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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.

Purificatio(u)n(e, -acio(u)ne, n. Also: puryfic- and -atyown(e. [ME and e.m.E. purificacio(u)n (Wyclif), -ation, F. purification (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. pūrificātiōn-, n. of action f. pūrificāre Purify v.] The Purification of the Virgin.The ritual cleansing of the Virgin by the observances enjoined on women after childbirth by the Jewish law. Chiefly The Purificatioun (of Mary, of Our Lady) the festival (Feb. 2) of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (see Presentacioun(e n.) by the Virgin following the completion of her purification (Luke ii 22); also called Candlemas (Candilmes n.). b. Appar. considered as a spiritual cleansing from sin. c1420 Wynt. v 22.
Scho [Mary] puryficatyown [W. -ioun] Tuk, the tyme that ordanyd wes Be the lauch statute off Moyses Ib. 4821.
In Constantinopill … Thare fell a gret mortalyte; For that caus with devotyone The Purificatione Off oure Lady done to be Was ordanyt wyth solempnyte Ib. 4829.
Thre tytlys materyalle Is off that fest pryncipalle: The purificatyowne [v.rr. -acion, -atioun] of Mary Clengyng that is propyrly Off wemen, efftyre [etc.] Ib. 4833.
The purificatyowne oure Lady Ressawyd in hyre full mekly Bot off it scho had na nede 1423 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 259.
At the festis of the purificacion of oure Lady Sanct Mari the Virgine and Sanct Petris day 1435 Cop. St. A. 129.
At twa termys of the ȝere, that is to say, at the fest of the puryficatioun of oure Lady and the fest of pasche next thereftyr folowand 1451 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 88. 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 356.
Betuex this day and the feist of the Purificacione of Our Lady, callit Candilmess next tocum inclusive 1501 Treas. Acc. II 61.
Fra the Purificatioun of Our Lady bipast 1503–4 Ib. 257. 1533 Boece 601b.
On the morne efter the day dedicat in honoure of our Lady callit the purificacioun in quhais honoure gret nowmer of lichtis … the ilk day is ȝerlie brynt 1555 Carte Northberwic 70. 1561 Reg. Privy S. V i 234/2. 1580 Elgin Rec. I 157.
Alexander Wynsister, minister, … actit to … pay [etc.] … betuix the dait heirof and the feist of the purificatioun of Our Ladie callit Candilmes day [etc.] 1583 Red Bk. Menteith II 365.
At tua termes in the yeir, videlicet Candilmes callit the Purificatioun of our Lady and natiuitie of Sanct Johne the Baptist 1588 King Cat. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 177.
Febrvar … 2, Kandelmes whilk is the purificatione of our Lady vnder Augustusb. Arundel MS 287/275.
Haill, verray virginite, … Quhais purificacioun Of syne wes our purgacioun