Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Redact, -a(c)k, v. Also: reidact. P.p. also redact. [Late ME redacte (1432–50), e.m.E. redact(e, appar. obs. after 1558, L. redactus p.p. of redigere v.]Common in the 17th c.

1. tr. To bring together in a single form; to reduce to, or as to, a unit. c1420 Wynt. v Prol. 30.
Quhare throuch the warld is halyly Now redact in a monarchy, … And a man off it lorde and syre 1544 Grant Chart. 280.
That … oure acquittance and forme … be redakit, … and put in publict forme in oure officialis bukis

2. To bring (a person or group of persons, or their condition) to (unto, into, in) a different, chiefly inferior or less desirable, state, condition or course of action. b. intr. To diminish in a lesser state.Also const. cl. or infin. compl.(1) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 528.
Sa at all time I bruik my priuilage, That it be not redact vnto thirlage 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 239.
This glorious king, in the space of twelve hours, is redacted to the ports of the grave c1590 Fowler II 103/16. 1595 Crim. Trials I ii 352.
The grite penuritie and indigence quhairunto the puir handy-labouraris [etc.] … ar redactit be that occasioun 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 50/2.
According to youre office grauelie uith authoritie redact thaime in order agane 1600-1610 Melvill 567.
Sa thai … redactit the Kirk to one oligarchie a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 364.
Montgomery being redacted to great necessity 1645 Edinb. Surgeons 171.
Unles they be redactit to that estait that they are unhabill in meanis 1652 Aberd. Council Lett. III 196.
The inhabitantes, quhat by povertie, quhat by debt, ar almost redactit to nothing 1652 Cramond Ch. Grange 14.
The fearful accident of breacking out of fyer which had redacked the quhole towne of Glasgow to extreme povertie 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 64.
Losse of meanes … has redacted him to great straitts 1669 Jus Populi 5.
A free people not redacted unto a state of base bondage and slavery, should [etc.] Ib. 82. ?1674 Dumfries Doc. (Petitions No. 30).
Reidacted a1689 Cleland 29.
And them redact To order, by the Council's act 1690 Shields Grievances and Sufferings 18.
We were redacted to many incredible hardships and hazards c1705 Nimmo Narr. 12.
Redacted to dark cloudes & under sore troubles in my soul(b) 1590 Reg. Morton I 166.
Quhatsumevir I hawe owrsene therin and ressauit pardon therof was vpon na lang precogitat purpos bot suddanlie redackit therto for eschewing of sume rigurus forme dewysit aganis me(2) 1692 Misc. B. Rec. 132.
The poor chapmen of this place … did … loss by sea ane great boat … soe that this place is soe redactit as not able to traffecque in the least(3) 1685 Lauder Observes 201.
They ware redacted to eat horses' fleschb. 1533 Boece 6.
Thareeftir Britan redactit in forme of ane province. It had native kingis … brouking onelie the name of kingis and all goverment be the Romane lieutenentis was ministerit

3. tr. To reduce (a material thing) (to (till) nothing); to destroy completely. 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 72.
The … manerie of thame lordis Erilis of Orchadie hes beine syndrie tymis brint and redactit till nocht

4. Of number or value: To reduce or bring down to a lower (amount or value). 1594 Writers Signet 232.
The haill nummer of the saidis ordiner writteris be redactit to the nummer of twentie foure persones 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 361.
Henrie the thrid … redactit the money to half the pryce Ib.
The testone whiche was then worthe 30 frs. was redacted to 15 sh. and all forrane moneyis cryed doun and those that had course redacted to the same pryce for whiche caus the king [of France] wer greatlie preased 1647 Glasgow B. Rec. II 127.
The stipend … is redactit … to ane hundrethe pundis money yeirlie 1656 Writers Signet 276.

5. To bring together (ideas) under certain heads, as for convenience of analysis. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 5/27.
There are principallie two sortes, where-vnto all the partes of that vnhappie arte are redacted; … Magie …, Sorcerie