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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.

Prodigalite(e, -ie, n. Also prodegal-, produgal-, prodogal- and -yt(i)e, -ietie. [ME and e.m.E. prodigalite(e (1340), -itie (1548), prodegalytie (1494), 13th c. F. prodigalité, late and med. L. prōdigālitāt- (Boethius).] Reckless or wanton extravagance, prodigality.Also an instance of this, and brefe (of inquest or inquisition) of prodigalite, intended to establish a person's prodigality so as to have a curator appointed.(1) 1456 Hay I 300/14.
For to geve … outrageus giftis … is nocht larges … for it cummys ay of ane evil bourgeoun that is callit prodigalitee quhilk men callis fule larges Ib. II 81/5.
Larges, quhilk is the myddis betwix prodigalitee and avarice Ib. 82/28. a1500 K. Hart 30.
Wantwyt vanegloir prodigalitie a1500 Bk. Chess 1965.
Thir rebaldis full of prodigalyte c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvi 28 (B).
Than vyce and prodigalite [BD prodegalite] Thairof his honour dois dischairge a1538 Abell 49 a.
He wes sa large to the pure folk that his wife arguit him of prodogalite 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 78.
For my moste princelye prodigalytie [: lyberalytie] 1549 Compl. 156/28. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3164.
Spend not in prodigalitie 1562-3 Winȝet I 44/19.
To turne … fra maist auaricious prodigalitie (we meine specially of the glorious bordouring of ȝoure garmentis with the blude of pure) 1558-66 Knox II 289. a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix 52.
I luif larges and liberalitie … I hait auerice and prodigalitie Id. Ib. xxx 73. a1570-86 Maitland Ib. xiv 20.
Waist nocht thy gude in prodigalitie Id. Ib. xx 17. a1578 Pitsc. I 80/5.
His waine prodigalietie 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 6 b.
Flie prodigalitie Of all det mak thé frie(2) 1558-66 Knox II 287.
Great preparationis war maid … : in ferses, in masking and in other prodigalities faine wold fooles have counterfooted France(3) 1476 Acta Aud. 55/1.
That the brefe of prodigalite past apon the said Sir Gylbert is nocht of forme of the chancelary na of the kingis lawis 1478 Ib. 64/1.
For the seruing of a breue of inquest of produgalite … vppoun the said Sir Thomas Maule 1491 Acta Conc. I 195/2.
In the seruing of ane breif of inquesicioun of the kingis chapell … of menticapte prodegalite and furiosite of the said Robert Lord Flemyn