A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Pose, Pois, v.1 Also: poss-, poiss-. [e.m.E. pose (1526), poase (1612), poze (a 1625), to examine by questioning, interrogate (1526), to place in a difficulty with a question or problem (1593), aphetic f. e.m.E. oppose and appose to confront with objections and hard questions, examine, interrogate, question, OF oposer and aposer (cf. Oppos(e v. and Appos(e v.).]
1. tr. To examine (a person) by putting formally to him a question, or questions, (upon, anent, also on, of, for, concerning, a matter, or const. interrog. clause); to interrogate, question.Also, without complement, and (once) absol.(1) 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 173.
Thow confessit the same befoir the prouest … and the ministrie, being posit thervpon 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xiii.
And if I were posed of my pettie opinion heerein 1617 Urie Baron Ct. 19.
Possit 1633 Johnston Diary I 11.
Making hir repeat the Lords Prayer [etc.] … and, having posed hir upon som quaestions therin, schoe ansuered thé so perfytly as thou kissed hir [etc.] 1633 Orkney Bp. Ct. 86 b.
The said James being posed thairof confessit 1638 Bk. Univ. Kirk App. xviii.
Being posed for the rest of the registers, answered … that [etc.] 1642 Strathbogie Presb. 31.
And the said Mr. Alexander himself, being particularlie posit theron, offered to purge himself befor the presbytery 1644 Lanark Presb. 35.
Having first posed him upon the principall points of poprie 1648 Aberd. B. Rec. II 91.
They did pose Mr. John Chalmer, thair clerk, anent the mater … quha declairit [etc.] 1649 St. A. Presb. 130.
When she is posed wpon particulars she seems to … dissemble 1652 J. Hope Diary (1919) 149. 1658 Argyll Synod II 169.
Being posed by the synod anent his marying of the Captene of Clane Ronald Yonger, being excommunicat 1662 Sel. Biog. I 427.
When he posed me upon it, I confessed it unto him c1680 W. Row Blair 373.
He did pose Mr. James Sharp anent his judgment of presbyterial government 1718 Rothesay Par. Rec. 332.
She being posed anent her being at his house all night(b) 1641 Judiciary Cases 452.
Eftir thay had poiset the Laird of Strechin … upone the keiping of the murtherar in his serviceabsol. c1575 Balfour Pract. 361.
Gif … the partie … is … of greit age … the judge sould pass or send his clerk … to pois and ressave his aith upon sic thingis as ar referrit to the samin(2) 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 864.
That the intrant salbe posed vpon his conscience befor the great God, (and that in the most grave maner,) quhat moves him to accept [etc.] 1602 St. A. Kirk S. II lxiii n.
Robert Wode … being posit 1. how he profest being furth of the contrie, ansueris [etc.] … , 2. quhy [etc.] 1606 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 4.
Next the presbytery pose David Howieson minister … giff he has made ony sett of teinds within his paroch 1618 Elgin Rec. II 154. 1622 Peebles Gleanings 54.
Being posed of the said counsall how he satt upon Kaidmuir fra Witsonday last, deponis [etc.] 1638 Ib. 166.
Being posit quhidder he wald abyde … thair hird 1647 J. Hope Diary (1919) 143.
They posed me what lead oare I had above ground 1648 Dalkeith Presb. in Butler Leighton 230.
Poset 1656 Falkirk Par. Rec. I 197.
Posat 1660 Elgin Rec. II 292.
And being gravlie posed by the minister what she did 1671 Inverness Presb. 9.
The moderatour … posed all the … elders present, … how they wer satisfyed with thair minister c1680 W. Row Blair 519.
Being posed who discharged that pistol, … she refused to delate any person 1688 Craven Ch. in Orkney I 123.(b) 1606 Hume Orthog. vii.
The haill parischoners being poisit how thay lyckit of the said Mr. Alexander 1614 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 43 b.
Being poisit quhy he left his awin congregatioun ansrs [etc.] … the sessioune findis his excuse nul 1615 Ib. 61 b.
Being poissitt giff he was ȝit myndit to mary the said Jonat 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 470.
Being poissed on thair oath what they saw Christian Barclay baikand 1644 Lothian and Tweeddale Synod 163.
Poised(3) 1615 Urie Baron Ct. 15.
Quhilkis personis ar dewly posit to that effect 1637 Elgin Rec. I 258.
James Key, cordoner, declairit being posit upoun his ayth that [etc.] 1638 Baillie I 34.
I was posed somewhat more narrowly, because they suspected my minde in these things 1641 Soc. Ant. IV 464.
After sermon, Mr. Johne Knox posed the said Mr. Robert Lichtone … with sindry questions competent to the occasion 1647 Falkirk Baron Ct. 4 May.
The haill officeris … being posed vpone othe declairit [etc.] 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 23. 1670 Aberd. Council Lett. V 5.
David being posit upon oath and weell interogat 1684 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 434.
The forsaid reverend father having posed and interrogated all the masters(b) 1661 Elgin Rec. II 297.
The said John being poissit confessed that [etc.] Ib. 300.
Poised
2. To charge or adjure (a person) (to declare something, or const. noun clause).(1) 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 864.
That the presbitrie repell all such … as salbe found moyeners for the solister, and posed vpon thair conscience to declare the trueth to that effect 1613 Conv. Burghs II 411.
Being demandit and posit to declare … quhat was the manner of the electione of thair provest 1618 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 1157.
Being posed on conscience to declare his iudgement touching kneeling at the sacrament 1700 Carstairs Kirk S. MS 24 March.
Being posed to declair the father of her child(2) c 1608 Crim. Trials II 276.
And being posit, as he sould be partaker of lyf eternall, that he sould declare the veritie [etc.]
