.
To mak of obscuir mirknes a commentare to the cleir licht