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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ratihabitio(u)n(e, -cioun, -hibition(e, n. Also: ratehabition, ratihebetion, retihabetioun. [e.m.E. ratihabition (1610), OF ratihabition, late L. ratihabitiōn-. See also Ratihabit v.]

1. Approval or confirmation; an instance of this; an act of confirmation. c1575 Balfour Pract. 299.
Na man may be procuratour, except the clause of ratihabitioun be contenit expreslie in his mandat 1678 Wodrow Hist. (1828) II 410.
Those gallant patriots offered a security for themselves and tenants, which went a great length, and was termed a ratihabition c1679 Kirkton Hist. 390.

2. Approval or sanction of a criminal act given in such a way that the giver may be charged with being accessory to the crime or an abettar of its perpetrators. 1528 Wemyss Chart. 277.
[The judges could not find that the said David was culpable in commanding or] ratihabition [of the] spulȝie [of the said teinds] 1555 Crim. Trials I i 381.
Lady Symple, came in the queen's will for ratihabition of the slaughter of Gilbert Rankyne a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 194.
Ratihabition or ratification of the deid is equivalent to a command to doe Ib. 195.
Ratihabitione is proven be mantinance of the authors of any deid in companie or houshold, efter the committing therof a1651 Calderwood III 760.
For the treasonable consulting, treating [etc.] … , assistance and ratihabition of the most odious and unnaturall … detentioun of his hienesse' person 1668 Lauder Notices Affairs I 6.
By accession ather antecedent, concomitant, or subsequent, viz.^t ratihabition, approbation, knowledge, etc. 1673 Aberd. Council Lett. V 222.
If airt and pairt assistance and ratihabitione will not be sufficient against him 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xxxv 8 (1678) 342 (see Ratificatio(u)n n. 2). 1699 Misc. 3rd Spald. C. II 101.
The fornamed persones were airt and pairt of the hounding out or ratihabition of the said crime

b. In the phr. of (at) a person's ratihabition; of (by) (the) ratihabition of a person.Freq. coupled with causing, command, assistance, etc., in legal formulae.See Causing vbl. n. for two further examples.(1) 1516 Caldwell P. 53.
Ye and your compliesses, servandis, and uthirs of your comand, assistens, & ratihabitioune, are indycteit for the griet oppressioune done be ȝou 1521–2 Wemyss Chart. 149. 1530 Red Bk. Menteith II 393.
For the wrangous … spolacioun … of thair causing, command … and ratihabicioun 1533 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) Gray v. Kerr.
In his name of his causing command … and ratihabitioun 1543 Blackfriars Perth 229.
Alexander Chalmer … Johne Mason … with thair complices and servands, of thair causing, command, assistance, and ratihabition, … came to thair said place [etc.] 1556 Coll. Rebus Alban. 89.
That the said James … sall nocht allanerlie be himself, his servandis … and pairt-takers of his … ratihabitioun commit [etc.] 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 211.
The said Andro be him self his servand and utheris in his name of his causing command assistance and ratihabitioun … come to ane dyke of the said Thomas … and be way of oppressioun cuist doun his said dyke to the grund 1579–80 Reg. Privy S. VII 371/2.
The said David Hagie … his sonis and broder foirsaid, be thame selfis … and uthiris in thair names, of thair causing, command, assistance and ratihabitioun, crewellie slew the said Rolland Hendersoun 1589 Burntisland B. Ct. 20 June. 1592 Fam. Innes 162.
Sua that we … nor none vtheris … of our conjung command … nor ratihabitioun sall haue … ony actioune … agains the saidis persones 1596 Crim. Trials I ii 395. 1605 Stewart Mem. 115.
Retihabetioun 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 19. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 196.
Ratehabition 1679 Kelso Baillie Ct. 78 (see Hounding vbl. n.). — 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 180.
The said spulye wes committit of the causing, command, assistence, and ratihabitioun of the said Thomas — 1596 Highland P. I 154.
By the speciall causing [etc.] … and ratihabition of the said John Campbell(b) 1531–2 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 48.
Ratihibition Ib. 55.
The landis of Jaksone … occupeit … be the said Schir Jhone his servandis at his command … and ratihibitione 1587–8 Burntisland B. Ct. 23 March.
Nether he nor none wtheris off hundinge counsellinge causinge … or ratihibitione suld inwaid … or harme the said Johine(2) 1557 Inverness Rec. I 9.
Mertyne Vaus … be hyme his cotaris servandis of causing command and ratihebetion com [etc.](3) 1675 Erskine Diary 224.
The same is done and committed by the fornamed persons, their order, assistance, and ratihibition