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.
Remord(e, v. Also: -moird. P.t. also remord. [ME and e.m.E. remorde(n (Chaucer), p.t. and p.p. also remord(e (14–15th c.), F. remordre (12th c. in Greimas), L. remordēre to bite, sting, attack, etc. After c1530, appar. chiefly or only Sc. till 19th c.]
1. tr. Of a thought, emotion, or the like: To affect, or afflict, (a person, or a person's mind) with remorseful, painful or sorrowful thoughts.1513 Doug. vii vi 140.
Gif ony thocht remordis ȝour myndis alswa, Of the effectuus piete maternall 1567 G. Ball. 120.
My sinfull lyfe dois me remord a1568 Bann. MS 38a/22.
Suppois thow be to Him contrarius He schawis gud will thy conscience to remord c1590 J. Stewart 41/395.
No mercie may thir menis mynds remord 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 77.
Thair consciences remording them
2. Of a person: To look into, or to examine, (one's conscience or thoughts) with remorse, regret for what has passed, etc., or in order to arrive at the truth; to relieve, or unburden (to God) one's conscience by contrition.Const. clause compl. or without const.(1) c1460 Regim. Princ. 282 (Maitl.).
I pray thé … Thow wald remorde and graip thy conscience a1500 Henr. Fab. 793.
Ceis of ȝour sin, remord ȝour conscience c1475 Wall. x 9.
In sum part than he remordyt his thocht, The kingis commaund becaus he kepyt nocht 1548 Balnaves in Knox III 541.
I exhort you which blaspheme us … to remord your conscience a1568 Bann. MS 264b/44.
My hony, my joy, remord ȝour mynd a1578 Pitsc. I 406/18.
He began to remorde his conscience [1728 in his conscience](2) c1475 Wall. iv 590.
p.t. Wallace to God his conscience fyrst remord(3) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 843.
That thay wald … Remord thair mindis quhidder gif Chestitie Be not mair clene … Than Venus warkis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5885.
Remord ȝour conscience, Quhow thir thre wowis bene obseruit
3. To recall or remember with a feeling of remorse or regret.c1450-2 Howlat 531 (A.).
Quhen thai had beryit thair lord With mekle mane to remord Thai maid it hame be restord In to Scotland c1475 Wall. x 541.
Sadly the Bruce than in his mynd remordyt Thai wordis suth that Wallace had him recordyt a1500 Seven S. 2710.
Ȝeis said he & ȝe will remord I am ȝour son ȝe quhilk that ȝe Forsuth kest in to the se 1535 Stewart 11361.
Tha … In thair mynd sic thingis gart remord, … Syne euerilkane remittit hes till vther Rancour and yre 1570 Sat. P. xxii 94.
Remord in mynd thy greit madnes
b. To recall, remember.c1450-2 Howlat 654 (A.).
So mekle was the multitud no mynd it remordis 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 533.
Diuers vthers quhilks me not list remord 1535 Stewart 3792.
Sic … discord, Nocht lang gane syne as men ma ȝit remord Ib. 17278.
Carthlyntus … lyke ane dreme he leit all by him pas. Syne efterwart remordit how it was a1585 Maitl. Q. 243/18.
And then to lait my love I did remord
c. To turn (a matter) over in n one's mind; to ponder on.1535 Stewart 31707.
He wes nothing content … And in his mynd remordit oft and knew, Richt suddanelie that he suld him persew
4. To blame or rebuke (a person).1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 624.
Yet from his lips not one intemperat word His mercilesse tormenters doth remord
5. impers., ? in sense 6 below.a1570-86 Maitl. F. 242/45.
Now in my mynd me remordis … All my lipning vpon lordis Is layd me besyd
6. intr. To feel remorse.
The quot. from Arbuthnot may be an instance of Remorde n.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1122.
Fle fast thairfra, gif thow will richt remord 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1106.
Quharfor my souerane, in to thy mynd remord a1568 Scott xiii 38.
Remord & rew, and pondir weill my parte 1570 Sat. P. xiv 73.
Quhair thair was mys he gart remorde a1585 Maitl. Q. 250/21.
Ȝit who can tell the goddis remord And me in favour taik(b) a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. 130/134.
Our conscience it [sc. trouble] movis to remoird Quhen we thairof doe taist the bitternes
b. To give rise to remorse. See also Remording ppl. adj.1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxx 210.
Trew preicheours speikis it to ȝow plane, Ȝit neuer mercy in your mynd remordis
b. To remord wpone, to meditate on, to contemplate (? with remorse). d. To remord of, to have (? regretful) recollection of.c. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 132/42.
Quhow is he content … The lerit sone of … lord, Upone this ruffie to remord?d. c1475 Wall. x 1146.
To that langage Cumyn maid na record, Off ald deidis in till his mynd remord 1535 Stewart 32923.
The Scottis … remordit of the trane Tha maid befoir
