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: 1516-1569
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Putative, adj. Also: -if. [Late ME and e.m.E. putative (1432–50), -yue, F. putatif (14–15th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), late L. putātīv-us f. putāt-us p.p. of putāre to think.] That is such by repute though not necessarily so in fact or in law, reputed. 1516 Acts II 388/2.
The said pretendit mariage putatiue … wes lauchfullie declarit of na strenth nor effect 1516 Ib. 283/1. — a1538 Abell 14a.
Philip King … Alexandris fadir putatif — 1556 Dundee B. Ct. III fol. 53 (30 June).
& to Alisone Quhyt and to Villiem Lochmalonye hir spous putatiue 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 38.
Elizabeth Gedde, his putative spous 1560 Protocol Book of D. Gray MS 19b.
Gif it chance … that the saidis Johne & Margret his spous putatiue be inobedient 1569 Reg. Privy S. VI 120/1.
His pretendit putative spous
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"Putative adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/putative>
