A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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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.
Recant, -cante, v. [e.m.E. recante (1542–3), L. recantāre to recall, revoke (f. cantāre to sing).]
1. tr. To revoke, retract or disavow as erroneous a previous belief, opinion, statement, etc.1540 Lynd. Sat. 1136. (Ch.).
I will recant nathing that I haue schawin: I haue said nathing bot the veritie 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 151/24.
Or ellis to recant ȝour railling ressonyng … aganis the mes 1562-3 Winȝet I 25/33.
Praying God … that thay be not eschamit to recant thair errour Ib. 52/31. 1567 Sempill Sat. P. viii 18.
Recant and sweir thow said it nocht a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. 58/90.
Quhen I luik the deipis bothumles Off Goddis secreit than I clein recant 1558-66 Knox I 60.
Great laubouris war maid, that the said David Stratoun should have recanteid, and brunt his bill a1578 Pitsc. II 144/3.
[He] durst nocht presum to gang to ane pullpit withtout he recantit the popis reliegieoun a1605 Montg. Flyt. 48 (T).
Recanting thy vnseamelie sawis, In pilgramage to Allareit 1596 Dalr. II 383/5.
Quhair al heritikes mycht be condamnet … that … suld recant, in publik 1596 Crim. Trials I ii 376.
Quhilk pretendit confessioun he ewir revoikit and recantit 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii. 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv 306.
[He] wold needs help him with a logical distinction, wherby he, like ane Aberdeen's man, might cant and recant again
2. intr. To make a formal or public confession of error in matters of religion.1561 St. A. Kirk S. 82.
To recant and amend in the public assemble 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 151/24.
To mak aucht confutatiouns sufficient incontrar oure confirmatiouns, or ellis to recant
3. Perh. a unique and obscure application of 2, found only in the Charteris ed. of Lynd. Sat. [Cf. also e.m.E. recant to repeat in singing, to relate, to rehearse (1602), L. recantāre.] —1540 Lynd. Sat. 4360 (Ch.).
Scho stumblit, and stutterit, with sic stends, That scho recantit at baith the ends
