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.
Natural(l, n. [e.m.E. (1509), f. Natural(l,a. (adv.) Cf. Naturell.]
1. A natural object or creature; a thing created by nature.c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 31.
Na man may say of ony thing … that this is a new thinge and fresch naturall that neuir was befor in the warld
2. A person's or an animal's ‘nature’ or innate or constitutional disposition, temperament or inclination.Also in phrases as of one's own natural, as one's natural is, and against or by (= contrary to, in despite of) one's (own) natural.(1) 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. i. 117.
The accusation of my unthankfulnes and evill naturall c 1583 Misc. Spald. C. II. 333.
I beleif your hienes princlie naturall nevir willit to deill mair straitlie with me nor with vtheris 1594–5 James VI in Sc. Hist. Rev. XVI. 141.
Your long knowledge of my naturall 1596–7 Calderwood V. 567.
Lett the wolves and dogges that are without his sheepecoate keepe their naturall 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 118/9.
Be hamelie or strange uith thame as ye thinke thaire behauioure deseruis & thaire naturall maye beare uith Ib. 176/8. 1600-1610 Melvill 293. Ib. 71, 263.
As maist agrieable to his naturall and giftes a 1640 Crim. Trials I. i. 228.
His mischevous naturall, his reddie wit a1651 Calderwood V. 101.
So altered in his substance and naturall(2) 1564 W. Robertson Hist. Scot. (1759) II. App. 17.
Of her own natural, her majesty has a certain inclination to pity the decay of noble houses 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 99.
Quha begylit yow as his naturall is(3) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 156.
Which makis me against my owin naturall to be more circumspect 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 143.
For obtening of the quihilk aganis my naturall I betrayis thame that may impesche me 1586 Warrender P. MS. 177.
Geue straytnes be wsit, her majeste wilbe pressit therto bye her awyne naturall
3. The ‘nature’ or essential or inherent character or quality of anything.1585 James VI Ess. (S.T.S.) 77/15.
As for epithetis, it is to descryue brieflie … the naturall of euerie thing ȝe speik of, be adding the proper adiectiue vnto it
4. Chiefly plur. Natural endowments of a mental kind; mental powers, intellect.plur. 1600-1610 Melvill 64.
[He had] wounderfull sagacitie and smelling out of men's naturalls and dispositions 1635 Dickson Wr. 10.
The hypocrite will be excellent in his naturals, and in his outward carriage as tight as any 1653 Binning Wks. 596.
He that hath poorest naturals, most extracted from the dregs of the multitude 1644-62 Ross Pastoral Work 152.
And that they find him weake in his naturallssing. 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 2232.
So highe was his engyne, So quick his naturall
5. plur. Human nature, human abilities, human intelligence, as opposed to spiritual gifts. (Cf. senses 2 and 4.)1635 Dickson Hebrews 92.
There are some converts externall from the worlde to the Church who yet sticke in their naturalls 1638 Cant in E. Erskine's Collection (1741) 4.
How far other nations outstripped her in naturals, so far did she out-go them in spirituals
