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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: 1399-1611

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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 Acts of Schir William Wallace ii. 210 (see Mure a.). c1475 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 Legends of the Saints xxxvi. 405.
Quhen Elizabeth Mary mylde Hailiste
a1400 Ib. xiii. 34. c1420 Wynt. ii. 234.
Oure suet lady, Goddys modyr, myld Mary
c1420 Ib. iv. 2632, V. 4724, etc. c1450-2 Howlat 717.
Thar notis … War of Mary the myld
a1500 Golagros and Gawane 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 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 49.
Marie meik and Virgin milde
1567 Ib. 152.
With my mother maist mylde
(b) a1585 Arbuthnot Maitland Quarto MS xxxv. 144.
The virgine myilde
(3) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1819.
He wes a juge myld Regnand oure the Peychtys wyld
c1420 Ib. V. 1411.
Antone the myld off the empire Stud empryoure
c1420 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
c1420 Ib. V. 3555. c1508 Chepman and Myllar Prints vii. c. 6.
Quhare ar becummyn thir maidenis mylde of mude
(6) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxiv. 103.
absol. Syne dyliuere was that myld … of a knaf chyld
a1500 Golagros and Gawane 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 Sages 1641.
The maister said, with wordis mylde and meik [etc.]
1567 Satirical Poems iv. 116.
Ȝour [sc. women's] … mylde meiknes sylit with subtiltie
a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS 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 Acts of Schir William Wallace iii. 341.
This pees was cryede in August moneth myld
a1500 Henr. Fab. 1334 (Bann.).
The mornyng myld, my mirth wes mair for thy
a1500 Id. III. 115/5.

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