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.
Mild, Myld, a. Also: milde, mylde; myild(e; myeld; (mynd). [ME. mild(e, mylde, myyld (c 1440), myelde (c 1420), OE. milde.] Mild.
1. Of persons: Gentle, kind, merciful, indulgent.Also, of a man: Conciliatory, mild-mannered, meek: see (4), (5) and (6).Chiefly in verse, esp. as a stock epithet applied to ladies or women generally or to the Virgin, also to rulers. Also absol.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii. 5844 (see Moy a.). c1475 Wall. ii. 210 (see Mure a.). Ib. V. 580.
In Lanryk duelt … A madyn myld a1500 Bernardus 318.
In madyne mylde c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii. 11. 1513 Doug. i. ii. 39.
Quhilk propir spous and eik thi lady myld 15.. Christis Kirk 42 (M).
Thir madinis myld as meid a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 45/26.
Be counsall of his mother mylde(b) a1605 Montg. Misc. P. li. 9.
The myildest may(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 405.
Quhen Elizabeth Mary mylde Hailiste Ib. xiii. 34. c1420 Wynt. ii. 234.
Oure suet lady, Goddys modyr, myld Mary Ib. iv. 2632, V. 4724, etc. c1450-2 Howlat 717.
Thar notis … War of Mary the myld a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 97.
Bot thow mend hym that mys, be Mary, mylde may, Thow sall rew [etc.] a1500 Henr. III. 146/8. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 459. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxvi. 34.
O madyne meik … And moder myld 1567 G. Ball. 49.
Marie meik and Virgin milde Ib. 152.
With my mother maist mylde(b) a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xxxv. 144.
The virgine myilde(3) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1819.
He wes a juge myld Regnand oure the Peychtys wyld Ib. V. 1411.
Antone the myld off the empire Stud empryoure Ib. 1419.
Myld Antone c1610 Melville Mem. 383.
Princes sall reull weill … myeld to the people(4) 1611 Reg. Panmure I. xxxii.
Jhone was ane vehement man, … bot Paule Meffane wos an mair myld mane(5) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1957.
[He that is] Wertuws and myld off mwde Ib. V. 3555. c1508 Ch. & M. Prints vii. c. 6.
Quhare ar becummyn thir maidenis mylde of mude(6) a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 103.
absol. Syne dyliuere was that myld … of a knaf chyld a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 354.
Thairfore meikly with mouth mel to that myld [sc. Golagros] a1500 Henr. III. 146/13.
This message mervale gert that myld [sc. Mary]
b. Of the behaviour, disposition, looks or language of a person: Gentle, meek.a1450 Fifteen Ois 29.
Quhen to thy fader with myld woce Thou maid thris thi orisoun c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 167.
Benigne luke, mylde chere and sobirnes 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1641.
The maister said, with wordis mylde and meik [etc.] 1567 Sat. P. iv. 116.
Ȝour [sc. women's] … mylde meiknes sylit with subtiltie a1570-86 Maitl. F. lvi. 71.
Thy deid thow tuik with full mynd mude 1600-1610 Melvill 369.
In a myld and smothe maner
c. compar. Of a law: More merciful, less severe.c1420 Wynt. v. 3748.
To chawng … Hys decrete in myldare [C. myldar] lawe
2. Of the weather: Mild; warm, fine and calm.c1475 Wall. iii. 341.
This pees was cryede in August moneth myld a1500 Henr. Fab. 1334 (Bann.).
The mornyng myld, my mirth wes mair for thy Id. III. 115/5.
