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.
Reformatio(u)n(e, -acio(u)n(e, n. Also: -ationne, -atyoune, -acyoun; -acon. [Late ME and e.m.E. reformacion (c1440), -ation, -acon, e.m.E. also refourm- (16th c.), L. reformātiōn-, f. reformāre Reform v. Cf. F. réformation (13th c. in Godef. Compl.).]
1. The action of creating, or forming, anew.c1420 Wynt. ii 520.
Tyll conclusyoune Off this reformatyoune [sc. of mankind] This Ovide maide thir ilk wers
2. Improvement in (the) form (of a material thing); structural improvement, rebuilding; repairs, collectively. Also pl.c1420 Wynt. ii 108.
Off Babylone bathe towre and towne Scho made gude reformatyoune 1464 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 59.
Giff thair be graith or reparacions of the altar that misteris reformacon 1478 Acta Conc. I 12/1.
Herbert sall for reformacion of the said mylne … content & pay [etc.] 1493 Aberd. B. Rec. I 48.
Thingis grantit to the reformacioun of the queir 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 223.
For … insetting of ane new hewin dur … with certane utheris reformatiouns 1538–9 Ib. 257.
For clenging … of … wairdrupis eftir Johne Merilyone reformatioun —1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 256.
For … sindry utheris eismentis and reformationis in the est quarter of the palice
3. (The) improvement (of an existing state of things, practice, etc.); (the) reformation (of a society, community or institution). b. The redressing (of a wrong or social evil).Also, only in Lynd., pl. (? in coll. sense).(1) 1459 Peebles B. Rec. I 134.
The balyais … gaderyt for the reformatioun of certane thyngis langande bath the town and haly kirk 1463 Ib. 150.
That ilke day was chossyng the dowssane for the reformatioun of the town 1466 Acts II 86/2.
For the reformacioune of the hospitalis 1525 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III 342.
For reformacioun, gud reule, and saufte of the said ile 1531 Lynd. IV App. 255.
The empriour … passis wp in Almanȝe for reformation of the Luteriens a1538 Abell 108a.
For reformatioun of halie kirk in faith and gude maneris baith in heid & membris 1562-3 Winȝet I 1 title.
Reformatioun of doctryne … set furth at the desyre … of the afflictit Catholikis [etc.] Ib. 14 heading. a1568 Bann. in Bann. MS 210a heading. ?
The reformation of the sprituall estait 1581 Cal. Sc. P. VI 17.
That any … should meddle with any forreyne princes for the reformacion of her affayres 1592 Acts III 548/2.
Commissioun for reformatioun of the hospitallis, masondewis [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 418.
They intendit a visitatioun and reformatioun of the universitie 1644 Acts VI i 76/1.
A solemne league and covenant for reformation and defence of religion [etc.](2) 1456 Hay II 18/3.
That thai … mak reformacioun of this grete fault 1509 Lett. James IV 153.
A final conclusioun, reddres and reformacioun [of all the disturbances on the Borders] 1526 Acts II 303/1.
At dais of trewis haldin … for reformatioune of attemptatis to be maid … for mutuale obseruatioune of pece & trewis 1549 Compl. 161/26.
To mak reformatione of the sklanderous abusione that ringis amang them 1552 Conv. Burghs I 2.
Anis in the ȝeir to consult vpoun … commone weillis of borrowis and for reformatioun of hurttis done thairto 1585 Acts III 377/1.
Ane act for reformatioun of certane abuses in directoun of lettres(3) c1460 Regim. Princ. 286 (Maitl.).
With counsale mak reformatioun For thy … saluatioun 1483 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 47.
Vpoun vther skathis that thay sustenit in defalt of reformatioun a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 115 (Harl.).
Ane king … may … In to the kirk caus reformacioun … throw his gret excellens c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 201/3.
Quhy will ȝe, merchantis of renoun, Lat Edinburgh … For laik of reformatioun The commone proffeitt tyine 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1509 (B).
I dreid full sair for reformatioun 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 430.
Sic solistatioun Gret myster hes of reformatioun 1558–9 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I lxi.
For reformatioun to be maid, and stanching of heresies 1562-3 Winȝet I 13/21.
Farder, sen all man hes this word reformatioun in mothe, wissing to reforme vtheris, that [etc.] 1567 Sat. P. vii 175.
That this puire natioun Greit mister had of reformatioun a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 430/44.
Better it were guid reformatione Nor lat it [sc. the realm] perishe sa vnprudentle 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xiii.
There hes bene two kinde of kirks in our Christian world (althogh now tyme and commodity of reformation may inueterat the platte) 1639 Lanark Presb. 19.
He had … kythed himselff opposit to the present work of reformation 1662 Acts VII 378/1.
That it wes lawfull to subiects, for reformation, … to take vp armes against the king(4) 1539 Chart. Coupar A. II 146.
And thair to remane vnder the obedience of the abbot for the tyme in reformatioun efter the forme and maner of the reule … of visitatioun and reformatioun left be the visitoris(5) 1528 Douglas Corr. 17.
Throw the reformacioune now laitlie to be devisit —1583 Conv. Burghs I 173.
This reformatioun to stand for the space of thre ȝeris 1607 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 103.
These folkis put to that pace and reformatioun which ȝour majestie craves —1540 Lynd. Sat. 2552.
Sen ȝe haif on hand Sum reformatioun to mak [etc.] 1542–3 Hamilton P. (1890) I 383.
We ar myndit … to put sum reformatioun in the stait of kirk of this realme —c1460 Regim. Princ. 280 (Marchm.).
Men wald … nocht bow to the crown Quhil thou had maid thame a reformacion 1562-3 Winȝet I 13/26.
We … beseikis … euery ane … quha vnfenȝetlie lufis God, and ane godly reformatioun [etc.] 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1693) 96.
In England, that stands muckle in mister of a reformation —1562-3 Winȝet I 26/3.
Because the ane is knawin to be the principall deformare of his allegeit reformatiounpl. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1480.
For he makis reformationis, Owtthrwch all Cristin nationis Ib. 2802 (Ch.).
c. The buik of reformatioun, ‘The Buke of Discipline’ of 1560. —1560 Donaldson Sc. Reform. 228.
The buik of reformatioun laitlie admittit 1560–1 Ib. 226.
Conforme to the kirk [rectius buik] of reformatioun and discipline of the kirk 1560–1 St. A. Kirk S. 75.
We intend to proceid in the said eleccione according to the order of the Buk of Reformacione
d. An improvement in the conduct or morals of an individual. —1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 136.
Gif the Spirit of God has wrought ony sik reformation (as I spake of) in the heart, or not
4. specif. The (Protestant) Reformation (of (the) religioun) of the 16th century.Chiefly, with specific reference to the Reformation in Scotland.(1) 1563 Acts II 535/1.
Notwithstanding the Reformatioun already maid according to Goddis word ȝit … thair is sum … perseueris in thair wickit idolatrie 1562-3 Winȝet I 55/9.
The new impietie, callit be sum the Reformatioun of the Protestantis 1568 Reg. Privy S. VI 51/1.
Sen the tyme of the Reformatioun of religioun 1573 Ayr Chart. 109. c1612 Skene Memorabilia 22.
The Reformation of the religion began at Perth 11 Maij 1558 1627 Rep. Parishes 50.
This kirk … sen the Reformatioun erected in ane laick patronage a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 76.
The superiorities of landis that wer haulden of pryors … etc., befoir the Reformatione … perteins to the king 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii. 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 144.
Heir they fell upone the Service-book, and the mesour of Ingland's Reformatione, and [they] … proved it was verrie farr inferiour to the Reformatione of Scotland(2) 1562-92 Wode's Psalter MS (Bass) 141.
Set thre or four ȝeir before Reformation Ib. (ed.) 171.
Maister Andro Blakhall … efter Reformation was minister of Mussiburgh(3) 1562-3 Winȝet I 67/9.
We ar sa tribulit be ȝow … for nocht assenting generalie to ȝour prætendit Reformatioun 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. 59/23.
Your Reformation … is lykar to the reformation of Turkes … nor to ane reformation maid be Christian men 1638 Cant Serm. in Kerr Covenants 77.
In their Reformation [sc. that of the English] something of the beast was reserved; in ours not so much as a hoof
b. Applied to the leaders of the Reformed Church, collectively. —1579 Comm. Univ. (St. A.) III 190.
We will that the professouris and regentis shall teiche and continew sic tyme as the Reformatioun appointis
5. Correction, emendation or recasting (of a writing or document).1555 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII 51.
Expensis … for reformatioun gettin of the taxt roll 1562 Will A. Betoun 226.
Reservand to hir … reformationne att hir plesor of this hir letter will 1578 Conv. Burghs I 73.
[They] acceptit reformatioun … of the saidis taxt rollis vpon thame
6. Reparation, redress.1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
Tha merchandis … sewit to Sir Robert … for redres and reformacyoun of thaire gudis thrw virtu of the trewys … ane of tha merchandis … to tak restoryng and reformacioun of thaire said gudis 1409 Ib. No. 72.
To do ande to tak reformatioun of sic wrangis eftir the sicht of the saide lordis 1456 Hay I 190/13.
The injure that is done to the wyf is pertenand till hir husband and he sal … have redres and reformacioun of lawe for hir Ib. 207/26.
Gif thai lordis of the justice defendis maliciously the ref, and is nocht wilfull to mak reformacioun 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 187.
That the Franche men quhilkis makis the said distructioun be compellit to mak reformatioun and payment to the partiis scaithit
