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.
Prophecy, -phacy, -phicie, n. Also: -phecé, -ie, -phesy(e, -phesie, -phesé; -phiecie, -phiesie; -phicé, -phisé, -phisie, -physie; -phacé, -phasy; -fecy, fesy, fycy. [ME and e.m.E. prophecie (Ancr. R.), -pheci (Cursor M.), -phesie (c 1290), -phessye (c 1315), -phesye (Wyclif), -fecie (14th c.), -fycye (1485–6), OF prophecie (12th c.). Cf, Prophetie n.]
1. The action or faculty of a prophet; divinely inspired utterance; the gift of making such utterance.c1420 Wynt. iv 2645 (W).
Syne as in till prophecy Scho maid … Indicii signum in to vers Ib. v 4932.
Men trowyd in hym werraly Sa spyryt he wes off prophecy [C. prophasy] c1420 Ratis R. 1439.
Thai tway thingis certanly Ar hail the law and profesy Ib. 1501.
Sanct Dawy Said in his buk in prophesy [etc.] a1500 Rauf C. 345.
Bischop Turpine cummand thay se … Preichand of prophecie in processioun c1490 Irland Asl. MS 51/16.
Almos, miraklis, prophecy [etc.] … done without cherite may neuer bring a man to ioye eternale 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 30.
And Dauid thou [sc. Love] byreft hys prophecy 1596 Dalr. I 235/17.
S. Columba, inspiret be the halty spirit of prophesie, fortalde [etc.]
2. The (spoken or written) utterance of a prophet, or of the prophets, esp. by way of foretelling future events.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 728 (B).
Haill princes that completis all profecis pure 1490 Irland Mir. II 13/11.
Propheceis a1508 Kennedy Pass. II 22 marg.
[Christ] schew the prophecy, How that … Ierusalem Suld be distroyit 1549 Compl. 27/28.
The prophesye of Ysaye c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3732.
As Daniell heth done conclude … in tyll his propheseis [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS 33a/77.
Dippit in dolour dre furth thi prophece 1596 Dalr. I 154/9 (see Prophet(e n. a (3)).
Prophesies(b) 1490 Irland Mir. I 126/4.
Nane has … maid prophacy of it without … autorite of God Ib. II 61/23.
Prophace(c) a1400 Leg. S. vii 344.
Thai that town come til, Sic profycy till fulfill c1552 Lynd. Mon. 261.
Prophicie Ib. 5297.
Prophiceis
b. spec. Inspired interpretation or expounding of the Scriptures: see also Prophecying vbl. n. —1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 229/15.
That men suld not perseaue … that thair particular interpretation of the scriptures, is not the prophecie and trew meaning thairof
3. The foretelling of future events; prognostication. b. Also, an instance of this.(1) 1375 Barb. x 740 (C).
Tharfor in stede of prophesye Scho left ane takyne richt ioly a1500 Henr. Orph. 586 (Bann.).
The spreit of fenȝeid profecy 1535 Stewart 413.
Prophisie a1538 Abell 93a.
Thomas Lermwnd (callit rymor becaus he spak mekill prophice) Ib. 11*a.
Thomas … Rymor florist in spreit of prophese 1560 Rolland Seven S. 189.
Sum part of prophecie And greit foirsicht hes bene in this ladie 1579 Acts III 140/1.
Or ony vtheris that fenȝeis thame selffis to haue knawlege of prophecie, charmeing or vtheris abusit sciences(2) 1375 Barb. x 752 (C).
Scho wrat that as in prophesy c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2821.
Thai haid of him in prophecie That all suld bow vnto his senȝeorie(3) 1531 Bell. Boece I 13.
Attour thay had be prophecy, that the Pichtis suld be exterminatb. (1) c1420 Wynt. viii 4723.
He sayd it in his prophecy [W. prophacy] 1528 Lynd. Dreme 43.
The prophiseis of Rymour, Beid & Marlyng 1533 Bell. Livy I 99/3.
This prophecy and divinacioun come finalie to the eris of ane Sabyne 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4590.
The profesy [Ch. prophesie] … Off Marling beis compleit this ȝeir 1549 Compl. 63/15.
Prophysie Ib. 85/2.
Propheseis a1578 Pitsc. II 115/14.
The prophiesie was fullfillit quhilk was spoken into him in the tyme of the burning of Mr. George Wischart Ib. I 168/14.
Prophiecie 1591 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 161.
That prophecie quhilk the negromancer schew to him in Italy(2) 1533 Boece 41b.
It was prophecie in Britane, that … be desate of Scottis thai suld euery ane be distroyit
