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.
Quotation dates: 1438, 1491-1631
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Preving, Preffing, Preifing, vbl. n. Also: prew-, preiv-, priev- and -yng, -eing. [Early ME preofunge (Ancr. R.), ME (Wyclif) and e.m.E. pre(e)ving: cf. also Proving.] The action of Prev(e v.1
1. Substantiating, establishing, making good, as to validity or truth. 1491 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 62.
For outin ony proces of the courtis of preving of waistis, wardis, or dwyms thairupon 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 261/2.
He sall caus his advocat to persew the preving of the avail of the malis of the saidis [landis] 1522 Grey Friars II 76.
For the preving of the punctis of his said summondis 1523 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 388.
For the verificatioun and prewyng of his indorsyng and execution of my lordis precept 1541 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 40.
Expensis remanyng upone the preving of certane deforcementis c1575 Balfour Pract. 373.
Efter that the partie has chosin ane certane nombre of witnessis for preiving of his intent 1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 29.
For prewing of his clame contrair the said Elizabeth 1596–7 Criminal Trials II 7.
And for preifeing the said alledgance 1606 Glasgow Merchants House 100.
Preifing 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 42.
Preving 1622-6 Bisset I 170/4, 17.
Preving, preifing 1631 Justiciary Cases I 155.
For preveing of the matter admittit to probatioun
2. a. Putting to the test; trial.In preving, when put to the test; on trial, on approval. ?1438 Alex. ii 4258.
And sik wenes he is worth na thing, That is oft worthy in preuing 1537–8 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 188.
That David Dalgles had this bassone hors fra Alexander Dalgles in preffing to se geif he vauld conven for his faderis occupation and vork
b. Tasting; fig. 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 296.
He hath had his tastes and prievings of the sweet goodness of God 1605-6 Ib. 463.
I will giue thee but a taste and a prieving of me
c. Displaying in action, performing. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii 28.
To sum man thair it was no play The preving of his sciens c1520-c1535 Nisbet II 1.
He … schewit Crist be mony previngis of myraciles
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"Preving vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/preving>
