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.
Onderstand, v. Also: ondirstan(d, ondyr-, ondarstand. P.t. onder-, ondirstude, -stuid. P.p. onder-, ondir-, ondyr- and -standin(e, -stand(e, -standit. [ME. onderstand (c 1315), var. of Understand.] To understand. Variously const.(1) (a) c 1500 James IV in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. ix.
Quare throw we onderstand good and kynd hart ye bere on to us 1533 Gau 105/14, 15.
The quhilk ȝe cane notht perfitlie onderstand excep ȝe onderstand the law 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III. 67.
Ȝour kinglie maiestie sell … diligentlie onderstand and effectuislie persequute oure wordis 1570 Leslie 197.
Befoir the Scottismen suld onderstand any thing of thair purpose 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 19.
Persuading … that euerie man quha can reid the Ingles bible may onderstand the same 1625 Annandale Corr. 279.
He may not onle ondirstan the reall effect of [etc.](b) 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 260 (Ruddim.).
Caxtoun … onderstude not Virgils langage(c) 1532 Lamont P. 40.
Thar … resonis … beand perfitlie hard and onderstandit 1533 Gau 29/33. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 144/30.
As Goddes vorde truely onderstannd … certifyes al Christine men(2) 1531 Vaus 3.
Ane participale expresly put or ondirstandine Ib. 4.
Ondirstande(3) 1505–6 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 686.
The forsaidis parteis … considerit & onderstandin thay ar bundin [etc.] 1517 Acta Conc. MS. XXIX. 21.
Quhen he ondirstandis that it is my lord gowernouris wyll [etc.] 1526 Liber Aberbr. II. 460.
Yt ys ondyrstand to ws … that [etc.] 1533 Gau 90/17. c 1550 Balcarres P. 314.
Plessit your grace till ondarstand that I am advartessit at the man … suld be put to deid a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 112/34.
Thow sal onderstand that it is the doctrine of the Kirk [etc.] Ib. 115/19.
To mak the redar cleirly to onderstand … quhow [etc.] 1570 Leslie 208.
Thay onderstuid … whow that thair wes not munitione … sufficient 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 41. 1600 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 205.
The provest, bailleis [etc.] … onderstanding thair commone purs to be greitimly indettit
