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.
Over-, Owersicht, n. Also: owir- and -sycht, -sight, -syght, -syht, (-syt), (awerseicht). [ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. ouer-sight(e, -syght (1526).]
1. Superintendence, supervision or management; charge, care.1561 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 23.
The kirkmaster to take the oversight and charge anent the kirk ordering and belles ringing 1586–7 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 486.
The said Jhonn to haif the owersicht cuir and governament of the effaires of the college 1590–1 Crail B. Ct. MS. 11 Jan.
The personis wnderwrittin to be quaitermaisteris to the owersicht off the said wark 1592 Acts III. 556/2. 1597 Old Ross-shire I. 28.
The said Robert Munro sall … visite the kirk … tak the oversight thairoff and teitche the word off God 1607 Edinb. Test. XLIII. 346.
He lewis his geir to the ouersicht of Johnne Stewart … and [his bairns] to be … wpbrocht wpoon the … profeit thairof 1632 Culross II. 325.
Of the families fra the cros west … Adam Primrose [etc.] … taketh the oversyght 1653 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 134.
The yll to be devydit from the church [etc.] … at the owersight of the maister of work 1677 Inverness Rec. II. 275.
Owersyht
2. More or less culpable failure to give due attention to something, negligence, neglect.1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I. 539.
The oversicht and neglecting of triall and inquisitioun for his murther 1592 Acts III. 595/2.
The act of parliament … wes inconsideratlie and be owersicht amplifiet 1600-1610 Melvill 757. 1610 Inverness Rec. II. 74.
Be the negligence owersicht and villipensioun of the giftis of God 1625 Cramond Ch. Fordyce 9.
In respect of the slownes and owersicht of the particular sessiounes in vptaking thairof
b. An instance of this, an act of negligence, a lapse.1607 Highland P. III. 100.
We hoip that this his oversycht sall teiche him to be moir circumspect 1608 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 60. 1615 Crim. Trials III. 24.
So, luiking for your lo. extreame diligence, to amend bypast sleuth and ouersightis 1615 Melrose P. 612 *.
Maister Robert … grantand his great oversicht and declairand the same to have proceidit of the westland woyaige 1616 Haddington Mem. II. 129.
The feue poste maisters … quho wantis nocht awerseichtis sumetyme in ther seruice 1618 Sc. Brigade in Holland I. 291. 1631 Banff Ann. I. 67. 1631 Justiciary Cases I. 165.
The chirurgane … for quhais factis and oversichtis the pannell can nocht be puneist
c. ? The fact of being overlooked or passed over.1640 Aberd. Council Lett. II. 222.
We have greivouslie sufferit or bygaine owersichtis and now … deserves to be better chirished
3. Failure to take preventive or punitive action against persons or their acts; licence, indulgence, toleration, connivance.1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II. 121.
That all the remanent tenementis … owther pertenis to ennemeis or at leist the awnaris hes sum owersicht and favour 1573 Ib. 2 10.
Countirfute people … quhais owersicht and impunitie apperis to bring greittar inconvenientis gif haistie remeid beis not providit 1578 Glenartney Doc.
Be the owersicht of our forrestaris … our leigis nychtbowris … puttis thair guides in the samin forrest 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 204/9.
Not admitting the excuse upon a iuste reuenge to procure ouer sicht to ane iniurie 1597 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 47. 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI. 826.
We sall gif up all bandis of freindschip, kyndnes, owersicht [etc.] … with commoun thevis 1611 Ib. IX. 205. 1616 Ib. X. 656.
b. Allowance, licence, special permission (to do something).1571 Bann. Memor. 208.
Thir shippis of the Prince of Oreinge hes oversicht to make sale of thair weiris in ony pairt of the King of Frances dominiones 1593 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 87.
The tennents and occupeares of the towns houssis … throw lang owersicht to sitt thairinto … ar begun to pretend ane … kyndnes thairto 1594 James VI in Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 102.
Suffer me not … to be abusid with your abusairs nor graunt no ouersicht to oversee your owin honoure 1607 Conv. Burghs II. 235.
Pretending sum cullorit richtis thairto be lang owirsicht and be thair new purchest erectiouns 1611 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 86.
[The Council] grants oversy[ch]t to the said Janet … to tak four pennies mair for ilk pynt aill … nor the comone statuts of the toun happines to be for the tyme
c. transf.1595 Conv. Burghs I. 465.
The complaint [against certain burghs] … for owerseing and componeing with vnfremen and foirstalleris to by and sell woll [etc.] … , speciale the said brugh of Kirkcudbrycht in rowpping the said owirsicht as comoun guid … thay … dischargeis thame of all owerseing and componeing with the said vnfremen rowpping and taking thair commodite thairfoir
