A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1450-1568, 1678
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Obeisance, n. Also: -aunce, obeys(s)ance, -ans, -aunce, obesance. [ME. (Chaucer) and e.m.E. obeisaunce, obeysaunce, obeishaunce, etc., F. obéissance (13th c. in Littré), f. obéissant Obeisant a.]
1. Submission to rule or authority; allegiance, dutiful service; reverence, respect. = Obedience 1.(1) 1456 Hay I. 29/6.
The quhilk signifyis the haly obeisaunce of the cristin faith 1456 Ib. 87/26.
His athe of obeysaunce till his souerane lord 1456 Ib. 246/10.
For thai aw him nane obeysaunce 1456 Ib. II. 99/15. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 436.
If I, for obeisance or boist, to bondage me bynde [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I. 38/11.
The vniuersal subieccioune and obeyssaunce of all creature to the hie divinite … of Jhesu 1490 Ib. 7/8. c1490 Id. Asl. MS. I. 29/29. a1568 Bannatyne MS 220 a/44.
With hairt and mynd and all obeysance(2) 1456 Hay I. 65/35.
All the contreis began to mak him obeisaunce in takenyng that he suld have the obeysaunce of all the lave of the warld 1456 Ib. II. 94/9.
Thai … techit thair barnis … to do him honour and kepe him obeysaunce 1456 Ib. I. 47/36.
b. At obeysance, in a state of submission to rule, subject or obedient to authority. (Only in Douglas.)1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 624.
Ilk wicht hes sum weilfair at obeysaunce 1513 Id. Æn. xii. x. 36.
Les than thai wil ressaue the bridill at hand, Be at obeysans and grant my command
2. Submission or reverence as expressed by gesture or action, such as bowing or kneeling. (Cf. Obedience 2.)c1450-2 Howlat 870.
Dame Natur … Quhom thai ressaif with reuerens And bowsome obeysance c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 1664.
Wallace on kne with lawly obeysance
3. Command, authority, rule. = Obedience 3.1456 Hay I. 48/14.
Affrik, the quhilk he put sone in the obeisaunce of the Romaynis 1456 Ib. 109/14.
As he suld have obeisaunce in spiritualitee sa suld the emperour in temporalitee 1456 Ib. 172/24; etc.
Quhilkis ar … bot vassallis and under obeisance of all tymes c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2682.
Than Alexander put in his obesance The landis of Egipt c1460 Ib. 2564. c1515 Asloan MS I. 311/11.
Nembrod was the first man … to subdewe peple till his obeysance c1515 Ib. 199/27. 1513 Doug. vii. xii. 81. 1517 Reg. Privy S. 454/2.
Fullpower … to kepe, governe and gide the said castell … to the Kingis behufe and obesance 1531 Bell. Boece I. 6. 1540 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. ix. 16.
[That the inhabitants] maye … leif at his hienes lawis and obeysance 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xix. § xvi. (1699) 106.
The master of the thief, or him in whose obeisance he is, … [must] deliver him up
b. Construed as a coll. or plur.: Those under one's rule, one's subjects.1456 Hay I. 154/2.
And gert warne all his obeysaunce of Lombardye to mak thame redy to bataill
4. Compliance with (of) a command. = Obedience 4.1564 Perth B. Ct. 73 (2 May).
For obeysance of the said charge 1564 Ib. 134 (21 Aug.).
Archibald Blinsele … for obeysance of our souerane ladeis lettris … offeris him reddy to concur
