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.
Quotation dates: 1400-1599, 1670
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Minis, -isch(e, Menise, -isch(e, v. Also: minnis, myn(n)is(e, -ys(e, -eis; minish(e; menys, -eis. [ME. mynus(c)h (1382, Wyclif), -yssh (1398), -ys (c 1400), -ise, e.m.E. minish, ME. also menuse (Chaucer, etc.), OF. menusier, menuisier.]
1. tr. To lessen in amount, extent, degree, etc.; to reduce, diminish, scant.Also, to belittle; to decry, depreciate; to minimise, extenuate.(a) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 198.
Sua that the nowmer of the tenandis be nocht mynyst 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 29. 1475 Acts II. 112/1. 1487 Ib. 178/2. 14.. Statut. Sc. Ch. 5.
Al thaim that mynysis thair teynd c1490 Porteous Noblenes 1/22 (Ch. & M.).
Thing … That mycht mynise his awne lose and honour a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 917. 1508 Misc. Spald. C. II. 214. 1511 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 133.
Thair commoun wechtis wer mynnist becaus thay war to lairge 1513 Doug. v. vii. 60.
The cald body hes mynnyst [Sm. menist] my curage 1513 Ib. i. Prol. 365. 1528 Crosraguel Chart. I. 87. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 376.
We ar sett to mynneis na manis honouris 1531 Ib. 178. 1533 Id. Livy I. 255/23.
We desire ȝow nocht to minis ȝour richtis, bot erare to mynys ȝoure invy a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 23.
The said Maister Hectour … partly defacis and minissis the honour of the said Sr Alexander c1575 Balfour Pract. 8.
The lawis … nouther to eik nor mynys(b) 15.. Old Dundee II. 365.
The kirtle … wes fund nocht minishit be the craftsman 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 10598.
Ȝit this suld not na way minische ȝour micht 1567 Inverness Rec. I. 149.
The rentall mycht be maid thairvpon and na thing minischit 1670 Aberd. Council Lett. V. 12.
He endeavored verie much to minishe and extenuat his awin cariage in relatione to that buriall(c) 14.. Acts I. 333/2.
At thai [sc. bakers] menys the wecht gewyn thaim be the balȝeis 1456 Hay II. i 30/3.
Fruytis and herbis than fadis and menys thair vertues a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow iii. 41.
Throw out the warld alway welcome wes it [money] And set in cas and menissit a lyte a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1566.
He had done hire mekle gud That menyst samekle of hir ill blud 1535 Stewart 44986. 1535 Ib. 56791.
The auerice ȝit of this ilk king Johnne, That men trowit wes meneist and maid les 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 110.
[To] gar ws menis ane grane of our honor 1570 Inverness Rec. I. 195.
That the samyn [beef supply] be nocht menchit nor meneist(d) 1535 Stewart 40237.
Sic wit … sall suampit be … And euirilk da be menischit les and les
b. To deprive partially, scant (a person) of something; also, to lessen, reduce, lower, in some respect.(1) 1423 (1430) Reg. Great S. 31/1.
We sal not hender hym na mynyse the forsaid Michel of his forsaid office 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 277/8.
Quhen thi eyne is our cleir & wald be mynissit of thi sicht 1586 Protocol Book of W. Cumming MS. 90 b.
That … nane … sall haf … power to menis the forsaidis barnis of nane of the gudis(2) 1515 Douglas Corr. 69.
Nor that his gud systyr the Quenys grace [be] ocht therby mynyst in hyr autorite
2. intr. To grow less, diminish, wane.a1500 Henr. III. 123/61.
Quhen thy manheid sall mynnis as the mone 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 249.
O lust … , Eschew thyne hant and mynnys sal thi mycht 1535 Stewart 13826.
Vertew is maid to grow and till incres. And vice to menische and be maid les
